Compare the2027 Kia Seltos VS 2026 Buick Encore GX

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Seltos X-Line SX offers optional Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Encore GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Seltos’ standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Encore GX doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Seltos and Encore GX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Seltos S/EX/X-Line S/X-Line SX has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Encore GX’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Seltos’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Seltos and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The Seltos comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Encore GX’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Encore GX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Encore GX ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Seltos’ engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Encore GX’s camshafts. If the Encore GX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Seltos has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Encore GX’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is rated lower.

The Seltos’ standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (147 vs. 137) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Seltos X-Line SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 35 more horsepower (190 vs. 155) and 21 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Seltos X-Line SX 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	Seltos	Encore GX
Zero to 60 MPH	8.2 sec	9.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	23.7 sec	31.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	9 sec	10.1 sec
Quarter Mile	16.4 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86 MPH	80 MPH
Top Speed	132 MPH	130 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Seltos gets better mileage than the Encore GX:

			MPG
Seltos
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/30 hwy
Encore GX
	FWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/31 hwy
	AWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/28 hwy

The Seltos has a standard locking fuel door. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Encore GX. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

For better stopping power the Seltos AWD’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Encore GX:

	Seltos AWD	Encore GX
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	10.39 inches

For superior ride and handling, the Seltos has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Buick Encore GX has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Seltos has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Seltos flat and controlled during cornering. The Encore GX’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Seltos’ wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the Encore GX (105.9 inches vs. 102 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Seltos is 2 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Encore GX.

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Encore GX’s (35.2 feet vs. 36.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Seltos X-Line SX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Encore GX (8.1 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Seltos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Seltos has 9.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (103.4 vs. 94.3).

The Seltos has .8 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 3.2 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom, 3.3 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Seltos’ rear seats recline. The Encore GX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (27.8 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (64.2 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

Standard on the Seltos uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Encore GX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Seltos EX/X-Line SX’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Encore GX’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

On a hot day the Seltos’ driver can lower the front windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Encore GX can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Seltos X-Line SX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Encore GX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the Seltos and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Seltos offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Encore GX doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.