2022 Buick Encore GX vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a highly anticipated addition to the Ford lineup, serving as a smaller sibling to the iconic Bronco. It drew inspiration from the original 1966-1996 Bronco, aiming to compete with rugged models like the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner. The Bronco Sport, however, was designed as a unibody crossover, making it more suitable for urban environments while still appealing to weekend adventurers. Its design featured a modern retro aesthetic, reminiscent of Land Rover vehicles, with short front and rear overhangs for improved off-road capability. The vehicle's exterior was marked by bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, with a subtle "SPORT" postscript, and the Ford blue oval appeared only once on the tailgate.

The interior of the Bronco Sport was tastefully rugged, with a clean design that avoided unnecessary clutter. The cabin featured a unique shape for the HVAC vents, creating a sense of unity, and the centre stack included convenient storage cubbies topped by an 8-inch infotainment screen. The rotary gear selector and cupholders were located in the centre console. Interior trim levels varied, offering a progression from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats. The vehicle also provided practical features like a rubberized cargo floor and second-row seat protector, catering to active lifestyles.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX, on the other hand, shared a strong family resemblance with its sibling, the Encore, making it challenging to distinguish between the two. Both models featured Buick's signature trapezoidal "waterfall" grille, high beltline, and similar headlight styling. The Encore GX, however, had a slightly longer wheelbase and additional length, giving it a more balanced appearance. The optional ST (Sport Touring) appearance package enhanced its aesthetics with body-colour moldings, custom grille, sport bumpers with red accents, and 18-inch aluminum wheels.

Inside, the Encore GX offered an attractive cabin with soft-touch materials and minimal hard plastics. The base models came with cloth seats, while the top Essence trim featured leather upholstery. The test vehicle had heated seats in Whisper Beige leather with Ebony accents, adding a touch of elegance. The steering wheel was well-sized and equipped with redundant controls, although the rotary toggles in the spokes were somewhat cumbersome. Overall, the Encore GX's interior was user-friendly, with straightforward controls and instrumentation.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine options, each tied to specific trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims were equipped with a 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. The Badlands model featured a more powerful 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder engine, delivering 245 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), along with a terrain management system offering up to seven G.O.A.T. modes (Go Over Any Type of Terrain).

The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, four-wheel independent suspension, and generous suspension travel. It offered decent ground clearance, making it suitable for adventurous driving. On-road, the 2.0-litre engine in the Badlands trim provided a better match for the vehicle's character, while the 1.5-litre engine could feel strained under pressure.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Encore GX was equipped with a 1.3-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD). The engine, while a bit buzzy, delivered adequate power for highway merging and steep upgrades. However, the Encore GX's driving dynamics were generally uninspiring, with a less settled ride and more interior noise than expected from a Buick.

The Encore GX's off-road capabilities were limited, as it was primarily designed for urban and suburban driving. The vehicle's handling was drama-free, but it lacked the ruggedness of the Bronco Sport.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with its clever features and ample cargo space. It was designed to accommodate two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes in the cargo area, and Ford offered a wide range of accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could support up to 68 kg (150 lb), and the vehicle's towing capacity varied between 907 kg (2,000 lb) and 997 kg (2,200 lb) depending on the engine. The cargo area featured a flip-up rear glass, a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps.

The Bronco Sport's front cabin offered practical storage compartments, including large door pockets and multiple cubbies. However, taller drivers might have experienced visibility challenges due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX, despite its compact size, provided a comfortable and user-friendly interior. Ingress and egress were easy, and the controls were clearly marked and legible. The vehicle offered excellent visibility, aided by an optional camera-based rearview mirror. Front-seat headroom and legroom were more than adequate, although rear-seat knee room was a bit tight.

The Encore GX's cargo space measured 665 litres behind the rear bench seat and 1,422 litres with the seat folded. It featured a two-level cargo floor, creating a flat load floor when the rear seats were folded. The optional hands-free power liftgate added convenience, and the vehicle could accommodate items up to eight feet in length with the seats folded.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was equipped with the latest infotainment systems, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with SYNC 3 compatibility. It supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM, and included FordPass Connect with a subscription-based 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base audio system had six speakers, while a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims.

The Bronco Sport's terrain management system offered multiple drive modes, including Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Sand, with additional modes for the Badlands model. The available trail control technology provided a cruise-control-like feature for off-roading.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX offered a decent tech package for its price. It featured a Buick infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth audio streaming, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. A navigation system was available on higher trims, and the vehicle came with a basic audio system.

The Encore GX offered optional driver-assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The test vehicle included HD surround vision, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and rear park assist. The tech package also included an upgraded infotainment system with navigation and advanced voice recognition.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and a reversing camera. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a voice-activated navigation system. The Bronco Sport received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX also offered a range of safety features, including Teen Driver technology and a tire-fill alert system. It performed well in NHTSA crash tests, earning five stars for overall crash protection. The IIHS gave it "Good" ratings in crash tests, with varying ratings for its headlights. The Encore GX received "Superior" ratings for front crash prevention.