Ford Escape vs Buick Encore GX

The 2024 Buick Encore GX was widely regarded as one of the best-looking models in Buick's lineup. Drawing heavy inspiration from the Wildcat concept of 2022, the 2024 edition boasted a completely revamped front fascia. The updated face featured sleek daytime running lights positioned above the grille, flanked by angular LED lamps positioned slightly lower on either side. Enhancing this modern look was a new Buick logo. The top-tier Avenir trim added a unique grille and chrome trim. While the rear remained mostly unchanged from the 2023 model, the higher trims received updated LED tail lights. The overall aesthetic was well-balanced and elegant, especially when equipped with the available 19-inch wheels.

Color options for the Encore GX were another high point. Buick offered a vibrant palette beyond the standard shades of grey and beige, featuring hues such as brilliant red, deep blue, maroon, and an almost-orange paint called Copper Ice Metallic. Additionally, select colors offered the option of a black roof, black mirrors, and black roof rails, adding a sporty contrast.

Inside, the most significant change came from relocating the HVAC vents to accommodate a new 19-inch glass panel that housed both the digital gauge cluster and the touchscreen. While there were some operational quirks, this large panel contributed to a high-tech, premium look at first glance. However, typical of General Motors, there were a few cheap-feeling plastics within the cabin. Additionally, the interior color options were limited to black or cream, but given the price point, these issues were minor complaints.

For the 2024 Ford Escape, the design updates introduced in 2023 carried over, offering a significantly refreshed look. The previous model's wide-eyed, toothless smile was replaced with a more aggressive front-end design. Beyond the front, the SUV's overall appearance remained soft and generically appealing. Ford provided the Escape in multiple trims, including Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, Platinum, and Plug-in Hybrid, having dropped the Base trim for this year. Prices ranged from $29,345 to $40,500, excluding the $1,495 destination charge.

Our test vehicle, an ST-Line Elite, arrived with extra-cost Rapid Red paint, black 19-inch wheels, the Premium Technology Package, and a Panoramic Vista Roof, bringing the total to $43,650, including the destination charge. Inside, the Escape ST-Line Elite featured diamond-stitched, perforated leather seats and upgraded tech. At first glance, the interior looked upscale, but closer inspection revealed excessively glossy surfaces and stiff, dry upholstery, making the $43,650 price tag feel a bit steep.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX's performance remained consistent with its preceding model. Available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), the base Preferred trim was powered by a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine delivering 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Higher trims and available upgrades introduced a turbocharged 1.3-liter three-cylinder engine providing 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. In tests, the turbocharged engine performed adequately, reaching 60 miles per hour in about nine seconds. However, highway passing required patience, as the transmission hesitated before downshifting, causing a two-second delay.

Though the Encore GX wasn't meant for speed, it offered a smooth ride, especially in city driving. The selectable AWD system allowed drivers to deactivate AWD to save fuel when all-wheel drive wasn't necessary. In contrast, competitors like the Honda HR-V featured automatic systems that seamlessly switched between FWD and AWD as needed.

When it came to the 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line Elite, buyers had two powertrain options: a 192-horsepower hybrid expected to achieve 39 mpg combined or a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, averaging 26 mpg combined. Our test vehicle featured the turbocharged engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The AWD system offered a driveline disconnect feature to improve fuel economy, and drivers could select from Eco, Normal, Sport, and Slippery driving modes. Notably, an Off-Road mode was absent.

Despite its powerful turbocharged engine, the Escape ST-Line Elite's ride was soft and compliant, with handling that felt nimble. The brake pedal was responsive, but the steering lacked feedback. Overall, while the turbo engine provided quick acceleration, the driving dynamics didn't match the sporty ST badge's promise. For most drivers, the Escape ST-Line offered a sporty appearance and comfortable, isolated driving experience, making it suitable for daily tasks like commuting and errands.

However, given the wasted potential of the turbo engine, it was suggested to consider the Escape’s lower-tier trims with a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, offering 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. This setup, available with FWD or AWD, provided a more balanced performance for its segment. Alternatively, the hybrid option was recommended for better long-term savings despite being less quick.

