Buick Encore GX vs Subaru Crosstrek

In 2024, the Subaru Crosstrek resembled its 2023 predecessor greatly, but underneath its familiar guise, it featured new sheet metal, a refreshed chassis, and new color options such as Sun Blaze, Offshore Blue, and Sapphire Blue. The newly introduced Wilderness trim level even boasted an exclusive Geyser Blue paint job.

The Crosstrek's wheelbase and overall length remained nearly identical to the previous model, along with the approach and break-over angles. Still, it showcased a steeper departure angle and a slightly reduced cargo space. Buyers, particularly those familiar with the second-generation Crosstrek, would hardly notice any dimensional changes.

In its base trim, the Crosstrek came equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all-season tires, and boasted 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for off-road adventures. Roof rails were standard on all trims except the Base, although they did not double as crossbars like the Subaru Outback's. This made the Crosstrek an ideal choice for outdoor enthusiasts with gear like skis, tents, or kayaks.

A distinct design feature in 2024 was the Crosstrek’s headlights, which appeared to merge seamlessly with a new wing bar dividing its frameless grille, giving the car a slightly smiling appearance akin to a Cheshire cat. Subaru continued to include ample black plastic cladding around the wheel arches, incorporating air inlets and outlets to enhance aerodynamics and reduce road noise.

At the rear, the third-generation Crosstrek retained the second generation's split taillight design, which improved trunk access. This design is aligned with Subaru’s “Kaizen” philosophy of continuous improvement.

The Wilderness trim introduced unique exterior features like a hexagonal front grille, enlarged cladding around the wheels, and new bumpers to enhance its off-road capability. It also included hexagonal LED fog lights and copper accents. With 9.3 inches of ground clearance, a ladder-style roof rack, and a dynamic load capacity of 176 pounds, the Wilderness trim emphasized the Crosstrek’s adventurous spirit.

Inside, the Wilderness trim featured StarTex synthetic leather upholstery that was easy to clean and waterproof. Copper accents provided a visual flair, and all-weather floor mats were standard, adding practical value. Interior dimensions, although largely unchanged, did receive a boost with a standard 11.6-inch touchscreen, which brought cohesiveness with other premium Subaru models like the Outback.

Meanwhile, the Buick Encore GX received a substantial facelift for 2024, taking cues from the Wildcat concept. This refresh introduced sleek daytime running lights positioned above the new grille, with angular LED lamps flanking it from below. The Buick logo was also updated, enhancing the car’s modern appearance. The high-end Avenir trim featured its unique grille and chrome trim. The rear design saw nominal changes, with new LED tail lights on the top trims, but the overall aesthetic, especially with the available 19-inch wheels, remained appealing.

Color options for the Encore GX were diverse and striking, including vibrant shades of red, blue, maroon, and Copper Ice Metallic. Some of these even offered a black roof, mirrors, and roof rails, adding to the vehicle's visual appeal.

A notable change in the interior was the relocation of HVAC vents, allowing space for a new 19-inch glass panel combining the digital gauge cluster and touchscreen. This feature initially impressed, providing a premium, tech-savvy look. However, upon closer inspection, the presence of some cheaper plastics detracted slightly from the overall feel.

Despite this, the Encore GX’s interior layout and material choice were suitable for its price point, maintaining a balance between comfort and functionality.

For the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, the 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine continued to power the Sport and Limited trims, delivering 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine became standard on the Wilderness trim as well.

In early 2023, an evaluation was performed on a Premium trim with the smaller 2.0-liter engine, which, despite delivering less power–152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque–provided a satisfactory performance for a lower cost. This engine was paired exclusively with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), as Subaru no longer offered a manual transmission.

While neither the 2.0-liter nor the 2.5-liter engines rendered the Crosstrek remarkably quick, Subaru did refine the CVT for better power delivery and simulated shift points. The Wilderness trim's CVT, with an additional pressure sensor, mitigated the “rubber banding” effect seen in non-Wilderness models, resulting in a more pleasant driving experience.

The Crosstrek Wilderness, with its shorter final-drive ratio, excelled in uphill terrains and offered a higher towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, in contrast to the 1,500-pound capacity of other models. However, this gearbox configuration led to increased road noise and decreased fuel economy, a consequence of maintaining higher RPMs.

Subaru improved engine mounts and tuning to reduce vibrations, enhancing start-up and operational smoothness, particularly during automatic start/stop cycles.

The steering, aided by a new dual-pinion rack, provided better feedback, although there was still a degree of vagueness. The structure stiffness reduced body roll compared to previous models, except for the Wilderness trim which leaned more due to its off-road suspension setup.

The Crosstrek's standard AWD, complemented by the X-Mode traction management system, varied across trims. Base and Premium trims featured a basic X-Mode system for dirt and snow, whereas the Sport, Limited, and Wilderness trims upgraded this to handle mud and deep snow, also including hill-descent control for better off-road handling.

