2022 Buick Encore GX vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport had been eagerly anticipated, and it finally made its debut as a smaller sibling to the iconic Bronco. While the larger Bronco was designed to compete with rugged off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner, the Bronco Sport offered a more suburban-friendly, unibody crossover experience. It retained some of the classic Bronco styling cues, such as the bold white lettering on the grille and tailgate, but it was tailored for everyday driving with a touch of adventure readiness.

The Bronco Sport's design was both modern and retro, reminiscent of a Land Rover. It featured short front and rear overhangs, tall fender wells, and a tucked-in body, all of which were ideal for trail driving. The interior was rugged yet tasteful, with an uncluttered design and convenient storage options. The trim levels offered a range of wheel and tire options, from 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels on the Base model to 29-inch all-terrain tires on the First Edition. The interior trim also varied, from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats, ensuring a comfortable and stylish ride.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX, on the other hand, was a handsome little SUV that shared a strong family resemblance with the smaller Encore. It featured Buick's signature trapezoidal "waterfall" grille, a high beltline, and similar headlight styling. The Encore GX had a slightly longer wheelbase and additional length, giving it a more balanced appearance. The optional ST (Sport Touring) appearance package added sporty touches like body-color moldings, custom grille, and 18-inch aluminum wheels with gloss inserts.

Inside, the Encore GX offered an attractive cabin with soft-touch materials and minimal hard plastic. The base models came with cloth seats, while the top Essence trim featured leather seats. The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel was well-sized and offered convenient controls, though some found the rotary toggles a bit cumbersome. Overall, the Encore GX provided a comfortable and user-friendly interior, with ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, though rear-seat knee room was a bit tight.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was put to the test at Holly Oaks ORV Park in Michigan, where it impressed with its off-road capabilities. It offered two engine choices: a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque for the Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims, and a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque for the Badlands and First Edition trims. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes.

The Bronco Sport's short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance made it a capable off-roader. It handled trails and obstacles with ease, thanks to its 7.4 inches of front suspension travel and 8.1 inches of rear suspension travel. On-road, the Bronco Sport was a comfortable and capable commuter, though the 1.5-liter engine could feel strained under heavy acceleration.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engine options: a 1.2-liter unit producing 137 horsepower and a 1.3-liter engine with 155 horsepower. The 1.2-liter engine was standard on the Preferred and Select trims, while the 1.3-liter engine was standard on the top Essence trim and available as an option on the lower trims. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. FWD models used a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while AWD models featured a traditional nine-speed automatic.

The 1.3-liter turbo engine and CVT combination provided adequate power for everyday driving, though it could be a bit buzzy. The Encore GX's ride was generally comfortable, but it lacked the refined driving dynamics expected from a Buick. Noise, vibration, and harshness levels were higher than anticipated, though the CVT did not drone excessively.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with its clever features and ample cargo space. It could accommodate two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes in the cargo area, and Ford offered a catalog of over 100 accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could hold up to 150 pounds (100 with a moonroof), and the 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds, while the 1.5-liter engine could tow 2,000 pounds. The cargo hold featured a flip-up rear glass, an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps.

The front cabin offered plenty of storage compartments, including big door pockets and multiple cubbies. However, taller drivers might have found outward visibility challenging due to the roof overhang, and the seating position could have been higher for better off-road visibility.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX, despite its small size, provided a comfortable and easy-to-live-with interior. Ingress and egress were effortless, and the controls were clearly marked and easy to use. The slightly elevated ride height improved visibility, and the optional rear camera mirror was a handy feature. Front-seat headroom and legroom were more than adequate, though rear-seat knee room was tight, and fitting three adults in the back was unlikely.

Cargo space in the Encore GX measured 23.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 50.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. The two-level cargo floor created a flat load floor when the rear seats were folded, and the crossover could accommodate items up to eight feet in length. The optional hands-free power liftgate added convenience, and a rotary dial allowed for easy adjustment of the liftgate's maximum height.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came equipped with the latest infotainment systems, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with SYNC 3, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Ford+Alexa, and SiriusXM capability. FordConnect with 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims. The terrain management system offered up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, and trail control technology provided a cruise-control-like feature for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start, heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels, and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel were available on higher trims.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX offered decent tech for its price, with a standard 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth audio streaming, Buick Connected Services, front and rear USB ports, OnStar telematics, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A navigation system was available on Select and Essence trims, along with built-in Amazon Alexa capability. The Advanced Technology package added HD surround vision, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and an upgraded infotainment system with navigation and advanced voice recognition. The Convenience package included automatic parking assist, wireless phone charging, a rear camera mirror, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system. All models featured AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes. Crash-worthiness ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX came standard with a range of driver assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. Teen Driver technology and a tire-fill alert system were also included. The Encore GX earned five stars from NHTSA for overall crash protection and received "Good" ratings from IIHS in all crash tests. The top Essence trim's LED headlights received an "Acceptable" rating, while the lower trims' halogen headlights received a "Marginal" rating. The Encore GX also received "Superior" ratings for front crash prevention.