The subcompact SUV class is a crowded one. With so many solid options, it’s difficult to recommend one model over the field. Unless that model is the new Buick Encore, of course. The 2019 Buick Encore offers drivers the refinement of a luxury SUV and the lively road manners of a smaller car.
Below, we’ll examine how it stacks up against another popular model, the 2019 Honda HR-V.
How Does the Encore Fair Against the HR-V?
Style and Design
There’s no denying it: The 2019 Honda HR-V nails the futuristic look. But Buick knows that its drivers like the finer things. That’s why the 2019 Encore is decidedly more upscale and timeless. Its sharp lines and thoughtful grille details epitomize luxury.
While the HR-V may post a slight edge in cargo space, the Encore holds its own with 48.4 cu. ft. And best of all, it does so without sacrificing one of the nicer interiors in its class. Just see the available leather-appointed seating and QuietTuning™ noise-cancellation technology.
Performance
The only thing the HR-V has on the Encore in this category is fuel-efficiency, and that’s a mere 1-mpg advantage. Buick’s entry-level crossover still achieves an estimated 33 mpg in fuel economy on the highway.
The most sizeable difference is in the power department. The HR-V produces a respectable 141 horsepower, but the Encore’s 1.4L SIDI turbocharged engine cranks out 153 horsepower. And when you pair it with intelligent all-wheel drive, it’s hard to beat.
Safety and Tech
This might be the closest category in the entire matchup. Thanks to advances in modern technology, both of these models have their own suites of safety features. Buick makes the following available for the Encore: Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, and Rear Park Assist. Honda outfits select trims of the HR-V with HondaSensing®.
What the HR-V doesn’t offer? Available Rainsense™ automatic wipers and Bose® audio. But don’t worry — the Encore does.
The Stage is Set for Your Encore in West Palm Beach, FL
The 2019 Honda HR-V puts on a good show, but the 2019 Buick Encore steals it. See for yourself with a test drive at Schumacher Buick GMC of West Palm Beach. We’re your go-to Buick dealership in West Palm Beach, Florida.