Toyota Highlander vs Buick Encore GX

The 2022 Toyota Highlander had a modern, somewhat aggressive front-end design. The flared fender arches and the third-row window's slight kick-up helped make the spacious Highlander appear smaller to the eye. Inside, it offered tons of cabin space and clever storage solutions for iPads and juice boxes. The XSE trim featured a bold red leather interior, unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension, making it stand out. The trim lineup included L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum, each adding more features and luxury.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX, however, did not carry forward Buick's historical design excellence. Its rounded exterior surfaces and tall stance gave it awkward proportions that did not convey the high-riding SUV look. The Sport Touring Package added subtle styling tweaks, but they were barely noticeable. Inside, the top-trim Essence model had leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control, but the plastic bits reminded us of its lower position in Buick's hierarchy. The dashboard and door panels had a blob-like design reminiscent of the 1990s, with the instrument cluster being the only memorable feature.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to either standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The transmission had a tap-shift function, and certain trims featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The Highlander also offered drive modes like Sport, Normal, and Eco, along with AWD modes for different terrains. The V6 engine provided better pickup once the Highlander was moving, with a throaty exhaust note during overtakes. The sport-tuned suspension in the XSE trim reduced body roll while maintaining a comfortable ride. The Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a max payload of 1,685 pounds in FWD L and LE trims.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: a 1.2-liter producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, and a 1.3-liter making 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. FWD was standard, with AWD optional for the 1.3-liter engine. The FWD models used a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic transmission. The 1.3-liter AWD test car's acceleration felt stronger than the specs suggested, but power delivery was not smooth. The ride was comfortable, and the cabin was quiet, thanks to Buick's Quiet Tuning package. However, the Encore GX felt ponderous and awkward, with slow and lifeless steering and significant body roll.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded. With the second-row seats in use, there was 48.4 cubic feet of cargo space, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. The quick-release latches and pull-straps made lowering and lifting the seats easy. The base L trim featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, deep cargo pockets, and various storage compartments. The XSE trim had second-row captain’s chairs, providing a center aisle to the third row. While the second-row seats were spacious for adults, the third row was only tolerable for short trips.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX had competitive passenger space, with headroom comparable to rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30. The Encore GX offered 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 50.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, the front seats were placed far inboard, squeezing the driver and front passenger together and reducing comfort. Despite the limited cabin size, Buick made the most of small-item storage with large door pockets and a space-efficient wireless phone charger. The instrumentation was well-executed, with clear information conveyance and an array of hard buttons for ease of use.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons for ease of use. The XSE trim featured a wireless charging pad and a combination of USB and USB-C ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system were available options.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX featured 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 interface was user-friendly, with graphics that looked nicer than many competitors’. The 8-inch touchscreen was adequate, and the dashboard design did not allow for a larger screen.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were very active, sometimes feeling too intrusive.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX had standard driver-assist features like 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 received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 2022 Top Safety Pick.