Porsche Cayenne vs Buick Encore GX

The 2024 Buick Encore GX emerged as one of the most visually appealing models from Buick in recent years. Drawing inspiration from the 2022 Wildcat concept, this refreshed model showcased a completely redesigned front with sleek daytime running lights positioned above the grille and angular LED headlamps flanking it. The introduction of a new Buick logo added to its modern appeal. The Avenir trim, which was the top-of-the-line, featured a unique grille and chrome trim, enhancing its sophisticated look. While the rear design remained largely unchanged from the 2023 model, the addition of new LED tail lights on the top trims added a touch of modernity. The overall design was further complemented by the availability of 19-inch wheels, making it a handsome package. The colour palette was diverse, offering vibrant options like brilliant red, deep blue, maroon, and even a Copper Ice Metallic, with some trims offering a contrasting black roof and mirrors.

Inside, the most significant change was the relocation of the HVAC vents to accommodate a new 19-inch glass panel that housed the digital gauge cluster and touchscreen. This large glass panel gave the interior a premium and tech-savvy appearance, although some cheap-feeling plastics were noted. The interior colour options were limited to black or cream, but given the price point, it was a minor quibble. The Encore GX's interior was designed to offer a balance of style and functionality, with a focus on providing a tech-forward experience.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne, available in both standard SUV and sporty Coupe forms, offered a range of trims from the base Cayenne to the high-performance Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid. The GTS trim, which was the focus of this review, featured high gloss black trim and a unique front fascia with larger air intakes and tinted headlights. The 21-inch wheels in anthracite gray and red brake calipers added to its sporty appeal. The Cayenne Coupe variant came with an adaptive rear spoiler, enhancing its aerodynamic profile. The base model, while less adorned, still maintained a sleek and attractive design with satin black trim and smaller wheels.

Inside, the Cayenne offered a high level of customization, allowing buyers to choose from a variety of colours, trims, and even seat belt options. The cabin was designed with a focus on luxury and personalization, with options for custom paint jobs and a range of interior materials. The layout was well thought out, with mechanical controls for essential features like HVAC and volume, and a dashboard-mounted shifter toggle that freed up storage space. The centre console, while slightly prone to movement, was the only minor criticism in an otherwise well-designed interior. The Cayenne's interior was a testament to Porsche's commitment to luxury and customization, offering a unique and personalized driving experience.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX retained its powertrain from previous models, offering a 1.3-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine in Canada, delivering 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and was available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The Encore GX was not particularly quick, taking about nine seconds to accelerate to 100 kilometres per hour, but it was responsive enough for city driving. However, highway passing required patience, as the transmission was slow to downshift, resulting in a delay in power delivery. The selectable AWD system allowed drivers to engage all-wheel drive when needed, although it required manual intervention, unlike some competitors with automatic systems.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a range of powerful engine options, starting with a base 3.0-litre V6 producing 348 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. For those seeking more performance, the Cayenne S featured a V8 engine with 468 horsepower, while the Turbo GT offered a staggering 650 horsepower, although only in coupe form. The plug-in hybrid variants provided up to 729 horsepower for those desiring peak performance. The GTS trim, with its twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, delivered 493 horsepower and 486 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed transmission and all-wheel drive. The Cayenne GTS was quick, reaching 100 kilometres per hour in just 4.4 seconds with the Sport Chrono package, and boasted a top speed of 275 kilometres per hour. The GTS trim struck a balance between sporty performance and comfort, with precise steering and a low centre of gravity, making it an agile and athletic SUV. The optional carbon ceramic brakes provided ample stopping power, although they required some adjustment for optimal modulation. The Cayenne GTS offered a dynamic driving experience, with the ability to switch between sporty and comfortable modes, making it a versatile choice for enthusiasts.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX, as a subcompact SUV, offered limited utility but was competitive within its segment. It had a towing capacity of 453 kilograms (1,000 pounds) and featured an available hands-free liftgate for convenient loading. The cargo space behind the rear seats measured 665 litres, expanding to 1,422 litres with the seats folded down. The Encore GX could accommodate items up to eight feet long with the front seat folded, making it versatile for carrying larger items. Inside, standard features included heated driver and front passenger seats, a heated steering wheel, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. Optional features included a seven-speaker Bose audio system and a moonroof, enhancing the overall comfort and convenience.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne, true to Porsche's a la carte approach, offered a range of customizable features, but many were optional. The base model included eight-way power-adjustable seats, heated but not cooled, and two-zone climate control. The GTS trim added a GT Sport steering wheel and Race-Tex headliner, with options for Race-Tex or leather interiors. The Turbo GT trim featured stainless steel pedal pads and illuminated carbon fibre door-sill guards. The Cayenne's options list was extensive, allowing buyers to choose from various materials and features, including carbon fibre or aluminum accents, and adjustable seats. However, the Cayenne only accommodated five passengers, with no option for a third row. The standard Cayenne offered 772 litres of cargo space, expanding to 1,708 litres with the rear seats folded, while the coupe version had slightly less space. The Cayenne's towing capacity was impressive, matching that of a mid-size pickup truck at 3,500 kilograms (7,700 pounds).

The 2024 Buick Encore GX featured an 11-inch touchscreen paired with an 8-inch digital gauge cluster, housed under a single glass panel. While visually appealing, the screen had a lot of unused space, giving the impression of a malfunction. The Encore GX offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with USB-A and USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and a 120-volt outlet. The available rear camera mirror provided a wider-angle view of the rear, enhancing safety. The infotainment system was straightforward, with easy-to-read tiles for smartphone mirroring, climate control, settings, camera views, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne boasted a curved 12.6-inch digital gauge cluster, with up to seven views depending on the trim level. The 12.3-inch touchscreen display ran the Porsche Communication Management system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Spotify, Apple Music, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. An optional 10.9-inch passenger screen allowed for navigation and media control, with a screen filter to prevent driver distraction. The screens were well-organized and responsive, with voice control options available. A head-up display provided pertinent information, although it appeared dim with polarized sunglasses. The Cayenne also featured night-vision assist and four high-speed USB-C charging ports, along with a cooled wireless charging area to prevent phone overheating.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX came standard with the Driver Confidence package, which included lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, a following distance indicator, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard across all trims. However, rear park assist, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera were optional. The Encore GX featured unique safety features like Teen Driver, which recorded driving habits, and Buckle to Drive, which prevented shifting out of park without the driver's seat belt fastened. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 2024 Encore GX a full five-star overall safety rating, with high scores in frontal and side crash tests.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered standard safety features like parking sensors, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring, but adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-departure warning were optional. Porsche's advanced adaptive cruise control system, InnoDrive, was not available for testing due to the car's German specifications. Neither the NHTSA nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had rated the 2025 Cayenne for safety, and recent models had not been evaluated by these organizations.