Tale of the Tape: 2022 Volkswagen Taos vs. 2021 Buick Encore GX

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After the massive disruption in vehicle sales last year due to the COVID-19 shutdown, this year’s surge in sales should be no surprise. In Canada, one of the most popular segments is “small” crossovers, which covers both subcompact and compact models — more than 30 nameplates in all. The first half of 2021 saw more than 260,000 sold in the country, a 60 per cent increase over 2020.

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General Motors’ timing for its debut of the Buick Encore GX early last year was indeed unfortunate, coinciding with the realization that the pandemic was global. So the newest addition to Buick’s crossover lineup — the GX slotted between the subcompact Encore and the mid-sized Envision in size, price and intent — got off to a slow start. Sales for the first six months of this year are significantly stronger, enough to make the Encore GX the brand’s top-selling model in Canada.

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Tale of the Tape: 2022 Volkswagen Taos vs. 2021 Buick Encore GX Back to video

Over at Volkswagen, the company has also identified the growing market for smaller crossovers and moved to introduce a new vehicle, the Taos, to fill it. Slotted below VW’s best-seller Tiguan, the new 2022 Taos offers “signature driving dynamics, high quality and smart packaging in a smaller package with a lower price tag.”

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About price: Excluding the base front-wheel-drive model, the Taos starts at $29,195 for the Trendline 4Motion. The mid-level Comfortline 4Motion comes in at $32,395, and the topline Highline 4Motion is $36,695. Comparatively speaking, and bypassing the base FWD model, the Encore GX starts at $28,298 for the Preferred AWD, moves to $30,098 for the Select AWD, and tops out at $32,798 for the Essence AWD.

Dimensions

On the larger side of the subcompact segment, the five-seat Taos is 4,466 millimetres long — 236 mm shy of the Tiguan. All-wheel-drive models have a wheelbase of 2,681 mm; while all are 1841 mm wide and 1,640 mm tall. By comparison, the Encore GX is more traditionally subcompact in size — 4,354 mm long, 1,813 mm wide and 1,629 mm high. Its wheelbase is 2,595 mm.

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Weight-wise, the GX is lighter, ranging from 1,478 to 1,485 kilograms, depending on trim level. The Taos tips the scale at 1,556 kg.

As should be expected, interior dimensions mostly favour the larger Taos. Total passenger volume is 2,818 litres versus the Encore GX’s 2,670 litres. The exception is front-seat legroom, which goes to the Encore GX — 1,039 mm versus 1,019. The Taos counters with more rear-seat legroom, 963 mm to 915. Front and rear headroom for the Taos is 1,033/1,011 mm, versus the GX’s 1,009/968 mm (less if fitted with a sunroof). Front and rear-seat shoulder room is 1,435/1,403 mm for the Taos, 1,408/1,362 mm for the GX.

The Taos has more cargo capacity, with 705 litres behind the rear seats, and opening to 1,705 litres when the seats are folded. The GX boasts 665.5 litres behind the rear seats, and 1,422 litres with the seats folded. The GX also has an adjustable two-stage load floor, giving owners the flexibility for either more under-floor storage or a cargo floor that is level with the folded seats, depending on the need.

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Exterior

Styling is always subjective, but it’s clear the DNA of the Taos follows the design established by the Tiguan and full-size Atlas. In other words, it’s fairly squared-off and rather conservative. The front end features a sculpted hood and wide three-bar grille reminiscent of the Atlas Cross Sport. In profile, the Taos’ character line has Tiguan written all over it, while the wheel arches give a nod to Atlas. Roof rails are standard.

Aesthetically speaking, the Encore GX is a more handsome rig. It’s certainly better-looking than its smaller corporate kin Encore, which looks as if a full-size Enclave had been placed in a vise and compacted. The roofline has a fastback rake to it and, in profile, its character lines are sharper and more expressive.

