Compare the2025 Nissan KicksVS 2025 Buick Encore GX

The Kicks SR offers an optional front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Encore GX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Kicks has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Encore GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Kicks’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Kicks and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Kicks is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Kicks’ corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kicks for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Nissan will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 3 visits). Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Encore GX.

There are over 15 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Buick dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Kicks’ warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Kicks’ engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Encore GX’s camshafts. If the Encore GX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 4 more horsepower (141 vs. 137) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Kicks is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

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

The Kicks has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Encore GX. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

For superior ride and handling, the Kicks AWD 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 Kicks has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Kicks 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 Kicks’ wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the Encore GX (104.6 inches vs. 102 inches).

The Kicks SR AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Encore GX Avenir AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Kicks’ turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Encore GX’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Kicks has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Encore GX (8.4 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Kicks to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Kicks has 1.8 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

The Kicks has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (30 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Kicks has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (60 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Kicks easier. The Kicks’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.9 inches, while the Encore GX’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

The Kicks’ 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.

The Kicks’ standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Encore GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Kicks’ headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Encore GX’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

The Nissan Kicks outsold the Buick Encore GX by 31% during 2024.