Buick Encore GX vs Genesis GV70

The 2024 Buick Encore GX was a model that exuded a sense of refined style and modernity. Drawing heavy inspiration from the striking Wildcat concept of 2022, this refreshed version brought a fresh face to the lineup. The front end featured sleek daytime running lights positioned above a revamped grille, flanked by angular LED lamps situated slightly lower on either side. The new Buick logo prominently adorned the grille, adding to the vehicle's updated appeal. The top-of-the-line Avenir trim we tested boasted its own unique grille design accented with chrome trim, lending an additional touch of sophistication. At the rear, aside from the newly introduced LED tail lights on the upper trims, there were minimal changes from the 2023 version. The overall exterior package was quite handsome, especially with the option of 19-inch wheels.

The color palette for the Encore GX was quite vibrant, breaking away from the usual monotony of greys and beiges. Buyers had the option to choose from brilliant red, deep blue, or maroon. An almost-orange hue called Copper Ice Metallic was also available, which became a standout choice. Some of these colors even offered the option of a black roof, black mirrors, and black roof rails, bringing a sportier aesthetic to the vehicle.

Inside, the most notable change was the relocation of HVAC vents to accommodate a new 19-inch glass panel that housed both the digital gauge cluster and the touchscreen. While the functionality of this new panel was debatable when the car was running, it undeniably lent a premium, tech-savvy look to the Buick at first glance. However, typical of General Motors' cost-saving tendencies, there were some cheap-feeling plastic elements scattered around the interior, and the color choices were limited to black or cream. Nonetheless, given its price point, these compromises were somewhat understandable.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Genesis GV70 stood out both within the Genesis lineup and among its competitors. It preserved certain Genesis signature styling elements, such as the split headlights and substantial shield-like grille, which continued to promote brand recognition. However, the GV70 was notably sleeker than its larger sibling, the GV80, while avoiding the excessive eccentricity seen in the smaller GV60. Unique design details included a rear window profile that almost resembled a hatchback, large round exhaust outlets on the gasoline-powered Sport Prestige trim, and distinctive 21-inch wheels (19-inch wheels were standard).

The GV70 master's the balance of SUV presence and luxury-car style. Unlike its competitors—Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Porsche Macan, which either appeared overly muscular or struggled to adapt their styling cues to SUV proportions—the GV70's design effectively positioned it as both a luxury SUV and a distinctly upscale vehicle. The Electrified GV70 maintained the sleek aesthetics of its gasoline counterpart while incorporating a uniquely designed grille that housed the charge port, making charging straightforward and convenient.

Inside, the GV70 offered one of the most distinctive interiors found in any new vehicle. Traditional luxury touches like quilted Nappa leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof were available, but what set it apart were the thoughtful design details. The climate controls and other buttons were housed in an elliptical pod, and the infotainment system featured a rotary controller that had an almost extraterrestrial design aesthetic. Additionally, the entire dashboard had a rounded cross-section, reminiscent of an airplane wing, providing a unique, cohesive interior theme.

In terms of performance, the 2024 Buick Encore GX kept things mostly unchanged under the hood. This subcompact SUV was available in either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The base Preferred trim ran on a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

For those wanting a bit more power, all trims could be upgraded to a 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which offered 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain came with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In real-world testing, while the turbocharged engine made the car feel more responsive, it wasn't exactly quick. The Encore GX took about nine seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour. This wasn't a particularly fast time, but it was acceptable for the class. However, the car did exhibit some roughness on takeoff.

Passing on the highway was less than stellar, as the transmission was slow to downshift, introducing a delay of around two seconds—an eternity when quick maneuvers were essential. The absence of a manual control both limited the driving experience and didn't help in tight traffic situations. While it lacked a spirited drive, the Encore GX excelled as a city car, particularly due to its smooth-riding suspension that absorbed rough pavement well. The selectable AWD system was a neat feature, permitting drivers to choose when to engage AWD. That said, competitors like the Honda HR-V offered automatic systems that eliminated the need for such choices, arguably making them more user-friendly in changing conditions.

Switching to the 2024 Genesis GV70, the powertrain options remained consistent with earlier models. The gasoline GV70 started with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. For those seeking more power, a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 offered an impressive 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and featured standard AWD.

The Electrified GV70 featured a pair of electric motors—one for each axle—producing a combined 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque from a 77.4-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Additionally, a "Boost Mode" provided up to 483 horsepower for brief 10-second bursts.

While the GV70 had the numbers to suggest a sporty driving experience, it didn't quite deliver in practice. Engaging Boost Mode in the Electrified GV70 or Sport+ mode in the V6 model did result in impressive straight-line acceleration. However, the chassis tuning wasn't quite in sync with the engine's capability. In corners, the GV70 felt larger, heavier, and slower compared to sportier rivals like the Acura RDX, BMW X3, and Porsche Macan.

In terms of comfort, the GV70 was quite reasonable but fell short of floating over road imperfections, instead, it had a tendency to crash down on bumps. While most aspects of the GV70 made it feel premium, its ride quality reflected its mid-tier status rather than an upper-echelon luxury vehicle.

These driving characteristics translated similarly from the gasoline model to the Electrified GV70. Despite the electric model’s additional weight (441 pounds more than the heaviest gasoline version), it didn’t feel more cumbersome. The Electrified GV70 also featured regenerative braking adjustment via steering-wheel paddles, allowing drivers to switch from minimal regenerative braking, mimicking the feel of a gasoline car, to a higher level that enabled true one-pedal driving. With a 236-mile EPA-rated range, the Electrified GV70 offered no drawbacks in driving experience compared to its gasoline sibling.

