Compare the2026 Mazda CX-5 VS 2026 Buick Encore GX

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda CX-5 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Buick Encore GX has not been tested.

The CX-5 has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-5 has a standard Rear Smart Brake Support 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the Encore GX.

Both the CX-5 and Encore GX have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the CX-5 has Smart Braking Support - Rear Crossing (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 CX-5’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 CX-5 and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-5 weighs 601 to 833 pounds more than the Buick Encore GX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Mazda CX-5 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 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, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Encore GX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

The CX-5’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CX-5’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.

The CX-5’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 50 more horsepower (187 vs. 137) and 24 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 162) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The CX-5’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 32 more horsepower (187 vs. 155) and 12 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-5 is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	CX-5	Encore GX
Zero to 60 MPH	8 sec	9.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	23.6 sec	31.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.4 sec	10.1 sec
Quarter Mile	16.2 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	80 MPH

The CX-5 has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (15.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CX-5 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.

For better stopping power the CX-5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Encore GX:

	CX-5	Encore GX
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	10.39 inches

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Encore GX:

	CX-5	Encore GX
70 to 0 MPH	173 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver

For superior ride and handling, the Mazda CX-5 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 CX-5 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the CX-5 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 CX-5’s wheelbase is 8.7 inches longer than on the Encore GX (110.7 inches vs. 102 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Encore GX.

The CX-5 S Premium Plus 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.

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 S/Select has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Encore GX (8 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-5 Preferred/Premium’s minimum ground clearance is .7 inch higher than on the Encore GX (8.2 vs. 7.5 inches).

The CX-5 has 12.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (106.5 vs. 94.3).

The CX-5 has .8 inches more front legroom, 3.3 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 3.9 inches more rear legroom, 1.7 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CX-5’s rear seats recline. The Encore GX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (33.7 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (66.5 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-5 easier. The CX-5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.5 inches, while the Encore GX’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

The CX-5’s cargo area is larger than the Encore GX’s in every dimension:

	CX-5	Encore GX
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39.1”/75”	31.8”/60.8”
Max Width	57.5”	53”
Min Width	41.3”	40.7”
Height	33.9”	32”

The CX-5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Encore GX’s (1500 vs. 1000 pounds).

The CX-5 Preferred/Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5’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 CX-5’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Encore GX can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CX-5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Encore GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 CX-5’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Encore GX’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-5 Premium Plus 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.

Both the Mazda CX-5 and Buick Encore GX offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The CX-5 offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Encore GX’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Both the CX-5 and the Encore GX offer available heated front seats. The CX-5 Premium 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.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-5 Premium 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 CX-5 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 CX-5 and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-5 Select/Preferred/Premium 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.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the Buick Encore GX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Buick Encore GX by over two to one during 2025.