Buick Encore vs Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 43 mpg combined versus 31 mpg for the Buick Encore, a 12 mpg advantage and costs about $550 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Kia Sportage leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
Buick Encore
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 47 configurations
2015–2027
Kia Sportage
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 69 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Buick Encore | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 31 mpg | 43 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 30 mpg | 42 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 33 mpg | 44 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,000 | $1,450 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 288 g/mi | 55 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI, SIDI; FFV, 1.4, SIDI; Stop-Start | SIDI; PHEV, SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, SIDI |
| Transmissions | Automatic 9-spd, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic (S6) | Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (S8), Automatic (S6) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular, Gasoline or E85 | Regular Gas and Electricity, Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2015–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 47 | 69 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Encore vs Sportage: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Buick Encore or the Kia Sportage?
The Kia Sportage is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 43 mpg combined versus 31 mpg for the Buick Encore, a 12 mpg advantage and costs about $550 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Kia Sportage runs about $1,450 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,000 for the Buick Encore — a difference of roughly $550 per year.
What engines do the Encore and Sportage offer?
Buick Encore: SIDI, SIDI; FFV, 1.4, SIDI; Stop-Start. Kia Sportage: SIDI; PHEV, SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, SIDI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Buick Encore as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and the Kia Sportage as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Encore comparisons
Comparison id: buick-encore-vs-kia-sportage