2022 Buick Encore GX vs 2022 Land Rover Range Rover

The 2022 Buick Encore GX shared a strong family resemblance with its sibling, the Encore. Both models featured Buick's signature trapezoidal "waterfall" grille, high beltline, and similar headlight styling. The Encore GX, however, had a slightly longer wheelbase, making it appear less stubby. The optional ST appearance package enhanced its sporty look with body-colour moldings, custom grille, sport bumpers, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, the Encore GX offered a comfortable cabin with soft-touch materials and leather upholstery on higher trims, though some controls were cumbersome.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover underwent an evolutionary redesign, maintaining its broad, rounded face and large sheet metal expanses. The most notable change was at the rear, with new thin LED taillights. The Range Rover emphasized its size, especially in the long-wheelbase version. Inside, it featured a simplified design with fewer buttons and a larger touchscreen. Premium materials, including leather and wood trim, created a luxurious atmosphere. The Range Rover's interior was refined, offering a quiet and comfortable ride, rivaling even more expensive luxury SUVs.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX in Canada came with a 1.3-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and AWD. Despite its small size, the engine was capable, though a bit noisy. The Encore GX's handling was adequate but uninspiring, with more noise and vibration than expected. It wasn't designed for off-roading, but handled typical urban terrains well.

The 2022 Range Rover offered two powertrains: a base P400 with a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine producing 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, and an optional P530 with a 4.4-litre V8 engine delivering 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and 4WD. The P400 accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in about 5.8 seconds. The Range Rover handled well for its size, with rear-wheel steering aiding maneuverability. It excelled off-road, thanks to its Terrain Response system, while maintaining a smooth, quiet ride on highways.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX, despite its compact size, offered a comfortable experience with easy ingress and egress. Visibility was excellent, aided by an optional camera-based rearview mirror. Front-seat space was ample, though rear-seat knee room was tight. Cargo space measured 665 litres behind the rear seats and 1,422 litres with them folded. The two-level cargo floor and hands-free power liftgate added convenience.

The 2022 Range Rover provided ample space in the first two rows, enhanced by large windows and a panoramic sunroof. Front seats offered massage functions, and storage options were plentiful. The second row accommodated taller passengers comfortably, with power adjustments and climate controls. The optional third row was less spacious but suitable for smaller passengers. Cargo space was 484 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,365 litres with seats folded. The split tailgate and adjustable air suspension facilitated loading.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX featured an eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Driver-assistance features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The tech package added navigation, a head-up display, and adaptive cruise control. The system was user-friendly, with intuitive app layouts and efficient voice recognition.

The 2022 Range Rover boasted a 13-inch touchscreen with the Pivi Pro system, offering sharp graphics and quick responses. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, alongside a wireless charging pad. The Meridian audio system provided excellent sound quality. Additional tech included Amazon Alexa integration, remote parking, and a smartphone app for remote control and monitoring.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX came with standard driver assistance features and Teen Driver technology. It earned five stars from the NHTSA for overall crash protection and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, with some variations in headlight ratings.

The 2022 Range Rover included standard safety features like collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system. While crash test results were unavailable, the Range Rover's safety features performed reliably during testing.