2022 Buick Encore GX vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson rode on a new platform and was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Up front, it featured Hyundai's new design language with a parametric grille that hid the LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. The headlights and daytime running lights formed a unique shape reminiscent of the Aztec Spirit Bird. The side profile borrowed design cues from the Hyundai Elantra, including a silver D-pillar that created a floating roof effect. The rear had distinctive toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model, making the Tucson stand out among compact SUVs.

The Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch wheels, depending on the trim level, with four different wheel designs available. High-end trims featured premium fascias, front and rear skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. Standard features included roof rails (except on the SE trim), body-color side-mirror housing, solar glass, and acoustic laminated glass. Upgrading beyond the base model added heated outside mirrors with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist indicators, turn signals, front aero wipers, and the option of a sunroof. The cabin was well-appointed with standard stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, and higher trims offered sport combination and leather-trimmed seats. The interior design featured horizontal lines across the dashboard and an uncluttered aesthetic, giving it a sense of spaciousness.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX was a handsome little SUV with a family resemblance to the Encore, featuring Buick's trapezoidal "waterfall" grille, high beltline, and similar headlight styling. The Encore GX had a slightly longer wheelbase and additional length, making it look less tall and stubby. The optional ST (Sport Touring) appearance package added body-color bodyside and rocker moldings, custom grille, front and rear sport bumpers with red accents, 18-inch aluminum wheels with gloss inserts, and an "ST" badge on the liftgate. Buyers could also opt for a Black Roof package.

Inside, the five-passenger Encore GX had an attractive cabin with soft-touch materials and minimal hard plastic. Cloth seats were standard on base models, while leather seats were standard on the top Essence trim. The test vehicle featured heated seats covered in Whisper Beige leather with Ebony accents. The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel had handy redundant controls, though the rotary toggles/dials embedded in the spokes were cumbersome. Other controls and instrumentation were straightforward, legible, and easy to use, catering to Buick's customer base.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came in two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. A plug-in hybrid version was also planned. The ICE engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. It was capable but uninspiring, with a targeted 28 mpg combined fuel efficiency. The hybrid powertrain, paired with a six-speed transmission, offered 226 total system horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, making it more powerful and fun to drive. The hybrid was also more fuel-efficient, with an EPA-estimated 37 mpg combined.

The Tucson offered optional all-wheel drive (AWD), standard on the hybrid model. In off-road testing, the AWD system performed well, similar to Subaru's reactive AWD system. Front-wheel drive models were the most fuel-efficient, with the ICE engine achieving 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined. AWD models had slightly lower figures. The Tucson Hybrid models were more fuel-efficient, with the most efficient model achieving 38 mpg combined. The forthcoming Tucson PHEV was expected to have a total system output of 261 horsepower and an estimated 25 miles of all-electric range.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: a 1.2-liter unit producing 137 horsepower and a 1.3-liter motor making 155 hp. The 1.2-liter engine was standard on the Preferred and Select trims, while the 1.3-liter unit was standard on the top Essence trim and optional on the lower trims. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available on all trims. FWD models used a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while AWD models used a nine-speed automatic.

The 1.3-liter turbo engine and CVT combination was surprisingly capable, though a bit buzzy and harsh. The engine stop/start feature, while beneficial for fuel economy, was somewhat annoying. The Encore GX's ride was not as settled as expected from a Buick, and it was noisier inside. Despite Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technologies, noise, vibration, and harshness levels were more intrusive than expected. The CVT, however, did not drone, which was a positive aspect.

The Hyundai Tucson was a budget-friendly compact SUV with a well-appointed interior that competed with top sellers like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Ford Escape. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Drivers also got lumbar support, three-stage heated front seats, ventilated front seats, memory for the driver’s seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat. The tilt and telescoping steering wheel was standard, with leather-wrapped and heated options on higher trims.

The new Tucson platform made the SUV more spacious, with more room for passengers and cargo. It had comparable legroom to other compact SUVs and more rear-seat legroom than the RAV4. The cabin had ample space for a family of four, with more passenger volume than the CR-V, RAV4, and Escape. The 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area was comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V, and significantly larger than the Escape. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat, a dual-level cargo floor, and a hands-free liftgate on mid-grade models and up.

The Buick Encore GX, despite its small size, offered a comfortable and easy-to-live-with interior. Ingress and egress were easy, with seat hip points at the right height. Controls and switchgear were clearly marked and legible, and the slightly elevated ride height provided excellent visibility. Front-seat headroom and legroom were more than adequate, though rear-seat knee room was tight. The rear seat could accommodate three seat belts, but fitting three adults comfortably was unlikely.

Cargo space in the Encore GX measured 23.5 cubic feet behind the rear bench seat and 50.2 cubic feet with the seat folded. This was more than the smaller Encore, which had 18.8 cubic feet and 48.4 cubic feet, respectively. The Encore GX's cargo area could accommodate items up to eight feet in length with the front passenger seat and rear seats folded flat. The two-level cargo floor created a flat load floor when the rear seats were folded. The optional hands-free power liftgate added convenience, with a rotary dial to adjust the maximum height for easier access.

The Hyundai Tucson came with a strong set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. A 4.2-inch multi-information display was in front of the driver. Moving up to the SEL/Blue trim added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, two additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control with ionizer functionality. Higher trims offered a fully digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, though this required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit that included climate control and radio/media functionality. The flat surface with touchpoints made it difficult to find the right button while driving, relying more on steering wheel controls and voice commands. The touchpoints were responsive, but the narrow steering wheel controls were not as user-friendly as bulkier buttons.

The Buick Encore GX offered decent tech for the price, with a standard Buick infotainment system featuring an eight-inch touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth audio streaming, Buick Connected Services with a built-in WiFi hotspot, front and rear USB ports, OnStar telematics, and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard. Navigation was available on Select and Essence trims, along with built-in Amazon Alexa capability.

The test vehicle had a basic audio system, despite the tech options. Standard driver-assistance features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Advanced Technology package added HD surround vision, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and a memory card receptacle. The Convenience package included automatic parking assist with braking, wireless phone charging, a rear camera mirror and washer, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Pairing an iPhone via Bluetooth was easy, with an intuitive layout and efficient voice-recognition system.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. It came with the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, including forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Additional features included blind-spot warning with collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert with collision avoidance assist, safe exit warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, a surround-view camera system, blind-spot monitoring, forward and reverse park distance warning, parking collision avoidance assist (rear), ultrasonic rear occupant alert, and remote parking assist. Hyundai offered a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, 7-year anti-perforation warranty, and 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary normal oil changes and tire rotations.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX came standard with several driver assistance features, including Teen Driver technology, which tracked driving habits, set speed and volume limits, and set up geographic boundary alerts. A tire-fill alert system helped maintain proper tire pressures. The Encore GX performed well in NHTSA crash tests, earning five stars for overall crash protection, frontal and side crash protection, and four stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Encore GX "Good" ratings in all crash tests, "Superior" ratings for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, and varying ratings for headlights, with the top Essence trim receiving an "Acceptable" rating and lower trims receiving a "Marginal" rating.