2026 head-to-head · Small SUV
2026 Buick Encore vs Volkswagen Tiguan
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
On fuel costs these two are nearly tied. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, the most efficient 2026 Buick Encore (30 MPG) costs about $1,550 a year to fuel and the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan (29 MPG) about $1,603.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Buick Encore
- Volkswagen Tiguan
Side by side
| Buick Encore | Volkswagen Tiguan | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,550 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,603 |
| 30 MPG | Combined efficiency | 29 MPG |
| 30 MPG | City | 26 MPG |
| 31 MPG | Highway | 34 MPG |
| 297 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 307 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 6/10 |
| 6/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 6/10 |
| Flex-fuel | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline or E85 | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 1.2L 3-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo |
| CVT | Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Buick Encore vs Volkswagen Tiguan across model years
- Buick Encore
- Volkswagen Tiguan
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Among 114 2026 small SUVs, the Buick Encore ranks 53rd and the Volkswagen Tiguan 56th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the Buick Encore is a flex-fuel model, while the Volkswagen Tiguan is a conventional gas model.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2026 Buick Encore or the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Measured by cost to drive, the Buick Encore. The Buick Encore is rated 30 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Tiguan 29 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Buick Encore vs. the Volkswagen Tiguan per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,550 for the Buick Encore and $1,603 for the Volkswagen Tiguan.
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