2022 Buick Encore GX vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2022 Buick Encore GX bore a striking resemblance to its sibling, the Encore, making it difficult to distinguish between the two, especially in the same color. Both SUVs featured Buick's signature trapezoidal "waterfall" grille, high beltline, and similar headlight styling, front fascia designs, and fog light locations. The Encore GX, however, had a slightly longer wheelbase and additional length, which helped it appear less tall and stubby. The optional ST (Sport Touring) appearance package enhanced its looks with body-color bodyside and rocker moldings, custom grille, sport bumpers with red accents, 18-inch aluminum wheels, and an "ST" badge on the liftgate.

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. Our test vehicle had heated seats covered in Whisper Beige leather with Ebony accents, adding a touch of elegance. The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel was well-sized and featured handy redundant controls, although the rotary toggles embedded in the spokes were a bit cumbersome. Overall, the controls and instrumentation were straightforward, legible, and user-friendly.

The 2023 Lexus GX had a commanding presence with its massive spindle grille, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and a total height of 74.2 inches. The front end looked ready to dominate the road, framed by massive headlights. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, limited to 3,000 units and available in Obsidian, Eminent White Pearl, and exclusive Nori Green Pearl. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's short 109.8-inch wheelbase and minimal overhangs gave it a rugged, off-road-ready appearance.

Inside, the GX's interior was marred by an abundance of plastic materials, which detracted from its luxury status. However, it still offered heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery. The second row was comfortable, but the third row was too tight for regular use. Cargo space was limited, with only 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with both rows folded.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: 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 the 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 as an option. FWD models used a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while AWD models had a traditional nine-speed automatic.

In our test vehicle, the 1.3-liter turbo engine and CVT proved to be a capable powertrain, though it was a bit buzzy and harsh. The engine stop/start feature was somewhat annoying but could be overridden. The Encore GX's ride was not as settled as expected from a Buick, and it was noisier inside than anticipated. Despite Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technologies, noise, vibration, and harshness levels were intrusive. The Encore GX handled well but lacked inspiring driving dynamics.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While not the most powerful engine on paper, the V8 delivered a satisfying linear power delivery and a distinctive sound. The GX had a 6,500-pound towing capacity but lagged behind other SUVs in terms of performance and fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined.

The GX's weight made it roll through corners, but the roll was predictable and controllable. The steering was vague off-center, but road feel was communicative. The brakes were strong and predictable, though stopping from 60 mph required significant effort. The GX's Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential distributed the standard four-wheel drive (4WD) system into a 40:60 front:rear split, adjusting based on wheel slip. This made the GX user-friendly in various driving conditions.

Despite its small size, the 2022 Buick Encore GX never felt cramped during our testing. Ingress and egress were easy, and the controls were clearly marked and legible. The slightly elevated ride height provided excellent visibility, aided by the optional rear camera mirror. Front-seat headroom and legroom were adequate, but rear-seat knee room was tight. Cargo space measured 23.5 cubic feet behind the rear bench seat and 50.2 cubic feet with the seat folded. The two-level cargo floor created a flat load floor when the rear seats were folded, accommodating items up to eight feet in length.

The 2023 Lexus GX offered plenty of cubby space for small items, with a deep center console bin, a handy space ahead of the shifter, and conveniently placed cupholders. The GX retained hard buttons for controls, which was a blessing for those put off by touchscreens. The center console lid had sliding mechanisms to adjust the armrest for different-sized occupants. The second row was comfortable, but the third row was too tight for regular use. Cargo space was limited, with only 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with both rows folded.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX offered decent tech for its price, including an eight-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth audio streaming, Buick Connected Services with a built-in WiFi hotspot, 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. Our test vehicle had a basic audio system, despite the tech options.

Driver-assistance features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, following-distance indicator, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assistance with lane-departure warning, 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.

The 2023 Lexus GX's infotainment technology, revamped for 2022, already looked dated. The 10.3-inch touchscreen was an improvement, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integrations. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface (RTI) was still present but unnecessary due to the improved touchscreen. The GX included three years of Lexus Enform Remote and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo with a CD player.

However, the touchscreen lagged, and the graphics were not as crisp as those in competing models. The GX's off-road capability was more impressive, with a real 4WD system, a two-speed transfer case, low range, and a locking center differential. Additional driving-focused technology included downhill assist, hill-start assist, traction control, and stability control. The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) leveled the vehicle in on- and off-road driving, and the Off-Road Package added a multi-terrain monitor, transmission cooler, fuel-tank protection, crawl control, and a multi-terrain select system.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX came standard with several driver assistance features and offered additional safety options. Teen Driver technology helped track driving habits, set speed and volume limits, and set up geographic boundary alerts. A tire-fill alert system made maintaining proper tire pressures easy. 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 awarded 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."

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it was originally engineered for the 2010 model year. Despite this, Toyota and Lexus included advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in the GX, such as automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams. While missing some top-end features, the GX's safety technology was significantly newer than its body.