You lead an active life. You look to a subcompact crossover when seeking a versatile, reliable, and comfortable SUV that’s spacious enough to meet your needs yet small enough to go wherever you choose. Many drivers in Cullman, Vinemont, or Good Hope, AL, find themselves drawn to the Buick Encore GX and the Mazda CX-30 for good reason, but which do you choose?
The team at Bill Smith Buick GMC has created this comparison of the Buick Encore GX and the Mazda CX-30 so you can decide which subcompact better suits your needs for a daily driver. Read on, then contact us to put the winner to the ultimate test. Let the competition of these two subcompact crossover SUVs begin!
CONTINUOUS VARIABLE TRANSMISSION
STANDARD SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION
STANDARD TOUCHSCREEN SIZE
Handling morning drop-offs and after-school activities, commuting to work, running errands, and heading out on family road trips are all possible when you depend on a practical crossover SUV like the Buick Encore GX or the Mazda CX-30. You can rely on a solid performance that's fuel-efficient, too, enabling you to navigate the urban jungle as easily as the open highway.
Despite being equipped with high-powered engines, the Encore GX and the CX-30 differ in how they transfer that power to the wheels. The Encore GX pairs its turbocharged powertrain with a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT), while the CX-30 mates its engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Combined with its fully independent suspension, the Buick’s CVT adjusts gears continuously to ensure a smoother and more composed ride with optimal handling.
The Mazda comes standardly equipped with all-wheel drive, while the Buick gives you the power of choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD):
- FWD (Standard): Powers only the front wheels, yielding greater fuel economy. It is ideal for those who live in mild-weather areas or who drive mostly on paved roads.
- Selectable AWD (Available): Constantly monitors all four wheels to adjust for low-traction conditions. Best for those who deal with challenging weather conditions or often have to traverse steep grades or over unpaved terrain.
Regardless of where you live or how/where you drive, the Buick Encore GX can meet your needs.
When comparing fuel economy between two SUVs, it’s easy to focus strictly on the miles per gallon (MPG). While MPG is critical, there's more to efficiency than mere numbers on a spec sheet. Factors like fuel tank capacity, the type of transmission, and the drivetrain also significantly determine how far you can go on a single tank and how efficiently a model converts fuel into motion.
Since we’ve already addressed how the Encore GX’s CVT and standard FWD positively impact fuel economy, let’s consider how these SUVs’ fuel tanks influence their efficiency. To level the playing field, we've compared them with AWD (standard in the Mazda, available in the Buick), which yields the same MPG.
|
Model
|
EPA-Estimated City Fuel Economy with AWD
|
Fuel Tank Capacity
|
Miles Between Fuel-ups
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Buick Encore GX | 26 city MPG | 13.2 gallons | 343 miles |
| Mazda CX-30 | 26 city MPG | 12.7 gallons | 330 miles |
The Encore GX continues to prove its efficiency, allowing you to drive farther and longer on a single tank.
When you choose a smaller vehicle, you want to know it still has enough room for who and what you need to take along with you while easily navigating narrow city streets and congested parking lots. You also want plenty of comfort and conveniences to make each trip more enjoyable. The Encore GX and the CX-30 show they’ve got what it takes.
Although compact, the Buick Encore GX and the Mazda CX-30 are big in style. The Encore GX features a streamlined, sculpted design that exudes understated elegance, complete with Buick’s signature grille and checkmark-shaped LED headlights. The CX-30’s shifting S-curve earmarks its sporty exterior. Still, the Encore GX exerts its athletic side with standard 18-inch aluminum wheels, only an available option on the CX-30, which comes standard with 16-inch wheels.
Inside either SUV, you’ll enjoy a refined interior with your choice of cloth, leatherette, or leather-trimmed seating. Both offer luxury amenities to increase your comfort like heated 8-way front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control. Still, only the Buick offers an available heated steering wheel to warm your hands on a cold day and an extra inch and a half of front-row headroom, which taller drivers will appreciate.
You’re constantly on the go and need an on-road companion that’s spacious enough to transport your child’s soccer gear and the equipment for your photography class, plus the weekly grocery haul and luggage for your family road trip. As subcompact crossovers, can the Encore GX and the CX-30 keep up? If your SUV is from Buick, it can.
- Buick Encore GX Cargo Capacity (behind rear/front row): 23.5/50.2 cu. ft.
- Mazda CX-30 Cargo Capacity (behind rear/front row): 20.2/45.2 cu. ft.
With three to five feet more cargo capacity in the Buick Encore GX, nothing will have to stay behind or ride on someone’s lap.
After playing chauffeur all week, you’ve finally earned some “me time” and look forward to catching up with your favorite podcast or audiobook—or even listening to nothing at all. Thanks to standard Buick QuietTuning™ with Active Noise Cancellation in the Encore GX, you can (finally) enjoy a quiet cabin. Drivers of the CX-30 have no similar means to reclaim a bit of serenity.
You demand more from your vehicle than merely transporting you from Point A to Point B. You want an infotainment system to keep you connected and engaged on the go. You also want to feel secure when you’re behind the wheel. With the Encore GX and the CX-30, advanced technologies ensure a superior driving experience.
Although the Buick Encore GX and the Mazda CX-30 include similar infotainment technologies, such as Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility and available wireless device charging, there are some telling differences.
|
Model
|
Standard Touchscreen Size
|
Standard Smartphone Integration
|
|---|---|---|
| Buick Encore GX | 11 in. | Wireless |
| Mazda CX-30 | 8.8 in. | Wired |
Even the Mazda’s available 10.25-inch touchscreen falls short of the standard display included in the Buick.
When it comes to safety, the Encore GX shines with Buick Driver Confidence, a comprehensive suite of standard features designed to provide a layer of protection around you and your most precious cargo:
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Front Pedestrian Braking
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
- Forward Collision Alert
- Following Distance Indicator
- IntelliBeam® auto high-beam assist
Mazda’s i-Activsense® includes similar brand-specific versions of many of these safety systems. Both models were also awarded a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating by the NHTSA (National Highway Safety Administration) for the latest model year, so you’ll have greater peace of mind.
The Buick Encore GX and the Mazda CX-30 each excel within their class. Still, with its perfect blend of functional practicality, stylish design, and additional amenities, this family-friendly Buick is worth an encore look by drivers in Cullman, Vinemont, or Good Hope, AL.
To take your turn behind the wheel of the Encore GX, contact Bill Smith Buick GMC today.
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