Compare the2023 Hyundai TucsonVS 2023 Buick Encore GX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Tucson Limited has standard Reverse Collision-Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Encore GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Tucson has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Encore GX’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tucson has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Buick charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Encore GX and the Encore GX’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The Tucson’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Tucson and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Tucson is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

	Tucson	Encore GX
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	325	401
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	153 lbs.
Neck Compression	59 lbs.	82 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	51/13 lbs.	409/383 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Tucson is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

	Tucson	Encore GX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	71	91
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.1 inches
Hip Force	440 lbs.	459 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	185
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	332	337

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Tucson is .5% to 2.6% less likely to roll over than the Encore GX.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tucson its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 127 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Encore GX is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

The Tucson comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Encore GX’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Tucson 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Encore GX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Encore GX ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Tucson’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Encore GX.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Tucson’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Encore GX’s camshafts. If the Encore GX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Tucson has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Encore GX’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Tucson’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 50 more horsepower (187 vs. 137) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (178 vs. 162) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Tucson’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 32 more horsepower (187 vs. 155) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (178 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Tucson has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (14.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Tucson has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver the fuel filler door is not lockable on the Encore GX. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tucson’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Encore GX:

	Tucson	Encore GX
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	12 inches	10.39 inches

The Tucson stops shorter than the Encore GX:

	Tucson	Encore GX
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	131 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Tucson has larger tires than the Encore GX (235/65R17 vs. 225/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tucson offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Encore GX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Hyundai Tucson has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Buick Encore GX has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Tucson has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Tucson flat and controlled during cornering. The Encore GX’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tucson’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the Encore GX (108.5 inches vs. 102.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Tucson is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Encore GX.

The Tucson Limited AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Encore GX AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Tucson Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Encore GX AWD (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Tucson has 13.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (108.2 vs. 94.3).

The Tucson has .4 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 2.6 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 5.3 inches more rear legroom, 6.4 inches more rear hip room and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tucson’s rear seats recline. The Encore GX’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (38.7 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (80.3 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Tucson’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Encore GX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The Tucson’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Encore GX’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Tucson uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Encore GX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Tucson SEL/XRT/N Line/Limited’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Encore GX’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

On a hot day the Tucson’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Encore GX can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Tucson’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Encore GX’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Tucson’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Encore GX’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

Both the Tucson and the Encore GX offer available heated front seats. The Tucson Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Encore GX.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Tucson Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Encore GX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the Tucson and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Tucson SEL/XRT/N Line/Limited has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Encore GX doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Tucson Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Encore GX Essence’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Economic Advantages

The Tucson will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Tucson will retain 53.76% to 54.61% of its original price after five years, while the Encore GX only retains 45.57% to 45.58%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Tucson and the Buick Encore GX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Tucson third among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Encore GX isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Hyundai Tucson outsold the Buick Encore by almost four to one during 2022.

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