Compare

Buick Encore vs Toyota RAV4

2026 Buick Encore vs 2026 Toyota RAV4 — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Buick Encore

2026 Buick Encore

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WD
VS3 – 2Buick Encore wins 3 of 5 categories
Toyota RAV4

2026 Toyota RAV4

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

Swap in a different car →

The short version

The Toyota RAV4 is more fuel-efficient: 43 vs 30 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $700 a year less in fuel for the Toyota RAV4 (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Toyota RAV4 is the bigger car, about 10 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Buick Encore has had fewer recall campaigns (17 vs 50).

The two cars

The 2026 Buick Encore is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (1.2L 3-cyl turbo and 1.3L 3-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 171 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 102-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,256 lb (Gx 4dr SUV AWD).

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is a small SUV offered with a 2.5L 4-cyl engine, including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 181 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,746 lb (Le 4dr SUV).

Buying used? The 2023 Encore and the 2022 RAV4 have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2015 Encore and the 2019 RAV4.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
FFV, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid
1.2L 3-cyl turbo, 1.3L 3-cyl turbo
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

30 MPG
Best combined MPG
43 MPG
30 city
City / highway MPG (best)
47 city
$2,250
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,550

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
186 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
171.3 in
Length
181.1 in
71.3 in
Width
72.8 in
64.2 in
Height
66.5 in
3,025 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,746 lb

Safety & reliability

13
Driver-assist features standard
13
1
Recalls (2026)
2
17
Recalls, all years since 2005
50
4
Owner complaints (latest year)
42

Interest

4,658
Wikipedia views, 30 days
45,921

Buying used

2023
Best used year
2022
2015
Year to avoid
2019

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Buick Encore if…

  • You want something easier to park (10 in shorter)
  • You put reliability history first (17 vs 50 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Toyota RAV4 if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (43 vs 30 MPG)
  • You want more room (10 in longer)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option

Pros & cons of each

2026 Buick Encore

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Toyota RAV4

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 43 MPG combined — 42% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Buick Encore specs →Full 2026 Toyota RAV4 specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →