Compare the2024 Buick Encore GXVS 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross

The Buick Encore GX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Encore GX offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Corolla Cross only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Encore GX has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Corolla Cross LE/XLE offers Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

The Encore GX has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Corolla Cross LE and XLE offer a system to reveal vehicles in the Corolla Cross’s blind spots.

Both the Encore GX and the Corolla Cross have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, and rearview cameras.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Buick Encore GX is safer than the Toyota Corolla Cross:

	Encore GX	Corolla Cross
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	185	191
Neck Injury Risk	24%	33.6%
Neck Stress	190 lbs.	297 lbs.
Neck Compression	15 lbs.	61 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	83/261 lbs.	324/279 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29%	32.9%
Neck Stress	153 lbs.	155 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	409/383 lbs.	592/372 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Buick Encore GX is safer than the Toyota Corolla Cross:

	Encore GX	Corolla Cross
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	91	92
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	43 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	591 lbs.	623 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Encore GX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Corolla Cross’ (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Encore GX first among small SUVs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Corolla Cross isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fifth.

The Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder produces 12 lbs.-ft. more torque (162 vs. 150) than the Corolla Cross’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder produces 24 lbs.-ft. more torque (174 vs. 150) than the Corolla Cross’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Corolla Cross:

	Encore GX	Corolla Cross
Zero to 60 MPH	8.8 sec	9.2 sec
Quarter Mile	16.9 sec	17 sec

Regenerative brakes improve the Encore GX’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Encore GX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Encore GX stops shorter than the Corolla Cross:

	Encore GX	Corolla Cross
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	140 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the Encore GX has larger standard tires than the Corolla Cross (225/55R18 vs. 215/65R17). The Encore GX Avenir’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corolla Cross (245/45R19 vs. 225/55R18).

The Encore GX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Corolla Cross L/LE’s standard 65 series tires. The Encore GX Avenir’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Corolla Cross XLE’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Encore GX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Corolla Cross L/LE. The Encore GX Avenir’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Corolla Cross XLE.

The Encore GX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Encore GX AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Corolla Cross XLE AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Encore GX AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Corolla Cross LE (27.8 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

The Encore GX is 4.4 inches shorter than the Corolla Cross, making the Encore GX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Encore GX uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Encore GX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Encore GX has 5.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Cross (94.3 vs. 88.4).

The Encore GX has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 4 inches more rear legroom, 6.9 inches more rear hip room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla Cross.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Encore GX Avenir’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Encore GX AWD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Encore GX can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Corolla Cross can’t be towed flat on the ground.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 24% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

When two different drivers share the Encore GX Avenir, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Encore GX Avenir’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Encore GX’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Encore GX’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key System is only offered on the Corolla Cross LE/XLE, and doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Encore GX’s standard variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Corolla Cross L’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent. The Encore GX Avenir’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Corolla Cross LE/XLE’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Encore GX’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Corolla Cross’ headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Encore GX has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Corolla Cross has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the LE/XLE.

When the Encore GX Avenir is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Corolla Cross’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

On extremely cold winter days, the Encore GX’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Encore GX Avenir has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Encore GX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Encore GX will cost $260 less than the Corolla Cross over a five-year period.