Compare the2026 Acura ADXVS 2026 Buick Encore GX

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the ADX deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The ADX’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Encore GX’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Acura ADX achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Buick Encore GX has not been tested.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The ADX A-Spec offers an optional Low-Speed Braking Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Encore GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the ADX’s standard Hill Descent Control System allow you to creep down safely. The Encore GX doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control System.

The ADX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the ADX and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Acura ADX achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Encore GX is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

The ADX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Encore GX’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the ADX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Encore GX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Encore GX ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The ADX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the ADX’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Encore GX’s camshafts. If the Encore GX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 6 places higher in reliability than Buick.

The ADX’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 53 more horsepower (190 vs. 137) and 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (179 vs. 162) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The ADX’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 35 more horsepower (190 vs. 155) and 5 lbs.-ft. more torque (179 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Acura ADX is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the ADX AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder AWD (25 city/30 hwy vs. 26 city/28 hwy).

The ADX has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Encore GX. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

For better stopping power the ADX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Encore GX:

For superior ride and handling, the Acura ADX has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Buick Encore GX has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The ADX has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the ADX flat and controlled during cornering. The Encore GX’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ADX’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Encore GX (104.5 inches vs. 102 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the ADX is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Encore GX.

The ADX A-Spec AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Encore GX Avenir AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The ADX A-Spec AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Encore GX Sport Touring AWD (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The ADX has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (97.3 vs. 94.3).

The ADX has 1 inch more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

The ADX has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (24.4 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The ADX has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (55.1 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the ADX easier. The ADX’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27 inches, while the Encore GX’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Buick. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 7% lower rating, Buick is ranked 9th.

The ADX A-Spec’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Encore GX’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

On a hot day the ADX’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Encore GX can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The ADX’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Encore GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The ADX’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Encore GX’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

Both the Acura ADX and Buick Encore GX offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The ADX offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Encore GX’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the ADX A-Spec keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Encore GX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The ADX has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Encore GX Avenir.

Both the ADX and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the ADX has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Encore GX doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Acura ADX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Encore GX.