The Buick Encore vs Hyundai Tucson
The Buick Encore is one of the best SUV’s in its class on the market today. It’s on the top part of the price range, to be fair, with a premium of between 5 and 10% above almost all competitors, but the price difference pales in comparison to what the car delivers. Let’s take the main features and compare them one by one so you can see how we reached that conclusion.
Every SUV owner places a lot of value on one, if not all, of this three things: safety, overall look and feel (primarily the interior) and car handling. To this trio, lately, on account of the technologized times we live in, a new category of interest has emerged, that of the infotainment system of a vehicle.
Starting off with safety, both vehicles have earned top marks from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in all their crash tests. They are considered to provide top safety for today’s standards and are among the leaders in their class on this regard. Both vehicles come equipped with a rearview camera as a standard option and have multiple safety features available that you can upgrade to.
The handling of both vehicles is excellent, and we have another tie when comparing the two. Both reliable cars, with a good road presence for the 2 row SUV segment. A little plus for the Buick when it comes to miles per gallon, and that's on account of the smaller engine power available for the Encore as compared to the Tucson. Not something you need to worry about though, on the contrary, it seems like the Encore is a little more agile, despite the less power it can count on. Again, a neck to neck race here, with the Buick edging its opponent out by providing more miles per gallon while being a little more agile on the road.
If the first two important features, safety and handling, are close calls, the balance shifts in the Buick’s favour when it comes to the overall look and feel. This is where you start to see where the 5% difference in price comes from. If the Tucson seems a little below average when it comes to interior quality of materials and craftsmanship, the Buick is well above what's expected from its price range. You have a sense that you're getting more than you paid for in terms of materials being used and the general feel of the car on the inside. This alone and the small difference in price will be well worth it if so far all other aspects were either similar or in the Buick’s favour by a margin.
Another place where the Encore smashes it is the infotainment system. It's equipped with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a much-needed wi-fi hotspot, all standard features. They also have a partnership with OnStar, adding to the safety level of your vehicle. The standard plan the car comes with is basic, but you can update it at any time.
Both the Hyundai and the Buick are excellent choices, but for a small price premium, you get a noticeably better interior while everything else is comparable between the two cars. For that reason alone, you own comfort day in, and day out, we recommend the Encore over the Tucson.