Compare the2023 Volkswagen TaosVS 2023 Buick Encore GX

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Taos deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Taos’ side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Encore GX’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Taos has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, 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 Taos offers optional Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Encore GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Taos has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Encore GX’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Taos has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Encore GX.

Both the Taos and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The Taos comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Encore GX’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Taos’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Encore GX’s (7/100,000 vs. 6/100,000).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taos for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Encore GX.

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 21 more horsepower (158 vs. 137) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 162) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 3 more horsepower (158 vs. 155) and 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Taos is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Taos gets better mileage than the Encore GX:

The Taos AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons).

The Taos offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is more internally efficient than a CVT but just as easy to drive. The Encore GX doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

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

The Taos stops shorter than the Encore GX:

The Taos SEL 4Motion’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Encore GX’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Taos SEL 4Motion has standard 19-inch wheels. The Encore GX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Taos 4Motion 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 solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Taos 4Motion has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Taos 4Motion 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 Taos’ wheelbase is 3.3 inches longer than on the Encore GX (105.5 inches vs. 102.2 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Taos has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Encore GX (7.6 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Taos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Taos has 5.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (99.5 vs. 94.3).

The Taos has 1 inch more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

The front step up height for the Taos is 1 inches lower than the Encore GX (16.5” vs. 17.5”). The Taos’ rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the Encore GX’s (16.7” vs. 18”).

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Taos easier. The Taos’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 27 inches, while the Encore GX’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

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

The Taos’ 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.

On a hot day the Taos’ driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Encore GX can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Taos has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Taos to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Encore GX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Taos’ available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Encore GX’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Taos SEL has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Encore GX doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Taos SEL also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Taos SEL 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.

Both the Taos and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Taos offers optional 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.