Compare the2026 Toyota Rav4 VS 2026 Buick Encore GX

The Rav4 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Rav4 SE/Woodland/XLE/XSE/Limited/GR Sport has a standard Parking Support Brake 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 Rav4 AWD’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Encore GX doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Rav4 and Encore GX have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Rav4 SE/Woodland/XLE/XSE/Limited/GR Sport has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Encore GX’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Rav4’s optional 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 Rav4 and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Rav4’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Encore GX.

There are over 65 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Buick dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Rav4’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.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Rav4’s reliability 12 points higher than the Encore GX.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Buick is ranked 8th.

The Rav4 has more powerful engines than the Encore GX:

	Horsepower
Rav4 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	226 HP
Rav4 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	236 HP
Rav4 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	324 HP
Encore GX 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder	137 HP
Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder	155 HP

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	Rav4	Rav4	Encore GX
Zero to 60 MPH	7 sec	5 sec	9.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	13.7 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	100.7 MPH	80 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Encore GX:

			MPG
Rav4
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	47 city/40 hwy
	AWD	LE/SE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	46 city/39 hwy
		XLE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	45 city/38 hwy
		XSE/Limited 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/37 hwy
		SE/XSE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/36 hwy
		Woodland 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	41 city/35 hwy
		Woodland 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	41 city/34 hwy
		GR Sport 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/33 hwy
Encore GX
	FWD	1.2 turbo 3-cyl.	30 city/31 hwy
		1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/31 hwy
	AWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/28 hwy

The Rav4 can travel with zero emissions for 49 to 54 miles (dependent on model). The Encore GX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Rav4 has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Rav4 has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port and which locks and unlocks with the power locks, respectively. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

For better stopping power the Rav4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Encore GX:

	Rav4	Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid	Encore GX
Front Rotors	12 inches	12.9 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	11.1 inches	12.4 inches	10.39 inches

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Encore GX are solid, not vented.

The Rav4 stops much shorter than the Encore GX:

	Rav4	Encore GX
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Rav4 has larger tires than the Encore GX (235/65R17 vs. 225/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 XSE has standard 20-inch wheels. The Encore GX’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota Rav4 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 Rav4 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Rav4 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 Rav4’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the Encore GX (105.9 inches vs. 102 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Encore GX.

The Rav4 GR Sport handles at .83 G’s, while the Encore GX Avenir AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Rav4 GR Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Encore GX Sport Touring AWD (26.2 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Woodland has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Encore GX (8.5 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Rav4 has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (101.3 vs. 94.3).

The Rav4 has .1 inches more front legroom, 3.4 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 2.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4’s rear seats recline. The Encore GX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (37.8 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (70.4 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

The Rav4’s cargo area is larger than the Encore GX’s in almost every dimension:

	Rav4	Encore GX
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.8”	31.8”/60.8”
Max Width	60.5”	53”
Min Width	39.4”	40.7”
Height	36.7”	32”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4. The Encore GX doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Rav4’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Encore GX’s (1750 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Buick Encore GX is only 1000 pounds. The Rav4 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Encore GX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Rav4 Limited/XSE Plug-In Hybrid offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Rav4’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Encore GX’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Encore GX can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Both the Rav4 and the Encore GX offer available heated front seats. The Rav4 Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Encore GX.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 XSE/Limited 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 Rav4 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 Rav4 and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Rav4 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.

The Toyota Rav4 stands out above the Buick Encore GX by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and two of them provide more flexibility.

The Rav4 (except LE/SE/XLE)’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Encore GX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Rav4 and the Buick Encore GX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Rav4 first among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Encore GX isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Buick Encore GX by over 8 to one during 2025.