Compare the2023 Mitsubishi Outlander SportVS 2022 Buick Encore

The Outlander Sport has standard Active Front Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Front Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Encore doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Outlander Sport has standard Forward Collision Mitigation, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Encore offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Outlander Sport’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Encore.

Both the Outlander Sport and the Encore 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is safer than the Buick Encore:

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

For its top level performance in the IIHS moderate overlap frontal impact, side impact, rear impact, roof-crush crash tests, an “Acceptable” rating in the newer small overlap frontal crash test, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outlander Sport its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2015, a rating granted to only 227 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Encore is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2015.

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

Mitsubishi’s powertrain warranty covers the Outlander Sport 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Encore. 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 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Outlander Sport’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Encore’s (7/100,000 vs. 6/100,000).

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Outlander Sport has a standard 530-amp battery. The Encore’s 438-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The Outlander Sport GT’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (168 vs. 155) than the Encore’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Buick Encore:

The Outlander Sport has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore (15.8 vs. 14 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Outlander Sport has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Encore doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Outlander Sport stops shorter than the Encore:

For better traction, the Outlander Sport ES/LE/SE/GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Encore (225/55R18 vs. 215/55R18).

For superior ride and handling, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 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 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Outlander Sport’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the Encore (105.1 inches vs. 100.6 inches).

The Outlander Sport SE 4WD handles at .77 G’s, while the Encore AWD pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Outlander Sport 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Encore AWD (28.9 seconds @ .56 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Outlander Sport’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Encore’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outlander Sport has a 2.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Encore (8.5 vs. 6.2 inches), allowing the Outlander Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Outlander Sport has 4.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore (97.5 vs. 92.8).

The Outlander Sport has .8 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear legroom, 1.5 inches more rear hip room and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore.

The Outlander Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore with its rear seat up (21.7 vs. 18.8 cubic feet). The Outlander Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore with its rear seat folded (49.5 vs. 48.4 cubic feet).

The Outlander Sport 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 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Outlander Sport’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’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Outlander Sport detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Encore doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Outlander Sport’s standard rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Encore doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

The Outlander Sport LE/SE/GT has standard heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the Encore.

The Outlander Sport’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Encore doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

Insurance will cost less for the Outlander Sport owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Outlander Sport with a number “1” insurance rate while the Encore is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

The Outlander Sport will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Outlander Sport will retain 47.78% to 49.36% of its original price after five years, while the Encore only retains 46.78%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Outlander Sport is less expensive to operate than the Encore because typical repairs cost much less on the Outlander Sport than the Encore, including $157 less for a muffler, $169 less for front brake pads and $210 less for a timing belt/chain.