Buick Encore Vs. Nissan Rogue Sport

Compact crossovers offer families more room than the normal compact sedan at prices that are not much more expensive. This balance of size and price has made small crossovers among the most popular vehicles on the market. Two great options in this class are the 2019 Nissan Rogue and 2019 Buick Encore. Which model is better for our Jacksonville area shoppers? Find out below. 

Exterior

Nissan introduced the Rogue Sport just a few years ago in 2017, giving the automaker a smaller crossover to meet the growing demand for small people haulers. This new crossover sits below the standard Rogue and has distinctly sportier styling that gives it a unique look next to the Encore.

The 2019 Buick Encore is getting a little long in the tooth, as it hasn’t seen many updates since it arrived on the scene in 2013. Despite its age, though, the 2019 Encore still has a classier look that luxury-car buyers will prefer over the more aggressive and sportier Rogue Sport. 

The 2019 Buick Encore is a sub-luxury crossover, so it comes standard with more premium standard exterior features, including 18-inch aluminum wheels, tinted windows, and chrome accents. The 2019 Nissan Rogue Sport is simpler in its standard S trim with its 16-inch steel wheels and other basic equipment, but it is also about $2,000 cheaper than the Encore. The Nissan Rogue catches up to the Encore in its SL trim, which includes 19-inch wheels and fog lights. 

The 2019 Encore is smaller than the Rogue Sport in all the key measurables, making it easier to maneuver in tight spaces like city traffic and tight parking spaces. 

Advantage: 2019 Buick Encore

• Smaller and easier to manage
• More upscale design
• Standard 18-inch wheels

Advantage: 2019 Nissan Rogue

• Sportier design
• Larger optional wheels

Interior

The 2019 Rogue Sport boasts the latest Nissan interior design with its two-tone color scheme, flat-bottom steering wheen, lightly bolstered seats, gloss-black appliques, and more. It also has plenty of upscale amenities in its upper trims, including navigation, leather upholstery, heated seats, and heated steering wheel in its range-topping SL trim. 

Though the Encore’s interior looks older than the Rogue Sport, it’s still plenty upscale with its active noise control, triple door seals, acoustic glass, and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Thanks to all its noise-absorbing features, the Encore is surprisingly quiet for a compact crossover and is significantly quieter than the Rogue Sport. 

In its base trim, the 2019 Rogue Sport has a long list of standard features, including a 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth audio streaming. It also has tons of standard safety goodies, including lane-trace assist, hill-start assist, brake assist, and automatic emergency braking.

The 2019 Buick Encore lacks the standard safety equipment, but it matches the Rogue Sports’ standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and power accessories. The Encore goes further with its standard features, one-upping the Rogue with its standard 4G LTE Wi-Fi, 8-inch touchscreen, and six-speaker audio system. 

Advantage: 2019 Nissan Rogue Sport

• Sportier interior
• Tons of standard advanced safety tech
• Tons more cargo room

Advantage: 2019 Buick Encore

• Larger standard touchscreen
• Standard 4G LTE Wi-Fi
• Roomier rear seats

Performance

Under its hood, the Buick Encore has two versions of its 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. All Encore models come standard with the version that cranks out 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. This engine pairs with a six-speed automatic transmission that delivers power to the front wheels or all four with its optional all-wheel drive. This adds up to a 9.3-second 0-to-60 time. 

The Encore Sport Touring and Essence trims have the more powerful 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine available as an option. This potent four-pot delivers 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque that delivers a 7.8-second 0-to-60 time. 

The 2019 Nissan Rogue Sport has just one engine option: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that cranks out 147 horsepower and 141 pound-feet of torque. This power heads through a continuously variable transmission and sprints the Rogue Sport to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds. 

Advantage: 2019 Nissan Rogue Sport

• More base power

Advantage: 2019 Buick Encore

• Significantly quicker with optional engine
• Better fuel economy
• Smoother ride

Pricing and Features

The 2019 Buick Encore has five trim levels — 1SV, Preferred, Sport Touring, and Essence — and their starting prices range from $24,195 to $30,295. 

The 2019 Nissan Rogue Sport’s lineup includes three trim levels: S, SV, and SL. Their starting prices range from $22,340 to $28,060.

