2023 Buick Encore GX vs 2023 Volkswagen Taos

The 2023 Buick Encore GX, despite Buick's storied design history, did not reflect its heritage in its styling. The rounded exterior and tall stance gave it awkward proportions that failed to convey the high-riding SUV look that buyers sought. Even with the optional Sport Touring Package, which added subtle enhancements like different bumpers and a black mesh grille, the changes were barely noticeable unless compared side-by-side with a standard model. Inside, the top-trim Essence model featured leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, but the abundance of plastic reminded us of its position at the bottom of Buick's lineup. The dashboard and door panels had a blob-like design reminiscent of the 1990s, though the instrument cluster with its two round binnacles was a standout feature.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Taos was designed for global appeal, engineered for affordability, and sized to maximize passenger comfort and utility. In its inaugural year, the Taos became Volkswagen’s third-best selling model in the U.S., surpassing the Jetta. The Taos SEL, with its Cornflower Blue paint and 19-inch alloy wheels, had an upscale look that justified its higher price. Inside, the light gray accents, gloss black trim, and leather seats gave it a premium feel, almost like a cut-rate Audi. The Taos also offered impressive interior space, nearly matching the larger Tiguan, making it one of the roomiest small crossovers available.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines. The standard 1.2-liter engine produced 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, while the optional 1.3-liter engine delivered 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available only with the 1.3-liter engine. The FWD models used a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic transmission. Our 1.3-liter AWD test car felt stronger than its specs suggested, but power delivery was not smooth, requiring a patient driving style. The ride was comfortable, and the cabin was quiet, thanks to Buick’s Quiet Tuning package. However, the Encore GX felt ponderous and awkward, with slow and lifeless steering and significant body roll.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. FWD models paired the engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while AWD models used a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Taos offered up to five driving modes and additional settings for the 4Motion AWD system. However, powertrain response was unpredictable, with occasional surges of torque and delays in response. The dual-clutch transmission exhibited halting behavior, making smooth driving a challenge. On a test route through the Santa Monica Mountains, the Taos SEL averaged 26.8 mpg, just short of its EPA rating. Despite its lack of power, the Taos had a firm, sure-footed, and stable driving character, with sharp and accurate steering. However, brake pedal feel was inconsistent, and the SUV suffered from wind and road noise at highway speeds.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered competitive passenger space, with headroom comparable to rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30. However, the Subaru Crosstrek provided more front legroom, and the Kia Seltos offered more rear legroom. The Encore GX had 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 50.2 cubic feet with them folded, topping the Kona and CX-30. The front seats were placed far inboard, reducing the feeling of spaciousness, and lacked thigh support. However, the Encore GX made good use of available space with large door pockets and a space-efficient wireless phone charger. Instrumentation was well-executed, with clear information displays and an array of hard buttons for ease of use.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered different upholstery options across trims, with cloth seats in the S trim, CloudTex artificial leather in the SE, and real leather in the SEL. The SE and SEL also included cold-weather equipment like heated side mirrors and front seats. The SEL trim added rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The eight-way power driver’s seat was exceptionally comfortable, and the Taos felt larger inside than most competitors. The rear seats provided ample legroom, air conditioning vents, and a panoramic sunroof in the SEL. Storage space was plentiful, with 27.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 65.9 cubic feet with them folded. AWD models had slightly less cargo space, at 24.9 and 60.2 cubic feet, respectively.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch driver information display. Optional features included a built-in navigation system, head-up display, wireless phone charging, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Standard tech included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The interface was user-friendly, with clear graphics and menu layouts. The 8-inch touchscreen was adequate for the dashboard design, and the infotainment system was easy to use.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos featured standard digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch screen in the S and SE trims and a 10.25-inch display in the SEL. Infotainment systems varied, with the Taos S having a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Car-Net connected services. The SE and SEL added an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, and an additional USB port. The SEL also included a native navigation system, an eight-speaker Beats Audio system, and advanced connected services. However, the user experience was problematic, with hidden virtual controls, a complicated radio tuning process, and a confusing ADAS settings menu. The voice-recognition technology was also subpar unless upgraded with additional services.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came with standard driver assist features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a Teen Driver system. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, automatic park assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, a 360-degree camera system, and a rearview camera mirror. The Encore GX received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was an IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick, with top ratings in all crash tests but an average score for child-seat anchor ease of use.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its standard safety features, with the Taos S now including forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Taos SE added the IQ.Drive collection of ADAS, including lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic stopping for unresponsive drivers. The Taos also featured a post-collision automatic braking system, automatic high-beam headlights, parking sensors with automatic braking, and a road-sign recognition system. Travel Assist performed well, navigating curves and maintaining proper distance on highways. However, crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS were decent but not perfect.