Compare the2024 Subaru ForesterVS 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
Recommendations

Safety

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The Forester has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Forester (except Base/Premium) offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Encore GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Forester. But it costs extra on the Encore GX.

The Forester Touring’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 Forester and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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

	Forester	Encore GX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23%	24%
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	293	401
Leg Forces (l/r)	105/93 lbs.	409/383 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 Subaru Forester is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

	Forester	Encore GX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	66	91
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	122 lbs.	199 lbs.
Hip Force	389 lbs.	459 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	121	337

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Forester the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Encore GX last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Warranty

The Forester’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Forester’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 Forester’s reliability 20 points higher than the Encore GX.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 4 places higher in reliability than Buick.

Engine

The Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 45 more horsepower (182 vs. 137) and 14 lbs.-ft. more torque (176 vs. 162) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 27 more horsepower (182 vs. 155) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (176 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Subaru Forester is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	Forester	Encore GX
Zero to 60 MPH	8 sec	9.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	24.1 sec	31.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.7 sec	10.1 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86 MPH	80 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Forester lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Forester gets better fuel mileage than the Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder AWD (26 city/33 hwy vs. 26 city/28 hwy).

The Forester has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (16.6 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Forester has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. 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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Forester	Encore GX
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	10.39 inches

The Forester stops shorter than the Encore GX:

	Forester	Encore GX
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Forester Wilderness has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Encore GX; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Subaru Forester 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 Forester has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Forester 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 Forester’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Encore GX (105.1 inches vs. 102.2 inches).

The Forester Touring handles at .83 G’s, while the Encore GX Avenir AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Forester Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Encore GX AWD (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Forester’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Encore GX’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.9 feet).

Passenger Space

The Forester has 17.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (111.6 vs. 94.3).

The Forester has 1.5 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, 2.9 inches more rear hip room and 3.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s rear seats recline. The Encore GX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Forester is 2 inches lower than the Encore GX (15.5” vs. 17.5”). The Forester’s rear step up height is .8 inches lower than the Encore GX’s (17.25” vs. 18”).

Cargo Capacity

The Forester has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (28.9 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Forester has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (74.2 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Forester easier. The Forester’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.5 inches, while the Encore GX’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

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

	Forester	Encore GX
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	35.7”/69.9”	31.8”/60.8”
Max Width	51.2”	53”
Min Width	43.3”	40.7”
Height	34.8”	32”

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Forester Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo 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 Forester. The Encore GX doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Forester’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Encore GX’s (1500 vs. 1000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Forester uses the Vehicle Dynamics 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 engine in the Forester is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Encore GX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Encore GX’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

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

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Forester has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Encore GX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Forester’s optional 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.

Both the Forester and the Encore GX offer available heated front seats. The Forester Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Encore GX.

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

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Forester as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Forester outsold the Buick Encore by over two to one during 2022.