Fuel economy varied slightly between the engines: the 2.0-liter achieved 27 mpg city, 34 highway, and 29 combined, while the 2.5-liter reached 26 city, 33 highway, and 29 combined. The Wilderness trim, with its unique setup, saw slightly lower figures at 25 city, 29 highway, and 27 combined, supported by a sizable 16.6-gallon fuel tank.

The Buick Encore GX in 2024 retained its engine choices: a base 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine with 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque mated to a CVT, available in FWD or AWD configurations.

Alternatively, all trims could upgrade to the 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine delivering 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine rendered the Encore GX adequately responsive, managing 0-60 mph in approximately nine seconds. However, some roughness at take-off was noted, and highway passing required patience due to a noticeable downshift delay.

Despite this, the Encore GX excelled as a city car with a suspension system that cushioned rough pavements effectively. Its selectable AWD system allowed drivers to choose when to engage, offering potential fuel savings, although other competitors featured automatic AWD engagement based on real-time conditions.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, while featuring rugged styling and impressive ground clearance, remained a small vehicle. Built on the Subaru Impreza's platform, its size was more akin to subcompact SUVs, making it crucial for buyers not to mistake it for the larger Subaru Forester.

In terms of cargo space, the Crosstrek was competitive, offering 19.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 54.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down. While this amount fell short of larger competitors like the Honda CR-V and the Toyota Corolla Cross, it was robust enough for its class.

Passenger space was adequate, with sufficient rear-seat legroom and headroom, though taller passengers might prefer the front seats. The interior was designed with adventure in mind, featuring materials that were low-cost but durable and easy to clean. Premium trims included useful features like a protective cargo tray and cupholders designed to accommodate large Nalgene bottles. The Wilderness trim further enhanced utility with additional all-weather mats and trunk features.

In contrast, the 2024 Buick Encore GX, also a subcompact SUV, offered 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 50.2 cubic feet when folded down. Additionally, the Encore GX could accommodate items up to eight feet long with the front seat folded down, an advantage for transporting longer items like surfboards.

The Encore GX could tow up to 1,000 pounds, and an available hands-free liftgate enhanced loading convenience. While not exceptionally spacious, the Encore GX was in line with others in its segment in offering practical utility.

Inside, the Encore GX offered heated seats and a heated steering wheel as options, though seat ventilation was notably absent. Standard two-way power seats could be upgraded to eight-way adjustable seats on the top Avenir trim or via the Comfort package on lower trims. An available seven-speaker Bose audio system added a touch of luxury to the interior experience.

Inside the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, the most striking feature was the vertically oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen, already a staple in models like the Ascent and Outback. This high-resolution display brought a modern touch, while maintaining physical controls for essential functions like temperature, defrosters, tuning, and volume. Frequent features like the automatic stop-start toggle could be positioned prominently on the screen.

This infotainment system was standard on all but the Base trim, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wireless charging was optional across the lineup, standard on the Sport and Limited trims. Despite its impressive array of features, the system's glare issue under bright sunlight could be a drawback, and some functions were buried in sub-menus, complicating usability.

Notably, in states with Right to Repair laws, Subaru removed certain features, such as remote start via the Subaru Starlink telematics app, rather than modifying the system to comply.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX featured an 11-inch touchscreen combined with an 8-inch digital gauge cluster under a single glass panel, creating a sleek, seamless look. However, the available screen space wasn’t fully utilized, giving an odd impression when operational.

The Encore GX offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, multiple USB ports, a wireless charging pad, and an available 120-volt outlet. A highlight was the rear camera mirror, providing a wider-angle view of the rear, which enhanced visibility and safety.

The Subaru Crosstrek consistently earned top safety marks since its inception in 2013. Although the 2024 model had yet to be reviewed by the IIHS or NHTSA, the previous models' five-star ratings from NHTSA indicated high safety reliability.

Subaru’s EyeSight safety system was standard, featuring camera-based ADAS like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. New for 2024, EyeSight included a wider-angle lens for improved road visibility, and automatic emergency steering was added to models with blind-spot monitoring.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX included standard driver assistance features through the Driver Confidence package: lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, a following distance indicator, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. Additional features like rear park assist, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera were optional.

Unique safety features included Teen Driver, providing a driving habits report card, and Buckle to Drive, preventing the vehicle from shifting out of park unless the driver’s seat belt was fastened. The latter could be temporarily bypassed or turned off entirely.

The NHTSA rated the 2024 Encore GX with a full five stars overall, including top marks for frontal and side crashes and four stars for rollover protection. The 2023 model received “Good” crashworthiness scores and “Superior” front crash prevention ratings from the IIHS, despite mixed grades for its headlights and LATCH system.