Compare the2023 Acura RDXVS 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
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The RDX has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. 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 RDX has standard Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, helping the driver avoid collisions. Buick charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Encore GX.

Both the RDX and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 Acura RDX weighs 502 to 1033 pounds more than the Buick Encore GX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

	RDX	Encore GX
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	353	401
Neck Stress	99 lbs.	153 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 Acura RDX is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

	RDX	Encore GX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	63	91
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	130 lbs.	199 lbs.
Hip Force	217 lbs.	459 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	124	185
Hip Force	462 lbs.	517 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches

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 RDX is 2.9% to 3.5% less likely to roll over than the Encore GX.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RDX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Encore GX last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

The RDX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-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 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the RDX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Encore GX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Encore GX ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The RDX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the RDX for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura 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 RDX’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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 3 places higher in reliability than Buick.

Engine

The RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 135 more horsepower (272 vs. 137) and 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 162) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 117 more horsepower (272 vs. 155) and 106 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Acura RDX is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	RDX	Encore GX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	9.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.9 sec	31.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.9 sec	10.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	80 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The RDX has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (17.1 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	RDX	Encore GX
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	10.39 inches

The RDX stops shorter than the Encore GX:

	RDX	Encore GX
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	129 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RDX has larger standard tires than the Encore GX (235/55R19 vs. 225/55R18). The RDX A-Spec’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Encore GX (255/45R20 vs. 225/55R18).

The RDX A-Spec’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Encore GX’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the Encore GX. The RDX A-Spec has standard 20-inch wheels.

Suspension and Handling

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

The RDX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Encore GX’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RDX’s wheelbase is 6.1 inches longer than on the Encore GX (108.3 inches vs. 102.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RDX is 3.1 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Encore GX.

The RDX AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Encore GX AWD (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the RDX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Encore GX (8.2 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the RDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The RDX has 9.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (104 vs. 94.3).

The RDX has .7 inches more front legroom, 3.1 inches more front hip room, 4.3 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear legroom, 2.4 inches more rear hip room and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

Cargo Capacity

The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (31.1 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (79.8 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

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

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the RDX. The Encore GX doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The RDX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Encore GX’s (1500 vs. 1000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The RDX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Encore GX uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The RDX’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Encore GX’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the RDX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower 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 RDX has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The RDX’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Encore GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The RDX’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 RDX’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Encore GX’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

The RDX’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Encore GX offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The RDX has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Encore GX. The RDX Advance 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 RDX A-Spec/Advance 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.

The RDX has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Encore GX Select/Essence.

Both the RDX and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the RDX 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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the RDX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the RDX will cost $95 to $1105 less than the Encore GX over a five-year period.

The RDX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the RDX will retain 47.35% to 49.21% of its original price after five years, while the Encore GX only retains 45.57% to 45.58%.

Recommendations

The Acura RDX has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	RDX	Encore GX
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	TRUE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	n/a

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