The first ever Encore GX is a great addition to Buick’s SUV lineup. The 2020 Buick Encore GX is stylish, intelligent and engineered to keep up with your way of life. The 2020 Fiat 500x trails its rival in just about every area, in addition to its poor predicted reliability rating. Let’s compare the two side by side and you make your choice. Stop by Reliable Buick GMC if you are in the Sacramento area and take a ride.
Design and Style
The 2020 Buick Encore GX offers comfortable premium seating for five people, with available luxury features that include leather-appointed seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic moonroof and an in-vehicle air ionizer. Its cabin is nicely laid out and offers plenty of head-and legroom throughout the cabin. It offers versatile cabin features and customizable cargo options for all of your gear. The Encore provides more than 50 cubic feet of maximum cargo space when the rear seats are folded down, with 2.7 inches of additional cargo height when reconfiguring the cargo area floor. The Buick offers a roomy interior and a comfortable ride.
The 2020 Fiat 500x features a stylish cabin with upscale features, but it ranks poorly with passenger space and cargo room. It seats up to five people, and while head- and legroom are adequate, taller riders may feel cramped in the rear seats. Its firm seats with less padding and support make for a not-so-comfortable ride in this Fiat. The Fiat has one of the smallest cargo holds among subcompact SUVs, offering a total of 32.1 cubic feet of space behind the front seats.
Power, Handling and Gas
The Encore GX’s turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine is standard on all front-wheel-drive models, with 137 horsepower and 162 lb ft of torque. It is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Standard on all-wheel drive models and optional for front-wheel-drive models is a turbocharged 1.3-liter three-cylinder, with 155 horsepower and 174 lb ft of torque. The Encore gets an EPA-estimated 26/29 mpg on the city and highway. It delivers a gentle ride and offers the perfect balance of efficiency, power, and agile-handling to help you feel confident on the road.
The Fiat 500x has standard all-wheel drive, and is powered by a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 177 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque; and it is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The 500x has a firm, jittery ride, slow acceleration; and the automatic transmission hesitates to downshift. The Fiat gets an estimated 24/30 mpg in the city and on the highway.
Safety, Tech and Price
The Encore GX is loaded with several standard safety and tech features, including the Buick Infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, six-speaker audio system and an in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot. Forward collision mitigation, lane departure mitigation, along with safety packages that include a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors will help you feel secure on the road.
Advanced safety features include a 360-degree parking camera, an automated parking system, and a digital rearview mirror. The Buick Encore GX starts at $25,695
The 500x standard safety and tech features include the Uconnect infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a six-speaker sound system, and Bluetooth. The interface is easy to use, but when the radio is turned off the clock readout disappears. Available features include satellite radio, navigation, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring. The entry level 500 x model starts out at $25,995.
Overall
The 2020 GMC Encore GX offers a comfortable ride all around, with plenty of cargo and passenger room to meet your everyday driving needs. With its gentle ride and handling, choice of engines and entertainment features, the Encore is a sure winner in its class. Come take a ride and see for yourself.