Compare the2024 Hyundai KonaVS 2024 Buick Encore GX

The Kona 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 Kona and Encore GX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Kona has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (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 Kona’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 Kona and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Hyundai Kona has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Encore GX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

The Kona comes with a full 5-year/60,000-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 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Encore GX. 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 GX ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Kona’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Encore GX.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Kona’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.

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

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 1 place higher in reliability than Buick.

The Kona SE/SEL’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (147 vs. 137) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 35 more horsepower (190 vs. 155) and 21 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kona N Line/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

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

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

For better stopping power the Kona AWD/SEL/1.6T’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Encore GX:

The Kona stops shorter than the Encore GX:

For superior ride and handling, the Kona 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 GX has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Kona AWD has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Kona AWD 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 Kona’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Encore GX (104.7 inches vs. 102.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Kona is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Encore GX.

The Kona Limited AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Encore GX AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Kona Limited 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 better maneuverability, the Kona’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Encore GX’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Kona has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Encore GX (8.1 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Kona to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Kona N Line’s minimum ground clearance is .8 inch higher than on the Encore GX (8.3 vs. 7.5 inches).

The Kona has 6.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (101.2 vs. 94.3).

The Kona has .2 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 2.4 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom, 1.7 inches more rear hip room and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

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

The Kona has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (25.5 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Kona has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (63.7 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

The Kona 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.

The Kona’s optional front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Encore GX’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Kona 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.

Both the Kona and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Kona SEL/N Line/Limited 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.

The Kona Limited’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Encore GX Essence’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Buick Encore GX by 23% during 2023.