More and more savvy younger car buyers are looking at compact SUVs like the Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax instead of small cars. The compact SUV segment is one of the largest and most competitive as every automaker has jumped in to offer affordable prices or premium luxury. The intense competition has made economy brands step up their luxury game, while premium brands have fought to be more affordable.
The Trax and Encore come in near the affordable end of the spectrum. Both made by GM, these SUVs are quite similar, but let’s see if they do anything differently.
Buick Encore vs. Chevrolet Trax: Cabin Space
Both the Encore and Trax have pretty much the same exact interior dimensions. However, the two SUVs offer slightly different passenger dimensions due to the seating arrangements and designs. Both SUVs have seating for five and 39.6 inches of headroom in the front seats. The measurements for the front and rear for both are within a half inch for every segment except hiproom. That gives the Trax a small advantage when it comes to overall interior space, but it’s not a huge amount.
Buick Encore vs. Chevrolet Trax: Towing and Cargo
Compact SUVs have another advantage over similar-sized cars in that they offer more cargo space in their small footprint. Both the Trax and the Encore offer the same cargo space at 48.4 cubic feet, with the rear row folded. Behind the rear row, the cargo space differs slightly from the Buick Encore, which delivers more at 18.8 cubic feet than the Trax’s 18.7 cubic feet. Neither the Encore nor Trax are designed for towing, so it’s better to leave that to the bigger SUVs.
Buick Encore vs. Chevrolet Trax: Technology:
One benefit of luxury brands getting into the game with small SUVs is that they’ve pushed other automakers to add extras to their economy nameplates. GM has outfitted both the Trax and Encore with a long list of standard features as well as attractive interiors. As with the other categories mentioned, the Trax and Encore have nearly the same complement of standard features and tech. However, the Buick Encore offers a larger screen in the instrument cluster, featuring standard leatherette trim.
Buick Encore vs. Chevrolet Trax: Powertrain
The Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax are powered by the same 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, making 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard on both SUVs, but you can choose AWD and FWD on any trim level. Although the powertrain is the same on both vehicles, the Buick Encore is slightly heavier than the Chevrolet Trax. This might make the Trax feel zippier when you hit the gas. It also means that the Trax gets slightly better fuel economy numbers.
So, which of these two GM compact SUVs should you choose? Ultimately, the only real difference between the two is exterior design cues. The Buick looks and feels a little more luxurious to match its nameplate. However, if you prefer the practicality of the Chevy, you will save some extra money on the price tag.
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