2023 Buick Encore GX vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, enhancing its overall sophistication. The vehicle was 4 centimetres longer than its predecessor, featuring a revised grille, updated front and rear fascias, and enhanced LED lighting. The sporty new character lines, contrasted by lower body cladding, gave the Kona a more refined appearance. Inside, the instrument panel and centre console were separated to emphasize a horizontal layout, creating a wider and more spacious look. The addition of ambient lighting in the front cupholders and footwells added a touch of elegance. The introduction of the sporty N Line and Kona N trims brought unique styling elements, such as body-colour cladding and rocker panels, and new wheel designs, enhancing the Kona's athletic appeal. The Kona N further elevated the sportiness with features like wide fenders, 19-inch alloy wheels, and N sport bucket seats.

In contrast, the 2023 Buick Encore GX did not carry forward Buick's historical design legacy. Its rounded exterior surfaces and tall stance resulted in awkward proportions that did not convey the high-riding SUV look. The optional Sport Touring Package attempted to enhance the styling with different bumpers, a black mesh grille with red inserts, and 18-inch wheels, but the changes were subtle. Inside, the Encore GX Essence trim offered leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, reminding occupants of its position in Buick's model hierarchy. The dashboard and door panels had a dated design, reminiscent of 1990s automotive styling, with the instrument cluster being the only standout feature.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a diverse range of powertrains, catering to different performance preferences. The base trims, Essential and Preferred, featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The N Line trim provided a more spirited drive with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, delivering 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a seven-speed DCT. The Kona N took performance to another level with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, producing 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, paired with an N eight-speed wet DCT. The Kona N also featured exclusive driving modes and performance enhancements like launch control and high-performance brakes. The Kona N Line, with its turbocharged engine and AWD, offered a lively driving experience, with agile handling and a composed ride.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX, available in Canada with a 1.3-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, produced 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission, while offering conventional gears, required a patient approach to throttle applications for optimal performance. The Encore GX excelled in ride comfort and noise reduction, thanks to its well-damped suspension and active noise cancellation. However, the driving experience was marred by ponderous handling and significant body roll. The steering lacked responsiveness, and the suspension tuning prioritized comfort over agility.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, despite its compact size, provided ample comfort for front-seat occupants. Headroom and legroom were sufficient, even for taller drivers, and the front seats offered good support. However, rear-seat passengers faced challenges with small door openings and limited head- and legroom. The Kona's cargo space, at 544 litres with all seats up, was tight, accommodating only a few items. Folding the rear seats expanded the cargo capacity to 1,296 litres, but towing was not recommended.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered competitive passenger space, with headroom comparable to rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30. The Encore GX provided 665 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats in place and 1,422 litres with the seats folded, surpassing the Kona. However, the front seats were positioned close together, compromising spaciousness, and lacked thigh support. Buick optimized small-item storage with large door pockets and a space-efficient wireless charging pad. The instrumentation was well-executed, with clear notifications and an array of hard buttons for ease of use.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona featured an 8-inch display as standard, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen available on higher trims. The infotainment system included Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Hyundai BlueLink services. The Kona N Line and Kona N offered additional tech features like a Harman Kardon audio system and a digital instrument cluster. The system was user-friendly, with easy smartphone connectivity.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch driver information display. Optional features included navigation, a head-up display, and a Bose audio system. The Encore GX offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was intuitive, with attractive graphics and a user-friendly interface.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona provided essential safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and driver attention warning. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. The Kona received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in all IIHS crashworthiness tests. However, it did not achieve Top Safety Pick status due to a "Marginal" rating for child-seat anchors.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and a Teen Driver system. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. The Encore GX was an IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick and received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.