2023 Buick Encore GX vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

The 2023 Buick Encore GX, despite Buick's storied design history, did not reflect its heritage in its styling. The vehicle's rounded exterior and tall stance resulted in awkward proportions that failed to capture the high-riding SUV look that has become popular. Even with the optional Sport Touring Package, which included different bumpers, a black mesh grille with red inserts, and 18-inch wheels, the changes were subtle and barely noticeable without a direct comparison to a standard Encore.

Inside, the Encore GX Essence trim offered expected features like leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and power-adjustable seats. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, reminding us of its position at the bottom of Buick's lineup. The dashboard and door panels had a blob-like design reminiscent of the 1990s, with the instrument cluster being the only standout feature.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, on the other hand, maintained a similar appearance to the standard RX 350, with only a badge on the liftgate distinguishing the RX 350h. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model stood out with its Copper paint job, blacked-out grille, and aggressive styling. Despite its popularity, the RX's design was not considered gorgeous, with a blunt nose and a wheelbase stretch that made it look smaller than its predecessor.

Inside, the RX adopted a cleaner, more minimalistic appearance with fewer switches and an improved infotainment system. The RX 350h Luxury model featured Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had a black interior with artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim. The RX offered a luxurious and comfortable experience, with the RX 500h providing a sportier feel.

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 engine making 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive 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.

Our 1.3-liter AWD test car provided stronger acceleration than expected, but power delivery was not smooth, requiring patience to get the most out of the engine. 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 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured a new hybrid powertrain for the RX 350h, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It was expected to average 36 mpg in combined driving and accelerate to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model had a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, a six-speed automatic transmission, and Direct4 AWD, producing 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. It could accelerate to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds but was expected to get no better than 27 mpg in combined driving.

The RX 500h F Sport Performance offered a dynamic driving experience with an adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering. The Sport mode kept the powertrain responsive, and the six-speed automatic avoided the droning common in hybrids. However, accessing drive modes required navigating the infotainment system, and fuel economy fell short of estimates during testing.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX provided competitive passenger space, with headroom comparable to rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30. However, the Subaru Crosstrek offered more front legroom, and the Kia Seltos provided more cargo space. The Encore GX had 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 50.2 cubic feet with them folded.

The front seats were placed close together, reducing the feeling of spaciousness, and lacked thigh support. Small-item storage was well-executed, with large door pockets and a space-efficient wireless phone charger. Instrumentation was clear and well-placed, with useful features like the engine start/stop notification within the tachometer.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a comfortable and luxurious interior, with the RX 350h Luxury model featuring ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and three-zone automatic climate control. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had eight-way power-adjustable seats with larger side bolsters and standard-grade leather. The battery pack placement under the rear seat provided excellent leg support but reduced headroom.

The RX had 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded, an improvement over the previous model but still short of some rivals. The RX provided a comfortable and spacious environment for passengers and cargo.

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 features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was easy to use, with clear graphics and a user-friendly interface.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured a new infotainment system, requiring activation of connected services plans for full functionality. The system included Service Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect, with a cloud-based navigation system and Intelligent Assistant. The system worked reasonably well, though it had some issues with specific requests.

The touchscreen's size was appreciated, but it only displayed one menu at a time, requiring frequent navigation. The screen suffered from reflections, and there was no tuning knob. The head-up display with dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel was distracting, especially for those wearing polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came with standard driver assist features, including automatic emergency braking, 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 NHTSA and was an IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid included Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, with new features like motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist was also available, slowing the RX when the accelerator was released. The system had some irritations, such as the front cross-traffic alert system's beeping without visual indicators for those wearing polarized sunglasses and the reactive curve-speed reduction tech.

The RX also offered Traffic Jam Assist for low-speed, hands-free driving and Advanced Park for semi-autonomous parking. The driver monitoring system could be blocked by a driver's arm, resulting in warnings.