Toyota RAV4 vs Buick Encore
The Toyota RAV4 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 Toyota RAV4 leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
Toyota RAV4
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 72 configurations
2015–2026
Buick Encore
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 47 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Toyota RAV4 | Buick Encore |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 43 mpg ✓ | 31 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 47 mpg ✓ | 30 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 40 mpg ✓ | 33 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $1,450 ✓ | $2,000 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 72 g/mi ✓ | 288 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; with Stop-Start, SIDI & PFI; PHEV | SIDI, SIDI; FFV, 1.4, SIDI; Stop-Start |
| Transmissions | Automatic (AV-S6), Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic (S8) | Automatic 9-spd, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic (S6) |
| Drivetrains | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular, Regular Gas and Electricity | Regular, Gasoline or E85 |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 72 | 47 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
RAV4 vs Encore: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Toyota RAV4 or the Buick Encore?
The Toyota RAV4 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 Toyota RAV4 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 RAV4 and Encore offer?
Toyota RAV4: SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; with Stop-Start, SIDI & PFI; PHEV. Buick Encore: SIDI, SIDI; FFV, 1.4, SIDI; Stop-Start.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Toyota RAV4 as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Buick Encore as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
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Comparison id: toyota-rav4-vs-buick-encore