2022 Buick Encore GX vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces. The Odyssey offered a spacious and comfortable third-row seat, accommodating additional passengers like grandparents or carpool groups with ease. With its ample cargo space, the Odyssey could transform into a cargo hauler by folding down or removing seats, rivaling the capacity of larger SUVs. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey maintained a sense of style with its kinked sliding doors and dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels on the Touring trim. The interior boasted quality leather upholstery and a well-organized centre stack, making it a practical yet stylish choice for families.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX, on the other hand, was a compact SUV that shared a strong family resemblance with its sibling, the Encore. It featured Buick's signature trapezoidal grille and a sleek silhouette, enhanced by the optional Sport Touring appearance package. The Encore GX's cabin was attractive, with soft-touch materials and leather upholstery on higher trims. While the interior wasn't overly spacious, it provided adequate headroom and legroom for front passengers. The rear seat was a bit tight for three adults, but the cargo area offered flexibility with a two-level floor and foldable seats. The Encore GX's design prioritized ease of use, with clearly marked controls and excellent visibility, making it a user-friendly choice for drivers.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a robust 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This front-wheel-drive minivan utilized a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls on the dashboard. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the Odyssey offered a Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. During testing, it averaged 10.4 L/100 km. The Odyssey's driving dynamics were enjoyable, with quick acceleration and responsive handling. However, its brakes tended to heat up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and noise. Despite this, the Odyssey remained a delightful vehicle to drive, offering a balance of performance and practicality.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX, available in Canada with a 1.3-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, produced 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, the Encore GX provided adequate power for merging and highway driving. While the engine exhibited some harshness, it was capable when needed. The Encore GX's ride was less settled than expected, with noticeable noise, vibration, and harshness levels. Despite its SUV designation, the Encore GX was not designed for off-roading, and its driving dynamics were generally uninspiring. However, it offered a practical and efficient powertrain for everyday use.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Touring trim featured quality leather seats with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The minivan's tri-zone climate control and onboard vacuum cleaner added convenience. Storage space was abundant, with clever compartments and a spacious centre console. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing safety and accessibility. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey provided 929 litres of cargo space behind it. Folding the third-row seat expanded cargo capacity to 2,452 litres, while removing the second-row seats created a massive 3,984 litres of space.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX, despite its compact size, offered a comfortable and user-friendly interior. Ingress and egress were easy, with well-placed seat hip points and clear controls. Front-seat headroom and legroom were ample, though rear-seat knee room was limited. The cargo area provided 665 litres of space behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,422 litres with the seats folded. The Encore GX featured a two-level cargo floor for added versatility. The optional hands-free power liftgate and adjustable height settings enhanced convenience, making it a practical choice for urban drivers.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with a range of technology features, though its infotainment system lagged behind competitors. It included an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and smartphone connectivity. The Touring trim added navigation, HondaLink services, and a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch screen. CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies allowed for easy communication with rear passengers. However, the infotainment system's small screen and lack of a tuning knob were drawbacks. The Odyssey's navigation system required specific voice commands, making smartphone integration a more user-friendly option.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX offered a well-rounded tech package with an eight-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone compatibility, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Standard features included Bluetooth, USB ports, and SiriusXM radio. Higher trims offered navigation, advanced voice recognition, and customizable settings. The Encore GX's driver-assistance features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a Driver Confidence package with various safety technologies. The Convenience package added features like automatic parking assist and wireless phone charging. The Encore GX's infotainment system was intuitive and user-friendly, making it accessible for all drivers.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came equipped with Honda Sensing, a comprehensive suite of safety features. It included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Odyssey also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, occasionally issuing false warnings or abrupt responses. The blind-spot monitoring system's warning light was poorly positioned, and its radar coverage was limited. Despite these issues, the Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX 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 protection. The IIHS awarded it "Good" ratings in crash tests, with "Superior" ratings for front crash prevention. However, headlight ratings varied, with the top trim receiving an "Acceptable" rating and lower trims a "Marginal" rating. Overall, the Encore GX provided a comprehensive safety package for its price range.