Compare the2023 Mazda CX-50VS 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
Recommendations

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus has standard Smart Brake Support-Reverse that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Encore GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-50. But it costs extra on the Encore GX.

The CX-50 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. 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 CX-50 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking on the Turbo Premium Plus 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 CX-50’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 CX-50 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, 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 and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-50 weighs 433 to 882 pounds more than the Buick Encore GX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-50 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Encore GX last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Warranty

The CX-50’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CX-50’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.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-50’s reliability 15 points higher than the Encore GX.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Buick is ranked 11th.

Engine

The CX-50’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 50 more horsepower (187 vs. 137) and 24 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 162) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The CX-50’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 32 more horsepower (187 vs. 155) and 12 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder. The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 101 more horsepower (256 vs. 155) and 146 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-50 4 cyl. is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	CX-50	Encore GX
Zero to 60 MPH	8.5 sec	9.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	84.1 MPH	80 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-50 has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (15.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CX-50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Encore GX:

	CX-50	Encore GX
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	12.8 inches	10.39 inches

The CX-50 stops much shorter than the Encore GX:

	CX-50	Encore GX
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Encore GX (245/45R20 vs. 225/55R18).

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’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 CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo has standard 20-inch wheels. The Encore GX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 8.6 inches longer than on the Encore GX (110.8 inches vs. 102.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 4 inches wider in the front and 3.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Encore GX.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo handles at .87 G’s, while the Encore GX Essence AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-50’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Encore GX’s (36 feet vs. 36.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Encore GX (8.3 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the CX-50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-50 Premium/Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is 1.1 inches higher than on the Encore GX (8.6 vs. 7.5 inches).

Passenger Space

The CX-50 has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (100.3 vs. 94.3).

The CX-50 has .8 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 3.8 inches more rear legroom and 4.6 inches more rear hip room than the Encore GX.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-50 easier. The CX-50’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.4 inches, while the Encore GX’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

The CX-50’s cargo area is larger than the Encore GX’s in almost every dimension:

	CX-50	Encore GX
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42.6”/75.4”	31.8”/60.8”
Max Width	55.6”	53”
Min Width	40.2”	40.7”
Height	30.2”	32”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-50 Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Encore GX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The CX-50’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Encore GX’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Buick Encore GX is only 1000 pounds. The CX-50 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The CX-50 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 CX-50’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.

On a hot day the CX-50’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 CX-50 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 CX-50’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Encore GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The CX-50’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.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-50’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Encore GX’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

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 CX-50’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Encore GX’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-50 Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Encore GX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The CX-50’s optional 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.

Both the CX-50 and the Encore GX offer available heated front seats. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus 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 CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium 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 CX-50 and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-50 Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo 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.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-50 and the Buick Encore GX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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