2023 Buick Encore GX vs 2023 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2023 Buick Encore GX, despite Buick's rich history of iconic designs including the famed 1938 Y-Job, did not reflect this legacy in its styling. The Encore GX’s design was modern but did not take inspiration from the brand’s previous retro aesthetics. The vehicle's rounded exterior surfaces and tall stance created an awkward proportion that lacked the high-riding SUV appeal drawing many buyers to this segment. Even with Subaru Crosstrek’s SUV-inspired design, the Encore GX looked more like a bloated hatchback rather than a sleek SUV. Our test car was equipped with the Sport Touring Package, which attempted to enhance the visuals with unique front and rear bumpers, a black mesh grille with red inserts, rocker and body-side moldings, and 18-inch two-tone wheels. However, these changes were subtle and did not dramatically alter the overall appearance. If parked next to a standard Encore, the differences were negligible. Inside, our Encore GX Essence test car was fitted with premium features expected from a top-trim model, such as leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats, and more. However, it was also filled with plastic elements that served as a stark reminder of the Encore GX’s position at the base of Buick’s model lineup. Despite the good fit and finish, the design of the dashboard and door panels was quite bland, reminiscent of the worst styling traits from the 1990s. The instrument cluster, with its dual round binnacles and outward-pointing housings framing a small digital display, stood out as a notable interior feature. The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, alternatively, presented an attractive crossover design, though it lacked the daring exterior of a Kia Sportage, the rugged looks of a Toyota RAV4, or the upscale confidence of the new Honda CR-V. The Equinox had a chunky front-end making the grille look smaller, a refreshing change in an industry often criticized for oversized, aggressive front fascias. Depending on the paint color, the gold Bowtie emblem could appear either garish or lovely. The Equinox offered vibrant new paint options for 2023, including Radiant Red Tintcoat, Blue Glow Metallic, Harvest Brown Metallic, and Sterling Gray Metallic. Available in LS, LT, RS, and Premier trims, the Equinox could be configured with FWD or AWD. The vehicle's thick C-pillar and large windows conveyed a joint design language shared with the larger Chevrolet Traverse and a sense of interior spaciousness. The two-tone leather upholstery in our Premier test vehicle added an upscale touch, with standard heated front seats and a heated steering wheel providing comfort. However, the Equinox's interior did look somewhat dated compared to its rivals. The small touchscreen, basic driver-information display, and a multitude of plastic buttons did little to enhance its appeal. Yet, practicality remained a strong suit, with the PRNDL shift lever offering easy usability amidst a sea of complex controls found in competitors’ vehicles. The additional features from the $1,745 Confidence and Convenience II package made our test car more luxurious and tech-friendly.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines, shared with its platform-mate, the Chevy Trailblazer. The standard 1.2-liter engine produced 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. Those seeking more power could opt for the 1.3-liter engine, which delivered 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. While FWD was standard on both, AWD was available with the 1.3-liter engine. Buick chose different transmissions depending on the drivetrain: a CVT for FWD models and a nine-speed automatic for AWD models. Our 1.3-liter AWD test car felt more powerful than its specifications suggested, albeit with a bit of a delay in power delivery. The engine's note was satisfying, but gear shifts from the automatic transmission could feel sluggish and required a steady hand on the throttle for the drivetrain to catch up. Manual shifting was possible but not ideal due to the awkwardly placed toggles. The Encore GX excelled in comfort and noise cancellation. Its suspension adeptly absorbed road imperfections, making it a comfortable vehicle to drive over long distances. Active noise cancellation further enhanced the serene cabin environment, a feature typically found in more expensive vehicles. Despite these advantages, the Encore GX's driving experience was underwhelming, feeling heavy and awkward in many situations. The steering was slow and lacked feedback, and significant body roll detracted from the overall handling. The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox powered its way with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, now producing 175 hp (up from 170 hp) and 203 lb-ft of torque. While acceleration remained adequate around town, the Equinox struggled to impress at higher speeds. Reaching highway speeds took about eight seconds, and the engine noise increased noticeably during these attempts. City commuters found the Equinox's power adequate, but it lacked the vigor for highway merging and passing, which might steer some buyers towards more powerful alternatives. Unusually, the Equinox retained an older six-speed automatic transmission, unlike many competitors who opted for CVTs or eight- or nine-speed automatics. The six-speed transmitted power with longer gear holds, contributing to the substantial engine noise under acceleration. Available AWD required manual engagement via a button on the center console, which could be considered a quirky yet manageable trait. The Equinox’s new brake-by-wire system was a noticeable improvement, providing smooth and predictable braking action. The well-engineered chassis contributed to a comfortable ride over various road conditions. Steering was tight and responsive, making the Equinox enjoyable in various driving scenarios.