Buick Encore vs Volkswagen Atlas
The Buick Encore is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 31 mpg combined versus 25 mpg for the Volkswagen Atlas, a 6 mpg advantage and costs about $450 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Buick Encore leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
Buick Encore
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 47 configurations
2018–2027
Volkswagen Atlas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 57 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Buick Encore | Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 31 mpg ✓ | 25 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 30 mpg ✓ | 22 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 33 mpg ✓ | 29 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,000 ✓ | $2,450 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 288 g/mi ✓ | 364 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI, SIDI; FFV, 1.4, SIDI; Stop-Start | SIDI |
| Transmissions | Automatic 9-spd, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic (S6) | Automatic (S8) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular, Gasoline or E85 | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2018–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 47 | 57 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Encore vs Atlas: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Buick Encore or the Volkswagen Atlas?
The Buick Encore is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 31 mpg combined versus 25 mpg for the Volkswagen Atlas, a 6 mpg advantage and costs about $450 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Buick Encore runs about $2,000 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,450 for the Volkswagen Atlas — a difference of roughly $450 per year.
What engines do the Encore and Atlas offer?
Buick Encore: SIDI, SIDI; FFV, 1.4, SIDI; Stop-Start. Volkswagen Atlas: SIDI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Buick Encore as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and the Volkswagen Atlas 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-volkswagen-atlas