Ford Edge vs Buick Encore GX

The 2021 Ford Edge maintained a consistent styling since its 2019 refresh, which successfully aligned its exterior with Ford's contemporary design language. This refresh resulted in a cleaner look compared to the more elaborate designs of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured additional chrome accents, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered similar styling without the performance enhancements. However, the interior of the Edge began to show its age, with a design that struggled to keep up with new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models offered leather upholstery, and the ST models included sporty front seats with contrast stitching.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Encore GX shared a strong family resemblance with the Encore, featuring Buick's signature trapezoidal "waterfall" grille and similar headlight styling. The Encore GX's slightly longer wheelbase and additional length gave it a more balanced appearance. The optional ST package enhanced its look with body-color moldings, custom grille, sport bumpers, and 18-inch wheels. Inside, the Encore GX offered a comfortable cabin with soft-touch materials and standard cloth seats, while the top Essence trim included leather seats. The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel and straightforward controls contributed to a user-friendly experience, although some controls were cumbersome. The Encore GX's interior was attractive but not truly premium.

The 2021 Ford Edge was equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. The Edge ST performance model featured a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, producing 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, with standard AWD and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge ST's performance was compared to SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though some found this comparison ambitious. The Edge's towing capacities ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered ST.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: a 1.2-liter engine with 137 horsepower and a 1.3-liter engine with 155 hp. The 1.2-liter engine was standard on the Preferred and Select trims, while the 1.3-liter engine was standard on the Essence trim. Front-wheel drive was standard, with optional all-wheel drive available. FWD models used a CVT, while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic transmission. The 1.3-liter engine and CVT combination provided adequate power, though the ride was noisier than expected. The Encore GX's driving dynamics were uninspiring, and its noise levels were higher than anticipated, despite Buick's QuietTuning technology.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered competitive interior space, with the most rear-seat headroom among midsize crossovers and ample legroom. It featured 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trims. The rotary shift knob freed up console space, but the narrow console limited its utility. The raised console provided a storage nook, though it was difficult to access.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX, despite its small size, provided a comfortable experience with easy ingress and egress. Front-seat headroom and legroom were adequate, though rear-seat knee room was tight. Cargo space measured 23.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 50.2 cubic feet with them folded. The Encore GX could accommodate items up to eight feet long with the front passenger seat and rear seats folded. 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 adjustable height settings for easier access.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the Sync 4 infotainment system with a 12-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Four USB ports were available, with two rear USB ports added for 2021. Sync 4's simple graphics and menu layouts were user-friendly, and wireless smartphone connectivity was a notable feature.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX offered an eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, Buick Connected Services, and a WiFi hotspot. A navigation system and Amazon Alexa capability were available. The Encore GX included driver-assistance features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Advanced Technology package added HD surround vision, a head-up display, and adaptive cruise control. The Convenience package included automatic parking assist, wireless phone charging, and rain-sensing wipers. The infotainment system was intuitive, with easy Bluetooth pairing and efficient voice recognition.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," with top "Good" ratings in crash tests and a "Superior" rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. It received an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention and "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings. The NHTSA awarded the Edge a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base trim.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX earned five stars from the NHTSA for overall crash protection and "Good" ratings from the IIHS in crash tests. It received "Superior" ratings for front crash prevention, though headlight ratings varied by trim. Standard safety features included Teen Driver technology and a tire-fill alert system. The Encore GX's safety features were comprehensive, with options for additional driver assistance technologies.