Compare the2024 Lexus NXVS 2024 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
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The NX offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Automatic 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.

The NX 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.

Both the NX and Encore GX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the NX offers optional Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Encore GX’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The NX’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 NX 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 and rear 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Lexus NX weighs 405 to 1452 pounds more than the Buick Encore GX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Lexus NX achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Encore GX is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

The NX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-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 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the NX 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 NX’s 6 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Encore GX runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the NX’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 Lexus NX Hybrid’s reliability 26 points higher than the Encore GX.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Buick is ranked 12th.

Engine

The NX has more powerful engines than the Encore GX:

	Horsepower	Torque
NX 250 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	203 HP	184 lbs.-ft.
NX 350h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	240 HP
NX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	275 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
NX 450h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	304 HP
Encore GX 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder	137 HP	162 lbs.-ft.
Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder	155 HP	174 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 350h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	NX	Encore GX
Zero to 60 MPH	7 sec	9.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89 MPH	80 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the NX running on electricity gets better mileage than the Encore GX:

			MPGe
NX
	AWD	450h Electric Motors	93 city/75 hwy
Encore GX
			MPG
	FWD	1.2 turbo 3-cyl.	30 city/31 hwy
		1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/31 hwy
	AWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/28 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the NX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Encore GX:

			MPG
NX
	AWD	350h 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	41 city/37 hwy
		450h 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/33 hwy
		250 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/32 hwy
Encore GX
	AWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/28 hwy

The NX 450h can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The Encore GX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

The NX has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port on the 450h with a power remote release convenient to the driver and which locks and unlocks with the power locks, respectively. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	NX	Encore GX
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	10.39 inches

The NX’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 NX stops shorter than the Encore GX:

	NX	Encore GX
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the NX has larger tires than the Encore GX (235/60R18 vs. 225/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the NX offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Encore GX’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the NX 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 Lexus NX 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 NX has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the NX flat and controlled during cornering. The Encore GX’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The NX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Encore GX’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the NX’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 NX is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Encore GX.

The NX 350 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Encore GX Sport Touring AWD (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the NX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Encore GX (7.7 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the NX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The NX has .1 inches more front legroom, 4.4 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom, 1.8 inches more rear hip room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

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

Cargo Capacity

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

	NX	Encore GX
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.6”/70.3”	31.8”/60.8”
Max Width	54.5”	53”
Min Width	39.7”	40.7”
Height	29.6”	32”

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the NX’s optional rear seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers 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 NX. 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 NX offers up to a 2000 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the NX uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Encore GX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The NX 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Buick. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 25% lower rating, Buick is ranked fifth.

Ergonomics

The NX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Encore GX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The NX’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 NX’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Encore GX can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The NX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Encore GX doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the NX offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Encore GX doesn’t offer cornering lights. The NX also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The NX’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.

The NX has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Encore GX. The NX 350/350h also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Encore GX.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the NX 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 NX 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 Avenir.

Both the NX and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the NX 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.

Economic Advantages

The NX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the NX will retain 57.75% to 60.19% of its original price after five years, while the Encore GX only retains 55.77% to 56.53%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus NX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Buick Encore GX isn't recommended.

The Lexus NX outsold the Buick Encore GX by 16% during 2023.

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