Buick Encore vs Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Buick Encore burns about $2,000 of fuel annually against $2,600 for the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class. That $600 yearly gap compounds to roughly $3,000 over five years and $4,800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the Buick Encore is the stronger commuter at 30 mpg city, while the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class pulls ahead on the interstate at 34 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the Buick Encore is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, SIDI; FFV, 1.4), the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class with 3 (SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, SIDI; FFV). Across 47 recorded Buick Encore configurations and 43 for the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Buick Encore is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Buick Encore emits 288 g/mile of CO2 versus 306 g/mile for the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.