Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Buick Encore GX

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile. However, the Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly with laser-etched knurling, and the wheel center caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. The interior boasted high-end materials and convenience features, including 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather available, along with aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

In contrast, the 2023 Buick Encore GX broke away from Buick's historical design cues, presenting a more modern but less distinctive look. Its rounded exterior surfaces and tall stance resulted in awkward proportions that didn't quite capture the high-riding SUV appeal. The optional Sport Touring Package added subtle enhancements like different bumpers, a black mesh grille with red inserts, and 18-inch wheels, but these changes were not immediately noticeable. Inside, the Encore GX Essence trim offered leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, and the design felt reminiscent of 1990s automotive styles. The instrument cluster was a standout feature, with two round binnacles framing a small digital display.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup allowed the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, impressive for its roughly 6,400-pound weight. The Grand Wagoneer came standard with four-wheel drive, including the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. It also featured the Quadra-Lift air suspension system, providing adjustable ride height for various driving conditions. Despite its power, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a leisurely pace due to its bouncy ride and imprecise steering at higher speeds.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engine options: a standard 1.2-liter producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, and an optional 1.3-liter engine with 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for the 1.3-liter engine. The Encore GX used different transmissions for its drivetrains, with a CVT for FWD models and a nine-speed automatic for AWD models. 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.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, front-row space was more limited compared to the Escalade and Navigator. The Grand Wagoneer boasted 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed. With all rear seats folded, it offered 94.2 cubic feet of cargo space. It had a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX provided competitive passenger space, with headroom in both rows comparable to rivals like the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, and Subaru Crosstrek. However, the Subaru offered more front legroom, and the Kia Seltos provided more back-seat space. The Encore GX had 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 50.2 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing the Kona and CX-30. The front seats were positioned close together, reducing the sense of spaciousness, and lacked thigh support. Despite the limited cabin size, Buick maximized small-item storage with large door pockets and a center-console tray. The available wireless phone charger was space-efficient, and instrumentation was well-executed, with clear information conveyance.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with 3D graphics, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous pairing for two Bluetooth-enabled phones and included a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot for up to eight devices. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch center console touchscreen, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with an Android-based operating system and over-the-air software updates. While the screen response was slow, the head-up display was clear and legible.

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 tech included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with attractive graphics and menu layouts. The 8-inch touchscreen was small by current standards but fit well within the dashboard design.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. It came with standard safety features like a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and two levels of driver-assistance systems. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, with a hands-free version planned for future release.

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