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX provided competitive headroom in both rows, comparable to other small crossovers like the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, and Subaru Crosstrek. While the Kia Seltos offered more legroom for rear passengers, the Encore GX's 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space with rear seats in place, and 50.2 cubic feet with them folded, held its own in the segment, outpacing the Kona and CX-30. In practical terms, the front seats' placement close together eroded the sense of space for the driver and passenger, and the seats themselves lacked thigh support, diminishing comfort for longer drives. However, small-item storage was maximized cleverly. Large door pockets and a center-console tray provided ample storage spaces, supplemented by an efficient wireless phone charger. Well-executed instrumentation, including a clearly placed engine start/stop notification and a pedestrian-detection warning light, added to the ease of use. The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, while not offering the largest trunk in its class, presented a respectable cargo area of 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 63.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. This cargo capacity trumped the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester, providing sufficient space for most needs. Passenger space was another highlight for the Equinox. Headroom and legroom were ample, even for taller passengers, ensuring a comfortable ride for both front and rear occupants. With numerous storage spaces, including large door pockets, a well-sized center console bin, and cupholders for all passengers, the Equinox displayed thoughtful functionality. The nearly silent power liftgate added a touch of luxury, facilitating effortless cargo loading and unloading.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came equipped with a standard 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch driver information display nestled between analog gauges. While a fully digital instrument cluster was not available, options included built-in navigation, a head-up display, wireless phone charging, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Standard tech features encompassed wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The interface, shared with other recent GM vehicles, was user-friendly with crisp and clear graphics, and despite its smaller size, the 8-inch touchscreen performed adequately, fitting well within the dashboard's design. In contrast, the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox's technology package appeared modest at first glance. The touchscreen measured just 7 inches in the lower trims (LS, LT, RS) and 8 inches in the Premier trim. Despite its simplicity, the Equinox's tech shined through user-friendly, crisp, and clear displays. While it lacked the visual flair of competitors’ systems like Kia's UVO or Jeep's UConnect5, the interface was more impressive than systems found in the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester. The infotainment system was quick to respond, featured good voice recognition software, and had customizable icons and hard buttons for easy navigation. Our Premier trim had a wireless charging pad, and other trims offered wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The upgraded driver-information display, although simple, offered functionality for music, navigation, trip computer, and vehicle settings.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came standard with several advanced driver assist features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a Teen Driver system. Additional safety features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic park assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system were available through options packages. The rearview camera mirror, eliminating blind spots and dirty windows, was also a noteworthy feature. The Buick Encore GX earned strong safety ratings, including a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and the IIHS’s 2022 Top Safety Pick with top “Good” ratings in all crash tests. It did, however, receive an “Average” score for the ease of use of child-seat anchors. For the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and braking, lane-keeping assistance, lane departure assistance, and automatic high beams. The Equinox, though, did not offer level two autonomous driving technology. The NHTSA awarded the Equinox a five-star overall safety rating, but the vehicle performed poorly in IIHS tests, receiving a "Poor" rating in the moderate overlap front crash test and a "Marginal" score in the side-impact crash test.