As a subcompact SUV, the 2024 Buick Encore GX Avenir demonstrated limited utility but stayed competitive within its class. Its towing capacity was capped at 1,000 pounds, but a hands-free liftgate was available for easy access to the rear cargo area. The cargo capacity stood at 23.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, which expanded to 50.2 cubic feet when the seats were folded down. Additionally, folding down the front seat increased the capacity to accommodate items up to eight feet long. The interior offered optional heated seats and a heated steering wheel, but seat ventilation was unavailable. The base model came with only two-way power-adjustable seats, while higher adjustability required the Avenir trim or additional packages. A seven-speaker Bose audio system was also available.

For the 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line, the interior was exclusively available in black, featuring cloth inserts with artificial leather bolsters, accentuated by red stitching. The leather seats in our test model, part of the ST-Line Elite trim, featured a perforated and diamond-stitched pattern but felt uncomfortable. Interior amenities included ambient lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a six-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Notably, ventilated front seats were also unavailable.

The Escape's front seats were large and supportive, making them comfortable for long drives, while the rear seats were adjustable for added comfort. The car's entries and exits were easy across all four doors. Interior storage was ample up front but limited for rear passengers. Cargo volume was generous, offering 37.5 cubic feet behind the back seat (34.4 cubic feet for the hybrid), expanding to 65.4 cubic feet (60.8 cubic feet for the hybrid) with the rear seats folded down. Our test model included additional deep storage areas on either side of the cargo load floor and a handy grocery bag hook.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX featured an 11-inch touchscreen paired with an 8-inch digital gauge cluster under a single pane of glass. Despite its impressive initial appearance, much of the screen real estate was unused once illuminated, creating the illusion of a malfunctioning display. Nonetheless, the system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an available wireless charging pad, USB-A and USB-C ports, and a 120-volt outlet. An available rear camera mirror provided a broader view from the rear of the vehicle. Unlike some competitors, the Buick GX offered a simple infotainment system, with straightforward tiles for smartphone mirroring, climate control, settings, camera views, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

On the tech front, the 2024 Ford Escape stood out with its standard digital instrumentation, featuring an 8-inch display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch display in upper trims. Our ST-Line Elite test model was equipped with the larger display, known for its pleasing graphics and extensive information. However, the highlight was the 13.2-inch Sync 4 infotainment system presented in a landscape format, preferred for its organized and intuitive layout. This system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, FordPass Connect services with a Wi-Fi hotspot, and, in higher trims, Amazon Alexa and connected navigation.

Despite these features, the display's color theme and thin fonts were less user-friendly, and the integrated climate controls in a narrow strip at the bottom of the screen were not ideal. The voice recognition system was excellent, and switching between Apple CarPlay and the native environment was smooth. One unique aspect was the optional head-up display (HUD), which projected information onto a clear piece of plastic extending from the dashboard, although it was less user-friendly than traditional windshield projections. Our test vehicle also had the optional Premium Technology Package, including high-end features like a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, an engine start/stop button oddly placed where a volume knob usually is, and Active Park Assist 2.0 for semi-autonomous parking assistance.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX came with a standard suite of driver assistance features known as the Driver Confidence package. This included lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, following distance indicator, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring in every trim. Optional features included rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera.

However, the Encore GX did not allow for adjustable sensitivity for features like automatic emergency braking. Unique features included Teen Driver, which provided parents with a report card of their child's driving habits, and Buckle to Drive, a system preventing the vehicle from shifting out of park unless the driver's seat belt was fastened, although this could be temporarily bypassed or completely disabled if desired.

Regarding crash-test ratings, the 2024 Buick Encore GX received a full five stars for its overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), including five out of five stars for both frontal and side crash ratings and four stars in rollover testing. While the 2024 model had not yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2023 model received high marks for crashworthiness and front crash prevention, though its headlights and LATCH system were rated as less than ideal.

The 2024 Ford Escape came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of driving assistance systems. This included features like forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. Our ST-Line Elite test model featured additional systems like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, predictive speed assist, evasive steering assist, lane-centering assist, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system.

In real-world testing, the Escape’s safety systems showed inconsistent behavior, particularly in lane-keeping and predictive speed assist functions. On the freeway, however, the Co-Pilot360 technology proved more effective, offering smoother adaptive cruise control and better lane-keeping.

The NHTSA gave the 2024 Ford Escape favorable ratings, with five stars overall, except for a four-star rollover rating. As of this writing, the IIHS had yet to rate the 2024 model, though the 2023 model earned mostly high marks, excluding a Marginal score in a new side-impact test.