Buick Encore GX vs Kia Seltos

The 2024 Kia Seltos underwent a subtle yet impactful mid-cycle refresh. It gained updated headlight and grille designs, and a light strip connecting the two smaller taillight assemblies. While minor, these changes collectively gave the vehicle a refreshed appearance without a significant increase in price. The “Pluton Blue” paint color on our test model looked extra sharp.

Inside, the new Seltos introduced two new interior colors, “Gentle Brown” and “Midnight Green,” although our test model had the standard black interior. The most noticeable change inside was the large digital panel that spanned two-thirds of the dash, consisting of a fully digital instrument panel and a larger touchscreen infotainment system.

The Seltos offered various trims: LX, S, EX, X-Line, and SX. The LX came with 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, and a basic 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The S trim added features like LED daytime running lights, heated side mirrors, and a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen. The EX trim included more luxurious options like synthetic leather upholstery and a wireless device charging pad.

The X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, and while it added 18-inch alloy wheels and unique styling tweaks, it lost the wireless charging pad and power-adjustable driver’s seat. Finally, the top-tier SX trim brought in 18-inch alloy wheels, LED bi-function headlights, and a Bose premium stereo system. Additionally, the SX Sunroof Package added a power sunroof, hands-free power tailgate, ventilated front seats, and digital key 2.0.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX was a head-turner, heavily refreshed and inspired by the Wildcat concept from 2022. It featured a whole new face with sleek daytime running lights and angular LED lamps, along with a new Buick logo. The Avenir trim we tested had a unique grille with chrome trim. The rear saw updates with new LED tail lights on the top trims. Overall, it was a handsome package, especially with the available 19-inch wheels.

Buick offered the Encore GX in more vibrant colors, moving away from the usual grayscale palette. Options included brilliant red, deep blue, maroon, and even a copper-like “Copper Ice Metallic.” Some colors came with the option for a black roof, mirrors, and roof rails.

Inside, the major change was the relocation of HVAC vents to accommodate a 19-inch glass panel housing the digital gauge cluster and touchscreen. This large panel initially gave the interior a premium feel, although there were some cheap-feeling plastics. The color options were limited to black or cream.

The 2024 Kia Seltos came with two engine options. The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced 146 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with Kia’s IVT, an advanced continuously variable transmission. The LX trim featured standard all-wheel drive, while the S and EX trims offered front-wheel drive or AWD as an option.

The X-Line and SX trims came with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that generated an impressive 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, a 20 hp increase from the previous year. This engine was paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. Despite minor turbo lag, especially at lower speeds, the turbocharged powertrain offered robust acceleration, particularly in the 40-to-60 mph range. Steering was well-weighted, and the Seltos handled well on various road surfaces, providing minimal body roll and effective bump absorption.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX retained its previous engines. The base Preferred trim had a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine making 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, mated to a CVT. However, all trims could be upgraded to a 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. This powerplant came with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Accelerating to 60 mph in about nine seconds, the Encore GX was not fast, but it felt responsive enough with the turbo engine doing most of the work. Highway passing took a bit of time due to slow downshifts, and there was some roughness during take-off. The suspension provided a smooth ride, ideal for city driving. The Encore GX also featured a selectable AWD system, allowing drivers to engage AWD manually, although some might prefer an automatic system like that in competitors such as the Honda HR-V.

The 2024 Kia Seltos boasted 62.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 26.6 cubic feet with them in use. A hands-free power liftgate was available in the SX trim. The Seltos offered an upright seating position with ample headroom, facilitating good driver visibility and comfortable legroom for taller occupants in both the front and rear seats. The in-door cupholders and cubbies in the front center console provided practical storage solutions.

In contrast, the 2024 Buick Encore GX Avenir offered 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 50.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Unlike the Seltos, the Encore GX could accommodate items up to eight feet long when the front seat was folded. Despite fewer cargo capabilities, the Encore GX included options for heated seats and a heated steering wheel, although seat ventilation wasn’t available. The base trims had only two-way power-adjustable seats, while higher trims offered eight-way adjustability. An optional seven-speaker Bose audio system added a touch of premium feel.

The 2024 Kia Seltos featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 4.2-inch digital instrument screen in the base LX trim. Higher trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. Both systems included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Unlike many modern vehicles moving towards all-touch controls, the Seltos retained useful physical controls for volume, tuning, and climate settings. Most trims came with a six-speaker stereo, but the SX trim upgraded to an eight-speaker Bose premium stereo system. Digital Key 2 Touch was also available, allowing smartphone-based vehicle access.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX housed an 11-inch touchscreen and an 8-inch digital gauge cluster under a single glass pane. However, much of this space went unused, making the screen look smaller than it actually was. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB-A and USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and an optional 120-volt outlet. The Encore GX also featured an available rear camera mirror for a wider rear view. Unlike competitors, the Encore GX’s infotainment system was straightforward, focusing on essential functions like smartphone mirroring and climate controls.

The 2024 Kia Seltos included standard driver assistance features such as forward collision avoidance with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-follow assist, automatic high beams, and driver attention warning. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, Safe Exit Warning, and smart cruise control. The SX trim provided additional features like traffic sign recognition, highway driving assist, and a junction-turning function for forward collision warning.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX came standard with the Driver Confidence package, offering 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. Additional features like rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera were available at an extra cost. Buick provided unique safety features like Teen Driver, which monitored new drivers' habits, and Buckle to Drive, preventing the car from shifting out of park unless the driver’s seat belt was fastened. The Encore GX received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.