2023 Buick Encore GX vs 2023 Nissan Rogue

The 2023 Buick Encore GX, despite Buick’s rich legacy of innovative designs dating back to the 1938 Y-Job, did not reflect this storied past in its styling. The Encore GX represented a departure from its historical roots without establishing a new design direction. Its rounded exterior surfaces and tall stance resulted in awkward proportions, failing to deliver the desirable high-riding SUV appearance that has captivated consumers in the segment. Our test model, equipped with the optional Sport Touring Package, featured slight enhancements such as different front and rear bumpers, a black mesh grille with red inserts, side moldings, and 18-inch wheels with a two-tone finish. However, these modifications were barely noticeable unless the vehicle was placed next to a standard Encore GX.

Inside, the Encore GX Essence trim boasted the expected amenities of a top-tier model, including leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, and power-adjustable front seats. Despite these premium touches, an abundance of plastic elements reminded us of the Encore GX’s position at the lower end of Buick’s lineup. Though the fit and finish were commendable, the interior design felt dated. The dashboard and door panels had a blob-like appearance reminiscent of the 1990s. One notable feature was the instrument cluster with two round binnacles that nicely framed a small digital display.

Conversely, the 2023 Nissan Rogue embraced a more conservative design approach for its most popular offering. The Rogue’s styling was handsome, with chiseled lines and a sufficient amount of SUV detailing to convey a rugged persona. This appeal was critical, given that consumers typically avoid unattractive vehicles. The test vehicle, a Platinum trim with the Premium package, included AWD, two-tone paint, and various additional features that elevated its aesthetic and functionality.

The Rogue’s interior reflected a more upscale feel with soft, supple diamond-pattern leather seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a four-way power front passenger seat. These seats, designed with Nissan’s Zero Gravity technology, offered a comfortable experience, although height adjustment was lacking for the passenger seat. The panoramic sunroof and ambient interior lighting enhanced the upscale atmosphere, barring a curious placement of the ambient light control button within the center armrest bin.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX allowed buyers to choose between two turbocharged three-cylinder engines. The base 1.2-liter turbo engine produced 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, while the optional 1.3-liter variant generated 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The standard offering was front-wheel drive, and an AWD option was available with the 1.3-liter engine.

Buick employed different transmissions for its drivetrains: a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the FWD models and a nine-speed automatic for the AWD models. The Encore GX with the 1.3-liter AWD felt peppier than the specifications suggested, though power delivery wasn’t always smooth. The nine-speed automatic transmission occasionally felt mismatched, especially without manual shifting, which was cumbersome with the provided toggle switch. The vehicle excelled in ride comfort and noise reduction, delivering a smooth and quiet driving experience despite poorly maintained roads. However, driving dynamics were less impressive, with slow steering and noticeable body roll.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue received a notable powertrain upgrade. The new 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with variable compression technology replaced the older 2.5-liter four-cylinder. This VC-Turbo engine was designed to provide both strong performance and enhanced fuel economy. It delivered 201 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 225 pound-feet of torque between 2,800 rpm and 4,000 rpm.

Paired with a CVT, the Rogue’s new engine offered improved responsiveness for urban and suburban driving. However, it lacked sufficient passing power on highways, and the engine’s three-cylinder configuration contributed to some undesirable noise and vibration. The EPA-rated fuel economy of 31 mpg in combined driving did not match real-world performance, as our test vehicle averaged 28.9 mpg.

The Rogue’s suspension and handling benefitted from Nissan’s Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control systems, which ensured composed handling and a smooth ride. Despite some lateral and vertical body motion on uneven roads and modest tire grip, the Rogue struck a good balance between ride comfort and body control, maintaining a secure and consistent handling character.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered competitive passenger space within its segment. Headroom was nearly on par with rivals like the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, and Subaru Crosstrek. While the Subaru provided slightly better front legroom, the Kia Seltos offered more rear legroom for back-seat passengers. The Encore GX’s cargo space, at 23.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 50.2 cubic feet with them folded, was respectable, though the Seltos provided more room.

The front seats in the Encore GX were positioned close together, making the cabin feel cramped. Despite good cushioning, the seats lacked thigh support, which compromised comfort. However, the vehicle excelled in small-item storage with large door pockets and an efficient center-console tray. The instrumentation was well-executed with clear and informative displays, though the lack of a button for the 360-degree camera view was a minor inconvenience.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Rogue served as a suitable alternative to a midsize family car, with ease of entry and exit, better driver visibility, available AWD, and practical cargo space. The Rogue’s rear doors opened nearly 90 degrees, facilitating the loading and unloading of children or large items. Its cargo capacity was impressive, offering 36.5 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and 74.1 cubic feet with them folded. The Divide-N-Hide feature enabled versatile cargo configurations, and underfloor storage areas added to the practicality.

The Rogue's front seats, with Zero Gravity design, were comfortable and supportive, though lacking in front passenger height adjustment. Rear-seat comfort, however, was disappointing due to low-mounted seat cushions and inadequately supportive leg areas. The rear seats featured climate controls, charging ports, and shades but did not match the front seats’ comfort.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 4.2-inch driver information display, and standard features like wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional features included built-in navigation, a head-up display, wireless phone charging, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Although the 8-inch touchscreen was smaller than some competitors, it offered pleasant graphics and user-friendly menus.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue had an older infotainment system with an available 9-inch touchscreen, stereo knobs, and main menu buttons. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, NissanConnect services, and Alexa Built-in. Our test vehicle’s voice recognition system, however, struggled with some requests, reducing its overall effectiveness.

The Rogue featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display, both of which worked well during our tests. Rainy weather limited our experimentation with the HUD, but the digital displays provided clear and useful information.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX was well-equipped with driver assist features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Additional options included adaptive cruise control, automatic park assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, a 360-degree camera system, and a rearview camera mirror. The Encore GX earned a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and top “Good” ratings in IIHS crash tests, though its child-seat anchor ease of use scored lower.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, equipped with Safety Shield 360, included 10 airbags, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. The addition of ProPilot Assist with Navi-link on higher trims offered adaptive cruise control combined with lane-centering assistance. Though the system was slightly delayed in activation, it worked well on freeways, enhancing comfort and safety. The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, though its performance in specific tests was mixed.