Compare the2023 Toyota VenzaVS 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
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Venza has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited has standard Rear Automated Braking 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.

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

The Venza 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 Venza has standard rear cross-path warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Buick charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Encore GX.

The Venza’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 Venza and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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 Toyota Venza weighs 574 to 888 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 Toyota Venza is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

	Venza	Encore GX
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	284	401
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	340/190 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 Toyota Venza is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

	Venza	Encore GX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	91
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	138 lbs.	199 lbs.
Hip Force	246 lbs.	459 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	185
Hip Force	508 lbs.	517 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	299	337
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	38 G’s

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 Venza is 2.4% to 3% 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, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Venza 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 Venza’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Venza for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota 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 Venza’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.

The battery on the Venza is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Venza’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Encore GX’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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 Venza’s reliability 16 points higher than the Encore GX.

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

Engine

The Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 82 more horsepower (219 vs. 137) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 64 more horsepower (219 vs. 155) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Venza is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	Venza	Encore GX
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	9.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.7 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87.8 MPH	80 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Venza gets better mileage than the Encore GX:

			MPG
Venza
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/37 hwy
Encore GX
	FWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/32 hwy
		1.2 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/31 hwy
	AWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/29 hwy

The Venza can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The Encore GX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Venza has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Venza	Encore GX
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	11.1 inches	10.39 inches

The Venza stops shorter than the Encore GX:

	Venza	Encore GX
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited has standard 19-inch wheels. The Encore GX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota Venza 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 Venza has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Venza 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 Venza’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Encore GX (105.9 inches vs. 102.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Venza is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Encore GX.

For better maneuverability, the Venza LE’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Encore GX’s (36.1 feet vs. 36.8 feet).

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

Passenger Space

The Venza has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (98.3 vs. 94.3).

The Venza has 2.5 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 3.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Venza has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (28.8 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Venza has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (55.1 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

An available locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Venza. The Encore GX doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Ergonomics

The Venza’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 Venza the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Encore GX can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Venza 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 Venza’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.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Venza 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.

The Venza 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 Venza and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Venza 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 Toyota Venza has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Encore GX Essence offers wireless charging and it costs extra.

Recommendations

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

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its December 2020 issue and they ranked the Toyota Venza Limited higher than the Buick Encore GX AWD.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Venza third among midsize 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.

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