THE BUICK ENCORE VS JEEP COMPASS
In 2020, every car manufacturer wants a piece of the crossover market - a large piece.
For the past decade, crossover buyers have exponentially multiplied, as consumers migrated from the SUV and sedan segments to meet somewhere in the middle - more room than your standard sedan, but more city-friendly than a full-size SUV.
Today we'll look at two very different crossovers to see which one comes out on top in terms of cost-quality ratio. Those two are the Buick Encore and the Jeep Compass.
The approach the two car manufacturers took couldn't be more different as Buick firmly addresses the family-car prospective buyers while the Jeep goes after the more upscale class of consumers.
Just by looking at the two, the difference in strategy is clear. The Jeep sports sharp lines that give it a cool aesthetic. The Buick fully embraces its purpose and has an adorkable design with perky looks and a vast array of color options. It's meant to be fun, to evoke warmth and safety - it delivers on that promise, and I expect many people in 2050 will fondly remember its shape from their childhood.
The inside of both cars is comfortable, with the Jeep trailing a little bit behind in terms of interior space for passengers in the back row and cargo area plus a high load floor that makes the loading in and out of heavy items difficult.
The Encore sits at 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and at an impressive 48 cubic feet with those folded. You won't transport the contents of your house in one go, but you'll be able to pile in an entire dresser if need be.
Under the hood, Jeep equips all Compass models with a 2.4-liter inline-4 that makes 180 horsepower. A good engine to drive, not so good for fuel economy pulling only 23 miles per gallon inside the city limits where it's meant to be driven. Encores come with a reliable 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 that belts out 138 horsepower and manages 25 miles per gallon on city drives.
As far as standard features go, the Encore is plentiful with even base models having a huge list of features like a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, Bluetooth phone, and audio connectivity, two USB ports, OnStar with the option for a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, and a responsive 8.0-touchscreen equipped with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
The base Compass model does offer keyless ignition and manages to match Encore's two USB ports, and Apple CarPlay plus Android Auto compatibility, but has a smaller touchscreen of just 7.0-inches and offers little else.
It seems as though Jeep wanted to accomplish too much with its Compass crossover model but managed only to scrape the edge of the target, miles away from hitting the bullseye. The exterior look is appealing, yet everything else about the car is subpar, making for an unmemorable entry in the crossover race.
The Encore punches way above its weight with plenty of standard features at a very low price, reliable engineering, and top-notch quality of materials and craftsmanship. That's why here at Northwest Hills Chevrolet Buick GMC in Avon Connecticut, we ordered the Encore in all its trim levels and colors, so prospective buyers can see the car of their dreams as soon as they walk in. Pay us a visit, and our dedicated sales team will help you find the perfect Encore model to meet your needs.