Volkswagen Atlas vs Buick Encore
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.
2018–2027
Volkswagen Atlas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 57 configurations
2015–2026
Buick Encore
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 47 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Volkswagen Atlas | Buick Encore |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 25 mpg | 31 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 22 mpg | 30 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 29 mpg | 33 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,450 | $2,000 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 364 g/mi | 288 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI | SIDI, SIDI; FFV, 1.4, SIDI; Stop-Start |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S8) | Automatic 9-spd, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic (S6) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular | Regular, Gasoline or E85 |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| Years covered | 2018–2027 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 57 | 47 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Atlas vs Encore: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Volkswagen Atlas or the Buick Encore?
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 Atlas and Encore offer?
Volkswagen Atlas: SIDI. Buick Encore: SIDI, SIDI; FFV, 1.4, SIDI; Stop-Start.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Volkswagen Atlas 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.
More Atlas comparisons
Comparison id: volkswagen-atlas-vs-buick-encore