Compare the2024 Buick Encore GXVS 2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
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 Encore GX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Buick Encore GX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Encore GX offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Encore GX offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Corolla Hatchback only offers a rear monitor.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Encore GX has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Toyota charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the Corolla Hatchback.

The Encore GX 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 and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Corolla Hatchback’s blind spot costs extra.

Both the Encore GX and the Corolla Hatchback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, and rearview cameras.

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

	Encore GX	Corolla Hatchback
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	185	187
Neck Injury Risk	24%	27%
Neck Stress	190 lbs.	243 lbs.
Neck Compression	15 lbs.	50 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	83/261 lbs.	330/310 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 Buick Encore GX is safer than the Toyota Corolla Hatchback:

	Encore GX	Corolla Hatchback
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	91	92
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	43 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	591 lbs.	623 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Encore GX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Corolla Hatchback’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 58 percent more Buick dealers than there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Encore GX’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Encore GX first among small SUVs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Corolla Hatchback isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fifth.

Engine

The Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder produces 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (162 vs. 151) than the Corolla Hatchback’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder produces 23 lbs.-ft. more torque (174 vs. 151) than the Corolla Hatchback’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the Encore GX’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Encore GX’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 Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Encore GX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Encore GX	Corolla Hatchback
Front Rotors	11.81 inches	11.5 inches

The Encore GX stops much shorter than the Corolla Hatchback:

	Encore GX	Corolla Hatchback
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	135 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Encore GX has larger standard tires than the Corolla Hatchback (225/55R18 vs. 205/55R16). The Encore GX Avenir’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corolla Hatchback (245/45R19 vs. 225/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Encore GX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Corolla Hatchback SE. The Encore GX Avenir’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the Corolla Hatchback.

The Encore GX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Encore GX is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Corolla Hatchback.

The Encore GX AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Corolla Hatchback XSE pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The front grille of the Encore GX uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Encore GX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Encore GX has 9.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Hatchback (94.3 vs. 84.6).

The Encore GX has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 6.1 inches more rear legroom and 5.2 inches more rear hip room than the Corolla Hatchback.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Encore GX offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the Encore GX Avenir, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Encore GX has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Corolla Hatchback has no towing capacity.

The Encore GX AWD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Encore GX can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Corolla Hatchback can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 24% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

The Encore GX offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the Encore GX Avenir, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Encore GX Avenir’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Encore GX’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Encore GX Avenir’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Corolla Hatchback’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Encore GX’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Corolla Hatchback’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

When the Encore GX Avenir is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Corolla Hatchback’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Encore GX Avenir’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 Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

On extremely cold winter days, the Encore GX’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Encore GX Avenir has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

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

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