In terms of interior space and utility, the Buick Encore GX and Genesis GV70 offered distinct advantages and limitations. The 2024 Buick Encore GX Avenir, as a subcompact SUV, didn't promise much utility but kept up with its competitors. The towing capacity was a modest 1,000 pounds, though it did come with options like a hands-free liftgate for easier loading of cargo.

Behind the rear seats, the Encore GX provided 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space, which expanded to 50.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Additionally, with the front seat folded flat, the Encore GX could accommodate items up to eight feet long, such as surfboards or other athletic gear. The interior offered available heated seats and a heated steering wheel, though seat ventilation wasn’t available. Standard trim levels only featured two-way power-adjustable seats, but upgrading to the Avenir trim or opting for the Comfort package on lower trims offered eight-way adjustable seats. An available seven-speaker Bose audio system enhanced the driving environment.

The 2024 Genesis GV70, on the other hand, offered competitive interior space compared to its rivals. While it had slightly less headroom than the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, the difference was negligible given the GV70’s more streamlined roofline. It managed to provide a bit more front-seat legroom than the BMW and Mercedes, though it offered slightly less than the Audi. The second-row legroom was comparable, with the GV70 offering a tad more than the X3 and a bit less than the Q5 and GLC.

For cargo capacity, the GV70 outshone the Mercedes with its 28.9 cubic feet (compared to the latter’s 21.9 cubic feet), slightly surpassed the BMW with its 28.7 cubic feet but lagged behind the Audi’s 29.5 cubic feet. With the rear seats folded down, the GV70 provided 56.9 cubic feet, less than any of its German competitors. For the Electrified GV70, interior space saw minimal impact; the difference in first and second-row legroom shrank by 0.6 inch, headroom was reduced by 1 inch and 0.8 inch in the first and second rows, respectively, and cargo space decreased by less than a cubic foot.

However, the GV70’s stylish interior design came at a small cost to functionality. The orb-like infotainment controller, rotary shifter, and curvaceous dashboard design limited small-item storage, although a dedicated phone storage nook and rear-seat climate controls were included. Adding to the luxury experience, our Electrified GV70 test car featured automatic side bolsters for the front seats that closed during strong acceleration or cornering.

Both the Buick Encore GX and Genesis GV70 offered competent technology suites, though each had its unique approach. The 2024 Buick Encore GX featured an 11-inch touchscreen married to an 8-inch digital gauge cluster, all under one pane of glass. While visually impressive at first glance, the screens revealed significant unused real estate upon illumination, creating the illusion of malfunctioning visibility. Despite this, the Encore GX did offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also provided various connectivity options, including USB-A and USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and an optional 120-volt outlet. A notable mention was the available rear camera mirror, which sent a video feed to the rear-view mirror for a broader, clearer view.

The Encore GX’s infotainment system was straightforward and user-friendly. It featured tiles for smartphone mirroring, climate control, settings, camera views, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. While it lacked advanced integrations seen in some competitors, such as Amazon Alexa or Google built-in systems, its simplicity was a boon for those who preferred hassle-free operation.

The 2024 Genesis GV70’s infotainment system borrowed heavily from Hyundai’s playbook, resulting in a simpler, but highly functional setup. Standard across all GV70 models was a 14.5-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Lower trims featured an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, while higher trims upgraded to a 12.3-inch unit with a nostalgic 3D effect. A 12-inch head-up display and a 16-speaker Lexicon audio system were also available.

The Genesis system had an intuitive layout, offering easy access to its functions with large, conveniently placed tiles. It was situated so both the driver and front-seat passenger could reach it effortlessly. Alternatively, the rotary controller on the center console provided a high-quality tactile experience, arguably surpassing the usability of BMW’s iDrive and Mercedes’ MBUX systems.

Additional tech features in the GV70 included a fingerprint scanner for cueing individual driver profiles and digital key functionality, allowing a smartphone to replace the key fob. This system enabled door locking/unlocking, vehicle starting, and driving away, adding a high-tech edge to the GV70’s luxury attributes.

Both the Buick Encore GX and Genesis GV70 prioritized safety but had their own distinctive approaches and accolades. The 2024 Buick Encore GX came standard with the Driver Confidence package, which included lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, a following distance indicator, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring was also standard across all trims. However, features like rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera were extra.

The Buick’s automatic braking system was either on or off, offering no customization for sensitivity—a limitation compared to some competitors. Unique to Buick, the Encore GX featured Teen Driver, providing parents with a report card of their kid’s driving habits via a password-protected screen. Another distinctive feature was Buckle to Drive, which prevented the vehicle from shifting out of park unless the driver’s seatbelt was fastened—though this feature could be temporarily bypassed or turned off.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated the 2024 Buick Encore GX with a full five stars in overall safety, including five out of five stars for frontal and side crash ratings and four stars for rollover safety. While the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hadn’t rated the 2024 model yet, the 2023 model boasted high scores in crashworthiness and front crash prevention, although the headlights and LATCH system were rated as Acceptable or Marginal, depending on the trim level.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 gasoline variants received the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, with the Electrified GV70 earning the same in 2023. NHTSA ratings for the 2024 model were incomplete at publication, but preliminary results showed four-star frontal and rollover crash-test ratings for gasoline models, with the identical 2023 GC70 receiving a five-star overall rating. NHTSA had not published ratings for the Electrified GV70 yet.

Genesis equipped all GV70 models with an extensive suite of safety features. Standard equipment included lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, parking assist sensors, and Highway Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering for highway driving. A more advanced Highway Driving Assist 2 system was available, adding automated lane-change capability and blind-spot monitoring, though it still required the driver’s hands-on-wheel attention.

Unique to Genesis, features like safe exit assist aimed to prevent passengers from stepping into oncoming traffic, and a rear occupant alert system used radar to detect the presence of children or pets, offering an additional layer of security beyond traditional alert systems.