2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2022 Buick Encore 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 models featured Buick's signature trapezoidal "waterfall" grille, high beltline, and similar headlight and front fascia designs. The Encore GX, however, had a slightly longer wheelbase and additional length, giving it a less stubby appearance. The optional ST (Sport Touring) appearance package enhanced its look with body-color moldings, custom grille, sport bumpers with red accents, 18-inch aluminum wheels, and an "ST" badge.

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 in Whisper Beige leather with Ebony accents, adding a touch of elegance. The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel was well-sized, though the rotary toggles embedded in the spokes were cumbersome. Overall, the controls and instrumentation were straightforward and user-friendly.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received subtle styling updates, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a more squared-off rear bumper for improved aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colors were introduced, and the rear VW logo now lit up. Despite being an EV, the ID.4 didn't have a traditional SUV look, lacking the upright profile and ground clearance. However, it was based on VW’s MEB platform, designed specifically for EVs, offering modularity for various models.

The interior of the ID.4 carried over the best qualities from recent VW gasoline-car interiors, featuring a minimalist design and a sense of quality. The base ID.4 Standard model, aside from a manual driver’s seat, didn't feel like a downgrade from the higher-level ID.4 Pro S. Leatherette upholstery with recycled fiber inserts was standard for 2023, maintaining a premium feel.

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 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 on all trims. FWD models used a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic.

In our test vehicle, the 1.3-liter turbo engine and CVT proved surprisingly capable, though a bit buzzy. The power was adequate for merging onto highways, and the engine stop/start feature, while beneficial for fuel economy, was slightly annoying. The ride was noisier than expected for a Buick, and the handling was uninspiring. Despite being an SUV, the Encore GX wasn't suited for off-roading, handling only gravel driveways and dirt patches during our test.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, available only with RWD. The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus retained the 82-kWh pack, available with RWD or AWD. Single-motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models delivered 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds.

The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, improving acceleration and handling. The 62-kWh ID.4 Standard felt spritely during a short drive, though more seat time was needed for a proper comparison. The AWD ID.4 had impressive acceleration but allowed too much body roll for truly entertaining handling. Regenerative braking was present but didn't support one-pedal driving, providing a more familiar experience for new EV drivers.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX, despite its small size, offered a comfortable and easy-to-live-with experience. Ingress and egress were effortless, and controls were clearly marked and legible. Front-seat headroom and legroom were adequate, though rear-seat knee room was tight. Cargo space 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, accommodating items up to eight feet in length.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 provided more interior space than other affordable EVs, with ample front and rear legroom and headroom. Cargo space was 30.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. The ID.4 also offered some towing capability, with RWD models towing up to 2,200 pounds and AWD models up to 2,700 pounds. Small interior changes for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console and a better phone spot, along with available three-zone climate control and heated rear seats.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX came with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth audio streaming, built-in WiFi hotspot, front and rear USB ports, OnStar telematics, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Navigation was available on higher trims, and our test vehicle had the Advanced Technology package, adding HD surround vision, head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and more. The Convenience package included automatic parking assist, wireless phone charging, and rain-sensing wipers. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with intuitive app layouts and efficient voice recognition.

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 made the 12.0-inch touchscreen standard on all models, with software updates for improved responsiveness. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard, along with the ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system offered sharp graphics and natural-language voice recognition. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel were distracting, though voice recognition mitigated this issue. The ID.Light feature provided ambient lighting and navigation cues, blending in with other visual and audio alerts.

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

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. The 2022 model received the IIHS’ highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating, with top scores in all crash tests and front crash prevention. The ID.4 also had a good complement of standard driver-assist features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. New for 2023 were Park Assist Plus, automated lane-change for Travel Assist, and a 360-degree camera system.