2024 Lexus RX vs 2023 Buick Encore GX

The 2023 Buick Encore GX's design did not reflect Buick's storied history of great designs, such as the 1938 Y-Job. The rounded exterior surfaces and tall stance gave the Encore GX awkward proportions that failed to convey the high-riding SUV look that buyers in this segment typically sought. Even with the optional Sport Touring Package, which included different front and rear bumpers, a black mesh grille with red inserts, rocker and body-side moldings, and 18-inch wheels, the changes were subtle and barely noticeable.

Inside, the Encore GX Essence trim offered expected features like leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, and power-adjustable seats. However, the interior was dominated by plastic bits, reminding us that the Encore GX was still at the bottom of Buick's model hierarchy. The fit and finish were good, but the design was uninspired, with a blob-like dashboard and door panels reminiscent of 1990s automotive design. The instrument cluster, with its two round binnacles and small digital display, was the one memorable feature.

The 2024 Lexus RX, following a full redesign, presented a mixed bag in terms of styling. The front end was dominated by an oversized trapezoidal grille flanked by large air inlets, which looked awkward, especially in lighter colors. The hood's large bump added to the bulky appearance, a departure from the sleek RX models of the past. The sides featured bulging body panels and a swooping chrome accent strip suggesting a floating-roof design, which seemed out of place. The rear end, however, had a tidy design with a single light strip tying the taillights together.

Inside, the RX's design was more conventional and less polarizing. The top Luxury trim featured faux suede inserts in the seats, doors, and roof pillars, creating a softer and more inviting cabin. A large 14-inch infotainment touchscreen was positioned high on the dash, with neatly organized climate controls at the bottom. The wide center console had a simulated woodgrain that felt and looked like plastic, contrasting with the genuine wood inlays on the steering wheel. Despite this, the rest of the cabin was covered in premium leather and well-grained plastics, with sturdy construction underneath.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines. The standard 1.2-liter engine produced 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, while the optional 1.3-liter engine made 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) optional for the 1.3-liter engine. The FWD models used a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Our 1.3-liter AWD test car's acceleration felt stronger than the specs suggested, but power delivery was not smooth, requiring patience to get the most out of the engine. The nine-speed automatic transmission could be caught several gears too high, making manual shifting less ideal. The Encore GX delivered a comfortable ride and a quiet cabin, thanks to Buick's Quiet Tuning package with active noise cancellation. However, the driving experience was ponderous and awkward, with slow and lifeless steering and significant body roll.

The 2024 Lexus RX was available in four models, starting with the base RX 350, powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The RX 350h hybrid had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT and standard AWD. The RX 500h F Sport Performance combined a turbo 2.4-liter inline-four with a hybrid powertrain, producing 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, with a six-speed automatic transmission and AWD.

We drove the new RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid, which had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an 18.1-kWh battery pack, producing 304 hp and offering up to 37 miles of electric-only range. The RX 350 and RX 350h felt underpowered compared to other luxury SUVs, with the hybrid's CVT keeping engine revs high. The RX 450h+ was quicker, reaching 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, and felt more responsive with immediate electric propulsion. The brake pedal was soft, and the suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in noticeable body roll and some residual rebounds after bumps. The F Sport Handling trim offered sharper performance but was still outperformed by competitors.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered competitive passenger space, with headroom in both rows comparable to the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, and Subaru Crosstrek. The Subaru had more front legroom, while the Kia Seltos provided more room for back-seat passengers. The Encore GX had 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 50.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, topping the Kona and CX-30.

However, the front seats were placed far inboard, squeezing the driver and front passenger together and reducing the feeling of spaciousness. The front seats lacked thigh support, making them less comfortable. Despite the limited cabin size, Buick made good use of available space with large door pockets, a center-console tray, and a space-efficient wireless phone charger. The instrumentation was well-executed, with clear information conveyed by the engine start/stop notification and pedestrian-detection warning light.

The 2024 Lexus RX's front seats offered plenty of room and power adjustments, with standard heating and ventilation on all but the base trim. A rubberized wireless charging pad paired with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and additional USB ports were available. The cupholders could hold wider drink bottles and had a drop-down surface for taller containers. The double-hinged armrest lid provided easy access to a deep storage bin, and well-sized door pockets offered ample space for personal items.

The rear seats were spacious, with good headroom, legroom, and outward visibility. Manual sunshades provided privacy, and rear climate controls and USB charge ports were standard. The RX had up to 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which was on the small side for the class, but the trunk was usable and could hold bulkier objects. Folding the second-row seat backs expanded the capacity to 46.2 cubic feet, with one-touch power-folding buttons on the top Luxury trim. All trims had a power liftgate, with hands-free operation available as an option.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch driver information display. Optional features included a built-in navigation system, head-up display, wireless phone charging, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The interface was easy to use, with graphics that looked nicer than many competitor systems. The 8-inch touchscreen was small by current standards but fit well within the dashboard.

The 2024 Lexus RX's new infotainment system featured a 9.8-inch touchscreen in lower trims and a 14-inch display in higher trims. The system had logical on-screen menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses. It accepted natural speech commands, allowing users to adjust climate control or find destinations with voice commands. The steering wheel had multi-function pads for phone, music, and cruise control settings, with a diagram in the head-up display showing button functions.

All RX trims came with a cloud-based navigation system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app, available as a subscription service with a two-year free trial. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were wireless and operated without issues. The available 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system delivered powerful bass and clear highs, offering good value compared to rival premium audio upgrades.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX had standard 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. Optional features 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 was an IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick and received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Lexus RX earned five stars in overall and side collision protection from the NHTSA, with four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The FWD RX 350 was rated four stars for overall protection. The IIHS awarded the RX its highest score of "Good" in all crashworthiness evaluations except for the new moderate frontal overlap test, where it was rated "Poor." Despite this, the RX was named a Top Safety Pick. All RX models came with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a rear passenger safe-exit system. Additional features included parking proximity sensors, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, a surround-view camera system, a semi-automated parking system, and a highway driving assist system.