SUVs have become the ultimate vehicle for those seeking quality, comfort, efficiency, balance, and style, but if you really desire something that will fit in everywhere you need to for the compact SUV. A compact SUV is ideal for those living in a crowded urban or suburban area due to their size and ability to use every inch of space to allow for optimal storage capacity as well as handle itself smoothly. That being said, this does not mean the safety, entertainment, power drive, style, and comfort features won’t appeal to a wide range of people and lifestyles. Both the 2018 Buick Encore vs. 2018 Kia Sportage are top contenders in their class and will give you affordable options for the amount of convenience and luxury offered. The 2018 Encore starts at a fair $22,990, while the Kia Sportage is not far behind at $23,600. The 2018 Sportage has a small size advantage by less than 10 inches as well as a more powerful powertrain, but the 2018 Encore offers a more stylish compact design, enhanced standard features, and superior fuel efficiency.
All in all these two SUVs are fairly even when placed side by side, but each model has its pros and cons. Here are a few of the top pros and cons of these top class contenders.
Pros of The 2018 Buick Encore
The 2018 Buick Encore truly has a lot going for it, especially its style which is the purest translation of a compact vehicle ever seen from an SUV from the unobtrusive grille, perfectly placed headlights and unique body shape that gives it a refined, sleek, and overall pleasurable appearance. Coming in nine smooth exterior paint options, the 2018 Encore is sure to impress with its compact style.
The style isn’t the only positive on the list for the 2018 Encore, it also has an exhaustive list of features that start off strong with its standard trim, but only get better as they go along. Offering six well thought out and affordable trim levels, the 2018 Buick Encore keeps drivers satisfied by allowing them to choose the features the mean most to them, while still offering them a bit of everything if they invest in the base trim.
The luxury interior is available in leather or cloth that when combined with dual-zone automatic climate control, Quiettuning tech, and heated seating and steering will leave you on cloud nine every second you drive. If convenience is what you’re looking for, the 2018 Encore also offers keyless open and start which will allow you the relief of leaving your psychical key in a safe place such as a pocket or bag. Finally, safety is never an issue with the 2018 Buick Encore because this model was rated five stars overall in safety testing and offers a long list of safety features including a standard rear vision camera and options lane departure warning, blind zone warning, forward collision alert, and rear cross-traffic alert.
The positives of the 2018 Buick Encore can be said to outweigh the cons; it does well in the style category and dominates in features and compatibility. While it may not be perfect in stats, it is the perfect vehicle for those who truly desire what can be considered a compact SUV.
Cons of The 2018 Buick Encore
The biggest negative of the 2018 Buick Encore is the powertrain. It may handle like a dream with its 6-speed automatic transmission and AWD, but the 1.4L turbo engine doesn’t exactly live up to the rest of its class with a max of only 153 hp, but it does offer an impressive fuel economy at 33 mpg highway. It also has no towing ability which can be a bummer for those who enjoy this often included SUV feature. In fairness, it is enough to get you around the city streets, but for those seeking more power from their ride, you may not feel fully satisfied.
Another slight setback for the 2018 Encore is the lack of storage. Most vehicles within its class can hold 60 cubic feet or more, but the Buick Encore of 2018 can only handle 48.4 cubic feet of max storage space. This does not mean that it is not a fair buy though, in fact, the 2018 Encore gets an impressive amount of storage capacity for being a picture perfect impression of compact vehicles. Not an inch is wasted, and you can still fit more inside of it than any sedan you will ever find.
Basically, the cons of the 2018 Buick Encore are just things it had to sacrifice in order to keep its perfect stature and presence. It is still an ideal fit for anyone who requires something a little more refined and innovative to take on the daily hustle with.
Pros of the 2018 Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage is an excellent example of why you should never doubt the performance ability of a car just because it is small. The greatest advantage of the 2018 Kia Sportage is that it comes standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that pushes out 181 horsepower, which is greater than the 2018 Encore at its best. You can also upgrade to a 2L turbo engine that will make the performance of the Kia Sportage jump to an athletic 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, which is well worth the extra cost it will take to increase to a higher trim level. It also has a towing capacity of 1,650 lbs, which is great for those who require a little hauling help.
Another advantage to the 2018 Kia Sportage is the 60.1 cubic feet of storage space when the seats are down. This amount of space will make you wonder exactly why it can even be considered a compact vehicle.
The size of the 2018 Sportage is what gives it these pros and allows it to come out as a performance beast, especially when compared to the much more sensibly powered 2018 Buick Encore.
Cons of The 2018 Kia Sportage
There are a few things about the 2018 Kia Sportage that may rub people the wrong way, the main of which is the unusual exterior style choice. The front grille is shaped in a strange bow curve, and the headlights are almost like boomerangs. The bottom front lights also lack a glass cover which leaves them exposed and can be fairly unappealing. There is also the average fuel economy at 30 mpg, and the fact that although the cargo space is great when compared to the Encore, it isn’t exactly best in class for its overall dimensions.
Wrapping things up, the 2018 Buick is a beautifully compact luxury vehicle while the 2018 Kia Sportage is a handsomely high-performance vehicle. One is refined, the other is sporty, and both have their own fair share of pros and cons that make them who they are.