2019 Buick Encore Key Features and Pricing by Trim

1SV: $24,195

• 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine
• Six-speed automatic transmission
• Front-wheel drive
• Electric power steering
• 18-inch machined-face alloy wheels with Light Argent Metallic pockets
• Acoustic laminated windshield
• Body-color door handles with chrome inserts
• Front and rear accent-color facias
• Deep-tinted rear glass
• Halogen headlights
• Heated, power mirrors with integrated turn signals
• LED daytime running lights
• Roof-mounted side rails
• Intermittent rear wiper
• Intermittent windshield wipers
• Keyless open and ignition
• Two-way manual passenger’s seat
• Six-way power driver’s seat
• 4.2-inch color driver-information center
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
• Six-speaker audio system
• 60/40 split-folding rear seat
• Active noise cancellation
• Single-zone manual climate control
• Bluetooth connectivity with streaming audio
• Buick Connected Access capable
• Buick Infotainment System
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• Siri Eyes Free
• USB ports
• SiriusXM
• Auxiliary jack
• Cruise control
• Power door locks
• Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
• Steering-wheel-mounted controls
• Flat-folding front-passenger seatback
• Front-passenger underseat storage
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Satin-silver and chrome shifter knob
• OnStar
• Power windows with front one-touch up/down and rear one-touch down
• Buick QuietTuning
• Cargo area cove
• Rearview camera
• Theft-deterrent system with vehicle immobilizer

Preferred: $25,595

• All 1SV features, plus
• Color-keyed front and rear floor mats
• Retractable cargo cover

Sport Touring: $26,795

• All Preferred features, plus
• 18-inch Midnight Silver aluminum-alloy wheels
• Fog lights
• Rear sport spoiler
• Remote ignition

Essence: $30,295

• All Preferred features, plus
• 18-inch aluminum wheels with Technical Gray pockets
• Fog lights
• LED headlights
• 120-volt power outlet
• Six-way power passenger’s seat
• Two-position driver’s seat memory
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Leather upholstery
• Remote ignition
• Universal home remote
• Blind-zone monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert

2019 Nissan Rogue Sport Key Features and Pricing by Trim

S: $22,340

• 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine
• Continuously variable transmission
• Front-wheel drive
• Active ride control
• Intelligent engine brake
• Electric power steering with Sport mode
• 16-inch steel wheels with hubcaps
• LED daytime running lights
• Power mirrors
• Courtesy lighting
• Rear spoiler
• Black wheel arch moldings and rocker panels
• Variable-intermittent windshield wipers
• Intermittent rear window wiper
• Driver information display
• NissanConnect 7-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• Siri Eyes Free
• Hands-free text messaging
• Bluetooth hands-free
• Single-zone manual climate control
• Rear climate control vents
• Power windows with one-touch up/down driver’s window
• Power door locks
• Remote keyless entry
• Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
• Cruise control
• Six-way manual driver’s seat
• Four-way manual passenger’s seat
• 60/40 split-folding rear seats
• Cloth upholstery
• Four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA audio system
• Auxiliary audio input
• USB port
• Bluetooth audio streaming
• SiriusXM
• Steering-wheel-mounted controls
• 12-volt power outlet
• Overhead sunglasses storage
• Front center console
• Rear seat center armrest
• Six cargo tie-down hooks
• Divide-N-Hide cargo system
• Cargo cover
• Rearview camera
• Lane-trace assist
• Hill-start assist
• Brake assist\
• Automatic emergency braking
• Vehicle security system
• Vehicle immobilizer system

SV: $24,140

• All S features, plus
• 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with black center caps
• Auto-on/off headlights
• Mirror-integrated LED turn signals
• Roof rails
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Keyless ignition
• Dual illuminated vanity mirrors
• Eight-way power driver’s seat
• Premium cloth seating
• Six-speaker audio system
• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Rear automatic emergency braking
• Lane-keep assist
• Automatic high-beam headlights
• Rear parking sensors

SL: $28,060

• All SV features, plus
• 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels
• Fog lights
• Heated mirrors
• Navigation with premium traffic
• NissanConnect Services by SiriusXM
• Voice recognition
• SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link
• Remote engine start with climate control
• Electronic parking brake
• Leather seating
• Heated front seats
• Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped shift knob
• Nine-speaker Bose audio system with dual woofers
• 360-degree camera
• ProPilot Assist driver-assist system
• Adaptive cruise control

Who Should Buy the 2019 Nissan  Rogue Sport?

Buyers who prefer a sportier crossover will appreciate the Rogue Sport’s more aggressive exterior and sportier interior. The Rogue Sport also has a ton more cargo room, making it a great buy for those who do a lot of hauling. 

Who Should Buy the 2019 Buick Encore?

For buyers who want a luxury crossover but cannot pull off the payments, the 2019 Buick Encore’s plethora of standard features and peaceful cabin get you very close at a relative value. Also, buyers with older children will appreciate the extra rear legroom.

Check out all the 2019 Buick Encore offers your family here at Garber Automall serving the Orange Park, Jacksonville, and Fleming Island areas. Can’t make it to our new-car showroom serving the Green Cove Springs area today? Navigate to our online showroom to see all our in-stock 2019 Encore models, choose one that suits your needs, and schedule a test drive when it’s convenient for you.