2022 Buick Encore GX vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its redesign in 2019, retained a somewhat dated appearance, largely carrying over from its previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru seemed to follow the adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim level appeared plain with 17-inch steel wheels, but the Forester's clean and unpretentious look stood out among compact crossovers. The Sport model added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact, especially with complementary paint colors like Dark Blue Pearl. The Forester rode on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with other Subaru models, and featured a rugged SUV marketing angle despite its shared underpinnings with sedans and hatchbacks.

Inside, the Forester's no-nonsense mix of materials promised durability over aesthetics, with the Sport trim adding orange accents. Cloth upholstery was standard on Base, Premium, and Sport models, while Limited and Touring trims offered leather. The All-Weather Package, standard on Premium and higher trims, included heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, and a windshield de-icer. The Forester's interior was practical, designed to withstand the rigors of daily use and outdoor adventures.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX, on the other hand, bore a strong family resemblance to the smaller Encore, with both SUVs featuring Buick's trapezoidal "waterfall" grille, high beltline, and similar headlight and front fascia designs. The Encore GX's slightly longer wheelbase and additional length gave it a less stubby appearance. The optional ST (Sport Touring) appearance package enhanced its looks with body-color moldings, custom grille, sport bumpers with red accents, 18-inch aluminum wheels, and an "ST" badge. New exterior paint options for 2022 included Cinnabar Metallic, Sapphire Metallic, Sunset Glow Metallic, and Rosewood Metallic.

Inside, the Encore GX offered an attractive cabin with soft-touch materials and minimal hard plastic. Cloth seats were standard on base models, while leather seats were standard on the top Essence trim. Our test vehicle featured heated seats in Whisper Beige leather with Ebony accents, breaking up the otherwise monochromatic interior. The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel was well-sized and featured redundant controls, though the rotary toggles were cumbersome. Overall, the controls and instrumentation were straightforward and user-friendly, catering to Buick's customer base.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with a single powertrain option: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity compared to inline-four engines. Subaru quoted a 1,500-pound maximum towing capacity, with Trailer Stability Assist as standard. While the power felt adequate for most situations, it lacked the desired thrust for highway merging and overtaking, and wind noise was noticeable at higher speeds. The Forester's suspension tuning prioritized comfort over handling, resulting in significant body roll in corners and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement. All-wheel drive (AWD) was standard, with X-Mode and Dual X-Mode available for different surfaces. Hill-descent control was standard on Premium and higher trims, and the Forester boasted 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it more capable off-road than many competitors.

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 motor making 155 hp. The 1.2-liter engine was standard on Preferred and Select trims, while the 1.3-liter unit was standard on the top Essence trim and optional on the lower trims. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available. FWD models used a CVT, while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic transmission. The 1.3-liter turbo engine and CVT combination in our test vehicle proved capable, though a bit buzzy and harsh. The engine stop/start feature, while beneficial for fuel economy, was somewhat annoying. The Encore GX's ride was noisier and less settled than expected from a Buick, with noise, vibration, and harshness levels more intrusive than anticipated. Despite this, the CVT did not drone, and the handling was drama-free.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feeling, though it let in a lot of sunlight. Cargo space was generous, with 35.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 76.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Forester had more cargo space than some competitors but lacked a sliding second-row bench. A power liftgate was optional on the Sport trim and standard on Limited and Touring trims. The Forester's cupholders were decently sized, and the center console was reasonably spacious, though the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-size phone, and wireless charging was not available. A power-adjustable driver's seat was only available on the Premium trim and above. The large knobs for audio and climate control were user-friendly, but the numerous buttons on the steering wheel could be confusing.

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 legible. The slightly elevated ride height improved visibility, aided by the optional rear camera mirror. Front-seat headroom and legroom were ample, though rear-seat knee room was tight, and fitting three adults in the back was unlikely. Cargo space measured 23.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 50.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Encore GX's cargo area was not particularly spacious but was functional, with a two-level cargo floor creating a flat load floor when the rear seats were folded. The optional hands-free power liftgate added convenience, and a rotary dial allowed for adjusting the liftgate's maximum height.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring trims included navigation and rear USB ports. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, though the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also had a secondary screen in the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure. This setup seemed overly complex, as much of the same information could be displayed on both screens.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX offered decent tech for the price, with a standard eight-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth audio streaming, Buick Connected Services with a built-in WiFi hotspot, front and rear USB ports, OnStar telematics, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Navigation was available on Select and Essence trims, along with built-in Amazon Alexa capability. Our test vehicle had a basic audio system, despite the numerous tech options. The Encore GX came with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and the Driver Confidence package included automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, following-distance indicator, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. 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. Pairing an iPhone via Bluetooth was easy, and the infotainment system was intuitive and user-friendly.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with top ratings in all crash tests and front-crash prevention tech. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Forester a five-star overall rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. The Forester came standard with Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist system, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The EyeSight system's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions performed adequately, though the latter's steering inputs were jerky. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus, which checked for signs of distraction.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX came standard with several driver assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Teen Driver technology helped track driving habits and set speed and volume limits. The Encore GX performed well in NHTSA crash tests, earning five stars for overall crash protection, frontal and side crash protection, and four stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Encore GX "Good" ratings in all crash tests, with "Superior" ratings for front crash prevention. However, the headlights received mixed ratings, with the top Essence trim's LED headlights rated "Acceptable" and the lower trims' halogen headlights rated "Marginal."