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Starting at
Starting at
| 310 hp | Horsepower | 185 hp |
| 177 lb-ft | Torque | 178 lb-ft |
| 27 / 33 | MPG | 21 / 27 |
The 2018 Buick Encore vs. 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe are compact, and sometimes labeled sub-compact, SUVs which have entirely different leases on life. The 2018 Encore is refined and sculpted to be the ideal vision of what a compact should be, while the 2018 Santa Fe Sport is bigger and bolder. Generally, those who are in the market for a vehicle classified as “compact” would more often be drawn to the 2018 Buick Encore, simply because of its modern design and compact ingenuity.
You can learn a lot about the value of a vehicle by how much it is willing to offer standard with its base trim. These are the features that are usually the bare minimum, but the 2018 Buick Encore is a stand out competitor when it comes to impressing drivers with this category.
When it comes to standard features, nothing compares to the 2018 Buick Encore. On the outside, you have automatic headlights 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, and LED running lights to keep things stylish. On the inside, there is rear privacy glass, air-conditioning, a power driver seat, fold-flat front passenger seat, and 60/40-split folding rear seats to get the most out of every inch. On the convenience side, you will also get keyless entry and ignition, cruise control, and even heated mirrors.
All of that did not even include the standard tech and safety features. Without paying a penny more, you will get a rearview camera, OnStar assistance, Bluetooth connectivity, an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4G WiFi hotspot, a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio, two USB ports, and navigation.
The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, air-conditioning, and 40/20/40-split rear seat. As for technology, it also comes with a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, a 5-inch display screen, a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, and a USB port. It may not seem impressive when next to the 2018 Encore, but it provides almost everything you could need.
Trims allow for a driver the ability to find the right set of features at the right price point; with that being that case it only makes sense that more trims will often equal more customized and well-priced vehicle for each driver. The 2018 Buick Encore doubles the trim count of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport with a count of six to three.
The 2018 Buick Encore offers six trims including 1SV, Preferred, Sport Touring, Preferred II, Essence, and Premium. The base trim is so well equipped that no matter which of these many options you choose you can be assured at the very least you are getting a vehicle loaded with all the features you need. The major differences you will find is that the more affordable trims come standard with a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 138 hp, 148 lb-ft, a six-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive, while the Sport Touring trim and up will offer a more powerful 1.4-liter engine with 153 hp, and 177 lb-ft. Both of these engines have a better fuel economy with 33 mpg highway than the engines offered by the 2018 Santa Fe Sport with 27 mpg highway.
The Preferred only adds floor mats and a cargo cover to the base trim making it a fair option as the first upgrade, but it becomes increasingly exciting from there. The Sport Touring bumps up the exterior with rear spoilers and fog lights, while the Preferred II offers the coveted dual-zone automatic climate control and additional safety features. That being said, the Essence trim is debatably the best trim option to choose due to the inclusion of heated leather seating and steering in addition to everything mentioned before. The top trim though is the Premium trim which adds more safety precautions such as lane departure and forward collision warning, and rain-sensing automatic wipers. To reiterate, no trim is a bad trim when it comes to the 2018 Buick Encore.
The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport offers three trim options including the Sport, Sport 2.0T, and Sport 2.0T Ultimate. The starting prices range from $23,950 to $35,650, and the trims other than the base are fairly pricey; the engine boost being the main culprit. The base trim comes with a standard 185-hp 2.4L 4-cylinder engine with 178 lb-ft of torque and 27 mpg highway, while the other two trims come with a 240-hp 2.0L 4-cylinder engine turbo with 260 lb-ft of torque 27 mpg highway. Six-speed automatic transmission is standard on every trim level, while you always have the choice between front or all-wheel drive.
When it comes to design, the 2018 Buick Encore is a decent bit smaller than the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Looking at each individually the difference may be barely recognizable, but side by side you will notice that the 2018 Buick Encore speaks much more as to what a compact vehicle truly should be. The 2018 Encore is refined in its design, while the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is more sporty.
The body of the 2018 Buick Encore is more compact than the Buick Envision and Buick Enclave but delivers the same level of refinement and aesthetically pleasing features as its bigger siblings. The signature Buick grille creates a sense of modern luxury, while the LED lighting features in front and back are not just slim and stylishly sculpted to the front, but also efficiently made for lighting even the darkest roads. The standard 18-inch 10-spoke chrome alloy wheels are also a major compliment to the Encore’s overall impression. Every aspect of the design of the 2018 Encore presents compact refinement that when placed next to any competitor will be obvious.
Along with its exterior beauty, the 2018 Buick Encore also likes to show off on the inside. With most compact vehicles the general thought about the interior is small, but with the 2018 Encore, the better statement would be cozy. While the vast dashboard makes a strong impression, overall it is a quiet, comfortable, and easy ride for everyone.
When it comes to the exterior, the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is a bold specimen when compared to the 2018 Encore. It is bigger in everything from the front grille to the overall length; objectively though, just because it is bigger does not exactly imply it is more pleasing to look at. In fact, some may say it’s too much for those looking for the finesse that often comes with a compact SUV.
The most redeeming quality about the design of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is that for a compact SUV it will give you a fair amount of utility. With 35.4 ft3 of cargo space, it is a generally sized compact vehicle. Fold the seats with a strong pull of the release lever, and you will gain a total of 71.5 ft3 of cargo space; enough to store any of your small-item for the journey. This is its biggest and best advantage over the 2018 Encore, but only if space is an issue; in which case maybe compact isn’t the best place to look.
*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.