With so much in common, choosing between the 2020 Ford Edge and Buick Encore can be tough. Luckily, we’re here to help you take a closer look at these family-friendly crossovers. That way, you can figure out which best suits your need for speed and freewheeling comfort.
Max Creature Comforts: 2020 Ford Edge
With its roomy seating, high-end luxury options, and cutting-edge infotainment interface, the Edge easily wins this category. The Edge is an excellent family hauler, with generous leg and elbowroom in both rows. As you climb the trim levels, you’ll find more and more luxury features, including heated seats and stylish leather upholstery. Finally, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system – which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration – is also standard. Its highly responsive 8-inch touchscreen makes it easy to navigate the system.
Inside the Buick 2020 Encore, you’ll enjoy a smooth, hushed ride. It’s a subcompact crossover, so it’s not as roomy as the midsize Edge. Like the Edge, though, its infotainment system is easy to use and also comes standard. You’ll also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto at no extra cost.
Thriftiest Ride: 2020 Buick Encore
To save the most on fuel, choose the 2020 Encore. With front-wheel drive, the Encore earns 27 mpg combined (25 city/30 highway mpg). All-wheel drive reduces ratings slightly, to 26 mpg combined (24/29 mpg).
Because two engines are available for the Edge, fuel economy varies a little bit more. The thriftiest incarnation of the Edge earns 24 mpg combined (21/29 mpg). That’s not as thrifty as the Encore, but the Edge is working with more power.
Max Towing: 2020 Ford Edge
The Edge is the strongest of the pair. Depending on powertrain configuration and equipment, it can tow up to 3,500 pounds. These abilities alone make the Edge the right choice for boat-owning families. The 2020 Encore tows up to 1,500 pounds, which means it’ll at least haul a Jet Ski to the shore.
Premium Performance: 2020 Ford Edge
In addition to towing more, the Edge is faster than the Encore. With the base engine, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, the Edge produces 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. If you choose the Edge ST trim model, you’ll get an even quicker ride, compliments of the twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine. It makes 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, definitively leaving the Encore in its dust.
Every 2020 Buick Encore features the same engine – a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. Although it helps the Encore maximize fuel economy, this engine won’t get you off to as quick a start.
We can’t deny that the Encore offers its own brand of upscale style, but the 2020 Ford Edge gives you so much more. Not only does Ford’s midsize crossover pull way more than its own weight, but it also brings you the most impressive comfort and tech lineups. The Edge is also much sportier than the Encore, better satisfying your need for speed.