Looking for a solid compact SUV that is stylish and offers a sporty performance? Look no further. Reliable Buick GMC is here for you. Come drive the 2020 Buick Encore and compare it to the 2020 Mazda CX-3.
Design and Style
The 2020 Buick Encore seats up to five people comfortably, with a good amount of head- and legroom in both rows. Its cabin features high quality materials with a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. You can upgrade to leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated front seats. The Encore has 18.8 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and a total of 48.4 cubic feet after folding down the rear seats.
The 2020 Mazda CX-3 also seats five. The front seats are comfortable with enough head- and legroom, but you’ll have to duck your head to get in the back seats, and there is limited legroom. Three adults would not sit comfortably in the rear seats. Its cabin makes up for the cramped rear seats. It offers an upscale interior with a modern design. The CX-3 has limited cargo space and only offers 12.4 cubic feet behind the second row. If you lower the folding rear seats, it will open up to 44.5 cubic feet of space.
Power, Handling, and Gas
The Encore’s engine is standard throughout its lineup with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that also produces 138 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Encore offers an EPA-estimated 25/30 mpg on the city and highway. It has a gentle ride and maneuvers well around corners, with minimal body lean.
The CX-3 comes with a four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission that delivers 148 horsepower. It offers an estimated 29/34 mpg in the city and on the highway. It has responsive steering and controls well around turns. A trade-off is its suspension, as you will clearly notice the bumps in the road. The engine can also be louder at higher speeds.
Safety, Tech, and Price
A rearview camera is a standard driver assistance feature on the Encore. Available safety features include front and rear parking sensors, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. These safety features come standard on higher trim levels. Its infotainment system on this SUV features an 8-inch touch screen, smartphone integration, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hot spot, satellite radio, a six-speaker stereo, two USB ports, and Bluetooth. The Buick Encore’s base price starts at $23,200 for the Preferred and ranges to $29,300 for the Encore Essence. There are also options for upgraded packages with each model.
The CX-3 safety features include stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, a rearview camera, and blind spot monitoring. An infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, a six-speaker stereo, voice recognition, and a USB port are standard for the CX-4. Mazda only offers the CX-3 in the Sport trim and its base price starts at $20,640.
Overview
The 2020 Buick Encore is a compact SUV worth considering. It offers more passenger and cargo space than the Mazda CX-3, with poised handling over most roads; as well as a straightforward infotainment system. Come take a look for yourself at Reliable Buick GMC.