Compare the2023 Infiniti QX50VS 2023 Buick Encore GX

Safety
Warranty
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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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX50 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Buick Encore GX doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The QX50 has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Encore GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The QX50 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 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 QX50 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Encore GX.

Both the QX50 and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Infiniti QX50 weighs 576 to 1155 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 Infiniti QX50 is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

	QX50	Encore GX
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	333	401
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	82 lbs.

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 QX50 is 2.4% to 3.8% less likely to roll over than the Encore GX.

Warranty

The QX50 comes with a full 4-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 1 year or 24,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX50 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 QX50’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX50 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Encore GX.

Engine

The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 131 more horsepower (268 vs. 137) and 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 162) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 113 more horsepower (268 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 Motor Trend the Infiniti QX50 is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	QX50	Encore GX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	9.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.6 MPH	80 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The QX50 has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (16 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the QX50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Encore GX:

	QX50	Encore GX
Front Rotors	13 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	10.39 inches

The QX50’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Encore GX are solid, not vented.

The QX50 stops shorter than the Encore GX:

	QX50	Encore GX
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the QX50 has larger standard tires than the Encore GX (235/55R19 vs. 225/55R18). The QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Encore GX (255/45R20 vs. 225/55R18).

The QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’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 QX50 has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the Encore GX. The QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph has standard 20-inch wheels.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the QX50 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Encore GX doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Infiniti QX50 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 QX50 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the QX50 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 QX50’s wheelbase is 8 inches longer than on the Encore GX (110.2 inches vs. 102.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the QX50 is 3.3 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Encore GX.

The QX50 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Encore GX AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The QX50 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Encore GX AWD (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the QX50 has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Encore GX (8.6 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the QX50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The QX50 has 10.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (104.4 vs. 94.3).

The QX50 has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 3.7 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 2.7 inches more rear legroom, 6.3 inches more rear hip room and 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the QX50’s rear seats recline. The Encore GX’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The QX50 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 QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (65.1 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the QX50 easier. The QX50’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26.6 inches, while the Encore GX’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

The QX50’s cargo area is larger than the Encore GX’s in almost every dimension:

	QX50	Encore GX
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39”/71.7”	31.8”/60.8”
Max Width	54.5”	53”
Min Width	41.5”	40.7”
Height	31.2”	32”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the QX50’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 QX50. The Encore GX doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Buick Encore GX is limited to 1000 pounds. The QX50 AWD offers up to a 3000 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The QX50 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 QX50’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 QX50 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. 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 QX50 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 QX50’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 QX50’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.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the QX50 Sensory/Autograph 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.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the QX50 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Encore GX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The QX50’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.

Both the QX50 and the Encore GX offer available heated front seats. The QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph 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 QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph 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 QX50 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 QX50 and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the QX50 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Infiniti QX50 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. Only the Encore GX Essence offers wireless charging and it costs extra.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Infiniti QX50 and the Buick Encore GX, based on reliability, safety and performance.