Compare the2024 Kia SeltosVS 2022 Buick Encore

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Seltos are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Encore doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Seltos has standard Autonomous Emergency Braking, 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 Seltos’ standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Encore.

Both the Seltos and Encore offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Seltos has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Encore’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Seltos’ 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 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Seltos and the Encore have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, daytime running lights and blind spot warning systems.

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

	Seltos	Encore
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24%	26%
Neck Stress	237 lbs.	298 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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Buick Encore:

	Seltos	Encore
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	225	382
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	433 lbs.	707 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 Seltos is 1% to 4.7% less likely to roll over than the Encore.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Seltos the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 177 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Encore last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2016.

Warranty

The Seltos 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.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 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.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Seltos has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Encore’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked second.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 2 places higher in reliability than Buick.

Engine

The Seltos X-Line/SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 40 more horsepower (195 vs. 155) and 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 177) than the Encore’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Seltos 4 cyl. is faster than the Buick Encore:

	Seltos	Encore
Zero to 60 MPH	8.3 sec	10.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	17.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.5 MPH	77.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Seltos gets better mileage than the Encore:

			MPG
Seltos
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/31 hwy
Encore
	FWD	1.4 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy
	AWD	1.4 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Seltos 2.0’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Encore doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Seltos has a standard locking fuel door. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Encore. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Kia Seltos X-Line/SX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Encore.

The Seltos 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.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Seltos X-Line/SX’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Encore:

	Seltos X-Line/SX	Encore
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	10.6 inches

The Seltos stops much shorter than the Encore:

	Seltos	Encore
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	134 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Encore (235/45R18 vs. 215/55R18).

The Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’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’s 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Seltos AWD 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 solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Seltos AWD has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Seltos AWD 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 Seltos’ wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Encore (103.5 inches vs. 100.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Seltos is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Encore.

The Seltos SX handles at .84 G’s, while the Encore pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.9 seconds quicker than the Encore AWD (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

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

Chassis

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 300 pounds less than the Buick Encore.

Passenger Space

The Seltos has 6.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore (99 vs. 92.8).

The Seltos has .4 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.2 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more rear hip room and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore with its rear seat up (26.6 vs. 18.8 cubic feet). The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore with its rear seat folded (62.8 vs. 48.4 cubic feet).

The Seltos’ cargo area is larger than the Encore’s in every dimension:

	Seltos	Encore
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	32.7”/62.4”	28.5”/55.8”
Max Width	52.3”	39.5”
Min Width	41.6”	36”
Height	32.5”	31.8”

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Seltos SX’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Seltos’ power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Encore doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Ergonomics

In addition to a parabolic reflector, optical-grade lenses in the Seltos’ standard projector headlights precisely focus the beam, providing more even illumination of the road for better visibility and a sharp cut-off that prevents blinding oncoming drivers. The sharp cutoff allows the use of a stronger light. The Encore’s uses a simple reflector to direct its standard headlights. The Seltos SX’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.

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

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

The Seltos SX’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 Seltos (except LX) offers optional heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the Encore.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Seltos SX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Encore doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX’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.

Both the Seltos and the Encore offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Encore doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Seltos SX has a standard Smart Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Encore doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Seltos EX/SX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Encore doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Seltos and the Buick Encore, based on reliability, safety and performance.