*All information in this article has been revised and updated for the latest 2021-2022 models.
If you are in the market for a compact SUV, the 2022 Ford Escape and 2022 Buick Encore are two compact SUVs to compare. Both stylish and offer some impressive features, but Ford is solid in its quality and performance.
Design and Style
Ford Escape’s sporty new redesigned 2022 SUV offers buyers roomy interior and cargo space. With seating for five, this stylish new compact SUV is easy to drive and packed with the latest features. The sliding second-row seats open up to an enormous 40.7 inches of legroom. When rear seats are folded, the maximum cargo space yields 65.4 cubic feet. For a two-row crossover, that’s a useful amount of room and makes it easier to get in and out of the vehicle.
The Buick Encore also seats up to five people but doesn’t offer a lot of cargo space. The seats may be comfortable, but the back seats can feel tight with averaged-size adults. This doesn’t make for quite as comfortable a ride as the Escape. This SUV has 18.8 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and a total of 48.4 cubic feet after folding down the rear seats. So, if you are planning to transport passengers and their gear, the Buick might not be your best option.
Power, Handling and Gas
The Escape handles well for a compact SUV. It offers three different powertrain options ranging from sporty performance to a new efficient hybrid, with improved power and acceleration to move your vehicle well. Its sporty performance and handling make it drive more like a smaller car. The 180-horsepower three-cylinder EcoBoost turbocharged engine and 250-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine provide plenty of power for everyday driving. It earns respectable ratings of 27/33 mpg on the city and highway. Not to mention, the hybrid can go 37 miles on battery power, alone. When properly equipped, the Escape can tow up to 3,500 pounds. Not bad for a compact SUV.
The Encore’s meager engine, standard throughout its lineup, is a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 155 horsepower and 177 pound-feet or torque. This is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. That doesn’t offer much for towing. Buick discontinued the stronger turbo engine for 2020, making its 1.4-liter engine your only option. The Encore gets an EPA-estimated 25/30 mpg on the city and highway, which is about average but a little less than the Escape. The Buick has a gentle ride and maneuvers well around corners but the steering is overly light, keeping it from feeling sporty.
Safety, Tech and Price
Ford Escape’s popular safety features include: evasive steering assist, lane keeping system, and blind-spot information system (BLIS) to help give you the security you need on our roads. Other safety features include a rearview camera and automatic emergency braking; all bundled into the Ford Co-Pilot360. The new Escape comes standard with user friendly 8-inch freestanding touchscreen, navigation, android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a SYNC system with an option for a SYNC 3 infotainment system. Starting price for this compact SUV is $25,555 for the S and ranges to $38,325 for the Titanium plug-in hybrid.
The 2022 Buick Encore on the other hand, starts off at $24,600 for it’s base model and increases as you go up the trim levels.
