2022 Genesis GV70 vs 2021 Buick Encore GX

The 2021 Buick Encore GX was praised for its stylish design, which was a significant improvement over the original Encore, often referred to as "the shoe" due to its awkward proportions. The Encore GX offered a sleek exterior with no awkward lines, available in three trim levels: Preferred, Select, and Essence. Buyers could opt for the Sport Touring package for a sportier look across all trims. The choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) was available, with two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: a 1.2-liter for FWD and a 1.3-liter for both FWD and AWD. The interior, while offering expected quality for its segment, had some drawbacks, such as hard-to-read analog gauges and a vibrating head-up display, which detracted from its overall refinement.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, while inheriting some styling elements from other Genesis models, maintained a unique appearance with its quad LED headlights and taillights, large shield-shaped grille, and sloping roofline. The Sport Prestige model added character with unique styling features, including 21-inch wheels and dark chrome trim. Inside, the GV70 boasted an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing, with a minimalistic design and high-quality materials like Nappa leather. The interior offered a variety of color options, and while the base models had leatherette seats, the Sport Prestige trim featured luxurious Nappa leather upholstery.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged engine options. The standard 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine produced 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, while the 1.3-liter engine delivered 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The Encore GX's driving experience was described as adequate, with enough power for freeway cruising and light steering for easy maneuverability. The FWD models featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite Buick's QuietTuning efforts, the Encore GX was not particularly quiet inside, and its ride quality was criticized for being too brittle over rough roads and too soft over speed humps.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two powerful engine options: a 2.5-liter turbo-four engine with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The GV70 featured a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty character. However, the GV70's chassis felt big and heavy, lacking the sharpness of some competitors. The steering was adequate but not precise enough for spirited driving. The GV70 excelled in highway cruising, though its ride was firm, even in Comfort mode.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX offered a high seating position with supportive front seats, though lacking lateral bolstering. The rear seats were less comfortable, with limited legroom and a flat, low cushion. Interior storage was commendable, with a trunk capacity of 23.5 cubic feet, expandable to 50.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The test vehicle featured a hands-free power liftgate and a fold-flat front passenger seat for carrying long items.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 provided mid-pack interior space for its segment, with adequate legroom and good rear-seat visibility. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded. The interior design, while daring, compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. The front seats in the Sport Prestige trim were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, though some controls were buried in touchscreen menus.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Advanced Technology Package added a navigation system, natural voice recognition, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a high-definition surround-view camera. Despite the added packages, the test car lacked the available 7-speaker Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system was praised for its quick response, impressive voice recognition, and user-friendly interface.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 boasted a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's tile-based layout and crisp graphics were well-received, and the glass rotary controller offered pinch-and-zoom functionality. Higher trims included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch head-up display with a 3D effect. The GV70 also featured a digital-key function, a fingerprint scanner for starting the car, and a radar-based rear-seat monitor. Genesis Connected Services offered remote camera activation, driver profiles, and more, free for three years.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX came standard with Buick Driver Confidence, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on higher trims, and adaptive cruise control was available. The Encore GX earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not tested it.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, being a new model, lacked crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA. However, it came standard with numerous safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, and Highway Driving Assist. The GV70 also had eight airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control.