2023 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Buick Encore GX

The 2023 Kia Sportage arrived with a completely redesigned look that many found reminiscent of French automakers like Renault or Citroen. This new design was a departure from its previous generations, which ranged from quirky to boring. The 2023 model featured exciting and exotic styling, with standout elements like bright boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and textured metal trim on the D Pillar. Inside, Kia opted for synthetic leather upholstery, which, while durable and animal-friendly, didn't quite match the feel of real leather. The driver’s seat offered excellent visibility, and the dash was dominated by over two feet of display in trims above the base LX. However, some interior elements, like the hard plastic plate near the door handle, were less impressive.

In contrast, the 2023 Buick Encore GX did not carry forward Buick’s historical design flair. The rounded exterior and tall stance gave it awkward proportions that didn’t quite fit the high-riding SUV look. Even with the optional Sport Touring Package, which added subtle styling tweaks, the Encore GX struggled to stand out. Inside, the top-trim Essence model featured leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, but the abundance of plastic reminded drivers of its position at the bottom of Buick’s lineup. The dashboard and door panels had a blob-like design reminiscent of the 1990s, though the instrument cluster with its round binnacles was a notable feature.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and was available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). Despite being more powerful than the previous model, the 2023 Sportage lacked the turbocharged engine option that had been available in earlier versions. The new engine delivered slightly better fuel efficiency, with 25 mpg city and 32 highway for FWD models, and 23/28/25 for AWD models. The Sportage also featured the X-Line and X-Pro trims, which added rugged visual cues and off-road capabilities, respectively. The X-Pro trim, in particular, included BF Goodrich all-terrain tires and specific drive modes for various conditions, making it capable off-road but less comfortable on-road due to increased road noise and vibration.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: a standard 1.2-liter producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 1.3-liter engine with 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. FWD models used a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models came with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The 1.3-liter AWD test car provided stronger acceleration than expected, but power delivery was not smooth, requiring a patient driving approach. The Encore GX excelled in ride comfort and noise reduction, thanks to its well-damped suspension and active noise cancellation. However, it felt ponderous and awkward in most driving situations, with slow and lifeless steering and significant body roll.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, now larger than its predecessor, offered impressive interior space. Rear-seat legroom measured 41.3 inches, and the trunk provided 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The front seats featured ample storage, including a cubby ahead of the shifter, tandem cupholders, and a spacious center console bin. However, the touch-sensitive HVAC controls were frustrating to use, as they could switch between climate control and navigation functions, making them difficult to operate while driving.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX had competitive passenger space, with headroom comparable to rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30. It offered 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 50.2 cubic feet with them folded. The front seats were placed close together, reducing the feeling of spaciousness, and lacked thigh support. Despite the limited cabin size, Buick made good use of available space with large door pockets and a center-console tray. The instrumentation was well-executed, with clear displays and useful hard buttons, though a dedicated button for the 360-degree camera view was missing.

The 2023 Kia Sportage featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface on EX and higher trims, paired with a 12.3-inch driver information display on SX trims and above. This setup looked impressive, though the icons on the screen were hard to distinguish due to their similar appearance. The base LX trim had an 8-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims required wired connections. Standard tech included wireless charging, rear USB-C ports, navigation, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, and HD Radio. A Harman Kardon stereo was standard on higher trims.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch driver information display. Optional features included built-in navigation, a head-up display, wireless phone charging, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Standard tech included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The interface was user-friendly, with clear graphics and an easy-to-navigate menu layout. However, the 8-inch screen was smaller than some competitors, though it fit well within the dashboard design.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, lane-departure warning, and rear backup sensors. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and safe exit warning. Adaptive cruise control was available on the SX trim and above, while the SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige trims included advanced features like Blind-view monitor and Highway driving assist. The 2023 Sportage had not yet been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX also came with a robust set of standard driver assist features, such as 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 received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and was an IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick, though it had an "Average" score for child-seat anchor ease of use.