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Powertrain/Drivetrain

All Taos models are powered by an updated, albeit conventional, 1.5-litre version of the turbocharged four-cylinder that powers the Jetta sedan. It makes 158 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 1,750 rpm. The engine features VW’s modified version of the Miller cycle, where the intake valves are closed early in the induction stroke to help with fuel economy. 4Motion all-wheel-drive models feature a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and have an NRCan rating of 8.8 litres/100 kilometres in the city and 6.4 L/100 km on the highway. The crossover runs on regular unleaded gas.

Meanwhile, GM rolled the dice with the Encore GX and mechanically-identical Chevy Trailblazer. Both AWD versions have a turbocharged 1.3L three-cylinder powering them, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Yes, the power-dense engine puts out 155 hp at 5,600 rpm and 174 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm, which are strong numbers considering its smaller displacement. But compared with the primary competition, all with four-cylinders, it’s a ballsy move.

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Also running regular unleaded, the GX AWD models are rated at a thirstier 9.0 L/100 km in the city and 8.0 L/100 km on the highway.

Neither crossover is going to win many stoplight grands prix, but U.S. sources have the Taos 4Motion reaching 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in 8.1 seconds, some 1.2 seconds quicker than the GX.

The Buick comes with selectable AWD, which allows drivers to decide whether to activate the AWD system in off-road or inclement weather situations, or to deactivate when maximum grip is not required to improve fuel economy.

The Taos’ 4Motion AWD system is designed to activate before wheelspin occurs. When operating under a relatively low load or when coasting, the front wheels are driven and the rear wheels are decoupled, which helps save fuel. 4Motion also features Active Control, allowing the driver to select specific vehicle modes — On-Road, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad. Within the On-Road setting, additional options are offered: Normal, Sport, Comfort, and Individual. These alter operating parameters for drive systems like the engine, transmission, steering, and adaptive cruise control, as well as hill descent assist and hill start assist.

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Cabin

As with their respective exteriors, the layout of the Taos’ and GX’s dash area demonstrates a similar design that’s linear for the VW and curved for the Buick.

The Taos comes with a standard two-tone interior with contrast stitching and available ventilated leather seats.The standard Digital Cockpit presents drivers with a fully-digital instrument cluster. Trendline models feature an eight-inch display with two views and customizable widgets to show a variety of vehicle information. Highline models upgrade to a 10.25-inch, fully-configurable Digital Cockpit Pro display with three views, including full-screen navigation for equipped models, and multiple viewing options including navigation, driving data, phone information and driver assistance features

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Standard convenience features for the Taos include automatic headlights, keyless entry, pushbutton start and heated side mirrors. Comfortline models add an an eight-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, heated front seats, heated washer nozzles, dual-zone climate control, and multi-function steering wheel. Highline trims add auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, park distance control, Beats premium audio system, and heated sport seats up front.

The Encore GX cabin provides the full Buick experience, thanks to the brand’s signature QuietTuning, which helps to minimize road noise inside the vehicle, as well as premium materials and available features such as leather-appointed seats, a heated steering wheel and an ionizing air filter. Keeping things uncomplicated, the interior controls are a mix of analogue and digital.

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The Preferred trim comes standard with a remote starting system, heated front seats, eight-inch entertainment system, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Select trim adds lane change alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and dual-zone climate control. The top-line Essence trim comes with leather seats and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel.

For cargo flexibility, the front passenger seat folds flat, while the 40/60 folding second row is designed with the narrower section behind the driver’s seat to better accommodate an eight-foot-long object diagonally from the passenger seat to the rear driver’s side.

Verdict

Let’s credit the Encore GX with a greater sense of exterior and interior style over the more conservative Taos. Also, the more expensive the trim, the more the price difference favours the Buick. Beyond that, the Taos, on paper, has a few clear advantages. Being larger, it is more accommodating of passengers and luggage. Fuel economy is better, despite its larger engine and additional cylinder. It accelerates faster, and it has a more sophisticated all-wheel-drive system.

That said, the final verdict for this Tale of the Tape will await a proper, back-to-back testing of these two small crossovers.