2023 Buick Encore GX vs 2024 Hyundai Venue

The 2023 Buick Encore GX departed from Buick's storied design history, presenting a modern look that didn't quite capture the essence of an SUV. Its rounded exterior and tall stance resulted in awkward proportions, lacking the rugged appeal that typically draws buyers to SUVs. Even with the Sport Touring Package, which added subtle enhancements like a black mesh grille and two-tone wheels, the Encore GX struggled to stand out. Inside, the top-trim Essence model offered leather upholstery and power-adjustable seats, but the abundance of plastic reminded drivers of its entry-level status within Buick's lineup. The dashboard and door panels, reminiscent of 1990s design, failed to impress, though the instrument cluster with its outward-pointing binnacles was a notable feature.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Venue, particularly in Limited trim, offered a more mature and stylish appearance, even in its subdued Ecotronic Gray paint. Despite its affordability, the Venue's design exuded genuine style, making it an appealing choice for budget-conscious buyers. Inside, the Venue's interior, though featuring hard plastics, avoided looking cheap. The seats boasted stylish stripes and piping, and the white trim around the dashboard air vents added a touch of flair. The digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display were well-executed, contributing to a high-quality feel. Overall, the Venue's design and interior details made it a thoughtfully crafted small SUV.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines, with the standard 1.2-liter producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, while the optional 1.3-liter engine delivered 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for the 1.3-liter engine. The Encore GX employed different transmissions for its drivetrains, with a CVT for FWD models and a nine-speed automatic for AWD versions. The 1.3-liter AWD test car provided stronger acceleration than expected, though power delivery was not always smooth. The Encore GX excelled in ride comfort and noise reduction, thanks to its well-damped suspension and active noise cancellation. However, its steering felt slow and lifeless, and the suspension allowed for significant body roll, making it feel ponderous in most situations.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. Despite its modest power, the Venue's lightweight design and CVT allowed it to navigate city streets and suburbs with ease. Its nimble handling and excellent visibility made it well-suited for urban environments. However, the Venue's suspension struggled on rough roads, resulting in a busy ride quality. On highways, the Venue could maintain freeway speeds, but the engine and CVT produced unpleasant noises under heavy acceleration. The Venue lacked all-wheel drive, but its 6.7 inches of ground clearance provided some advantage in snowy conditions. The Venue achieved an EPA rating of 31 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing yielded slightly lower results.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered competitive passenger space, with headroom comparable to rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30. However, the Subaru Crosstrek provided more front legroom, and the Kia Seltos offered more rear-seat space. The Encore GX's cargo capacity of 23.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 50.2 cubic feet with them folded was respectable, though the Seltos offered more. The front seats were positioned close together, reducing the sense of spaciousness, and lacked thigh support. Despite its compact size, the Encore GX featured ample small-item storage, including large door pockets and a space-efficient wireless phone charger. The instrumentation was well-executed, with clear notifications and an array of hard buttons for ease of use.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance made entry and exit easier, and its compact dimensions provided decent comfort. The driver's seat featured manual height adjustment, and the steering wheel offered tilt-and-telescopic adjustment. The front seats had appealing fabric inserts and heated cushions, while the back seat was better suited for two passengers. Taller passengers might find the hard plastic front seatbacks uncomfortable, and rear-seat amenities were limited. The Venue's cargo space was on par with a compact car, offering 18.7 cubic feet with the seats up and 31.9 cubic feet with them folded. The Venue's interior design included useful storage solutions, such as a dashboard shelf for the front passenger.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came equipped with a standard 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch driver information display. While it lacked a fully digital instrument cluster, the Encore GX offered optional features like a navigation system, head-up display, wireless phone charging, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Standard tech included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with attractive graphics and a well-sized touchscreen for the dashboard.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with modern graphics and intuitive menu structures. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and a six-speaker sound system. The Venue Limited added a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, a wireless smartphone charger, and Bluelink+ connected services. However, the upgraded system required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which was a drawback. Despite this, the Venue's infotainment system was sophisticated, with impressive voice recognition capabilities. The Venue's youthful target audience would appreciate its connectivity options, though better stereo speakers would enhance the experience.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered standard driver assist features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and a Teen Driver system. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. The Encore GX received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was an IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick, though it had an "Average" score for child-seat anchor ease of use.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue came with Hyundai SmartSense, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a rear-seat reminder system. The Venue SEL added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the Limited trim included cyclist detection. The Venue lacked adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist. The IIHS rated the Venue with Good ratings in three crash tests, and the NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating.