Starting at
Starting at
| 123 - 166 HP | Horsepower | 138 HP |
| 125 - 149 LB-FT | Torque | 148 LB-FT |
| 50 CU. FT. | Cargo Volume | 48.4 CU. FT. |
Car manufacturers are starting to move away from producing several sedans and compact cars and instead have shifted into producing compact crossover SUVs. These vehicles have many of the same features as a sedan, but are slightly higher off the ground, which in turn offers you more safety while driving and more rear cargo space. Two of these compact crossover SUVs include the 2020 Ford EcoSport and the 2020 Buick Encore. If you're considering a smaller crossover, these two vehicles are likely to you will look further at. However, which of the two stands out? To determine that it is necessary to take a deeper dive into comparing the 2020 Ford EcoSport vs 2020 Buick Encore.
The first place to begin comparing the 2020 Ford EcoSport and the 2020 Buick Encore is with the price point. The base 2020 Ford EcoSport trim level, which is the S, comes with an initial MSRP of $20,485. The Encore, on the other hand, has a starting MSRP of $23,200, which is nearly $3,000 more for the Buick Encore when going with the base trim.
It is necessary to look further into the comparison to determine whether this added $3,000 comes with any real performance advantages.
With the Ford EcoSport, you have two engine options to choose from. The base trim uses a Turbocharged 1.0L I3 engine, which produces 123 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque. It features a 6-Speed SelectShift transmission and front-wheel drive. If you were to go with the 2.0L I4 engine option, which comes with Intelligent 4WD, the performance increases to 166 horsepower and 149 lb-ft of torque.
With the Buick, you have only one engine option, so no matter which trim you go with, you'll have the same engine type. It is a Turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. This makes it slightly better than the base Ford, and yet it under-performs the non-turbo I4 engine of the Ford. This means you could purchase an S trim Ecosport with 4WD, and it would outperform the top-tier trim level of the Buick Encore.
When looking at fuel economy on either the Ford EcoSport or the Buick Encore, there is a difference if you opt for either the 4WD/AWD options. Standard front-wheel drive will offer slightly better fuel economy, so if you do want to go with either the four-wheel drive on the Ford or the all-wheel drive on the Buick, you'll see a slight decline in fuel performance.
On the Ford EcoSport, you will see the best fuel economy using the Turbo I3 engine, which gives you 27 miles per gallon in the city and 29 miles per gallon on the highway. With the I4 engine and 4WD, the highway fuel economy remains the same while the city economy drops to 23. The fuel tank size is the same 13.6 gallons in all of the trim options.
The 2020 Buick Encore has a max fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway. This makes it's average mpg 27.5 (while the base front-wheel drive Ford is 28 mpg). It also has a slightly larger 14-gallon fuel tank. With the AWD drivetrain, the fuel economy dips further to 24 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway.
If you're looking for an SUV that tows, you likely will want to go with a larger crossover that has a bigger engine. However, that doesn't mean these smaller offerings are unable to tow anything. You can still attach a small trailer when necessary.
With the Ford EcoSport, when you go with the larger I4 engine, you have a maximum towing of 2,000 pounds. The Buick Encore has a maximum towing of 1,500 pounds. When it comes to towing a smaller trailer, this extra 500 pounds is extremely beneficial.
As for the internal cargo space, this is potentially one of the reasons why you're purchasing a small crossover SUV over a sedan. With the 2020 Ford EcoSport, you will have 20.9 cubic feet of cargo space when all of the seats are up. However, when you fold down the rear seats, you increase the cargo space to 50 cubic feet. On the Buick Encore, the crossover SUV gives you 18.8 cubic feet of cargo space with all the seats up and then increases this to 48.4 cubic feet when the rear seat is pushed down. This means the Ford will give you anywhere from a foot to a foot and a half of added storage space.
The safety of you and your passengers is always of critical importance, which is why going over the safety features is necessary. On the standard 2020 Ford EcoSport, you'll receive a driver, front head, front side, passenger, rear head, and rear side airbags, all of which are standard. 4-wheel ABS and disc brakes come standard, as well as traction control, child safety locks, daytime running lights, brake assist, and electronic stability control.
On the base 2020 Buick Encore, the SUV comes with a front head, front side, rear side, and rear head airbags. It also comes standard with 4-wheel ABS and disc brakes, electronic stability control, child safety locks, daytime running lights, and traction control. So the Ford gives you two more important airbags as standard, plus brake assist (this despite paying $3,000 less than the base Buick).
On the SES trim level of the 2020 Ford EcoSport, you receive all the same standard safety features, plus integrated turn signal mirrors, blind-spot monitoring, and cross-traffic alert, MyKey, and more. On the top-tier 2020 Buick Encore, you still only get the four airbags. It does come with the same standard features, plus cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, integrated turn signal mirrors, plus an optional lane departure warning for extra. In terms of general safety, while the safety features are somewhat similar, Ford comes out on top.
In terms of entertainment features, the base Ford EcoSport comes ready to play. It comes standard with AM/FM stereo, an AUX jack for connecting your favorite external audio devices, the system is MP3 compatible, provides smart device integration, and onboard hands-free communication via Bluetooth. FordPass Connect with Wi-Fi Hotspot also comes standard. All of this runs through the Ford SYNC infotainment system. For the Buick Encore, the base package also comes with AM/FM stereo, MP3 compatibility, an AUX jack, smart device integration and onboard hands-free communications, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and it provides satellite radio (subscription required).
But what about the top-tier trims of the two crossovers? On the SES Ford EcoSport, the SUV comes standard with all the same features as the base model, plus a voice-activated navigation system, 8" touchscreen, satellite radio, HD radio, and a premium sound system. The top-tier Buick Encore comes with all the same standard features as the base model. So, if you want HD radio, a premium sound system, a navigation system, or other tech features, you'll need to pay extra for it. Even though the top-tier Encore costs $3,000 more than the Ford Titanium EcoSport, you'll need to increase the amount of money you spend just to have an entertainment system that matches the Ford.
When it comes down to it, the 2020 Ford EcoSport comes out on top in nearly every category. Not only does it have more safety features, a better top-tier engine, and offer more cargo space and towing potential, but it also costs at least $3,000 less than the Buick Encore. So if you're looking for an affordable compact crossover that gives you more bang for your buck, the Ford EcoSport is the way to go. If you have more questions about what the Ford can do for you, or you're ready for a test drive, now is the perfect time to come on out to DePaula Ford in Albany, NY. We have friendly and knowledgable salespeople ready to help you find the perfect model for your needs. Our huge inventory has so many options available if you aren't fully set on the 2020 Ford Ecosport, so check out our website or browse our inventory in person. We also have an excellent service department to keep you happily on the road longer. Your next compact crossover SUV is waiting and ready for you.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
