2021 Hyundai Kona vs. 2021 Buick Encore GX: it continues its momentum

Since it showed up on the market for 2018, the Hyundai Kona has become an incredible phenomenon. People are snapping it up, literally. And what explains its success? There are many reasons, of course, but it starts with its styling, which has been one of the most successful of the past decade across the industry. No kidding!

And when you compare the Kona with its competitors, it always stands out as the most complete choice. The following examples, taken from a comparison with the Buick Encore GX, give a good indication of that.

A livelier presentation

We were talking about style. Even though Buick has rejuvenated its image in recent years, its model still has a very classic appearance. That's true on the outside, but also on the inside, where you're going to spend most of your time. With the Kona, the vehicle's appearance is of course much more attractive, but the experience on board is also more invigorating. That's the result of a more modern look.

Better adapted mechanics

Comparing the technical specifications of the two models, we realize that the two companies have really taken different approaches to the animation of their respective vehicles. Buick prioritized small displacements and turbocharging in all directions. That's why we find 1.2 and 1.3 liter 3-cylinder engines. It's small and it's powerful.

With the Kona, you have two options, either a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that's good for 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, or a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder that suggests 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. In the latter case, it's more powerful than either of the Buick engines, not to mention much smoother and more convincing in use.

Electric

Finally, what gives the Kona a distinct advantage over the vast majority of its rivals is that it is available in an all-electric version. Unfortunately, Buick isn't there yet. With the Kona EV, you get 415 kilometers of range with each tank of energy. It's hard to ask for better performance.

As a bonus, on the road, the Kona is a delight to drive. Really, it doesn't have to worry about its new rival introduced last year.