Starting at
Starting at
228 | Base Horsepower (hp) | 197 |
258 | Base Torque (lb-ft) | 192 |
10 | Max Infotainment Screen (in) | 8 |
The Buick Envision is all-new for the 2021 model year with a new generation for the premium compact crossover SUV. This is all-new architecture when compared to the 2020 Buick Envision, including new electric architecture that is shared with the Cadillac CTS and Corvette C8. What has not changed is the Envision’s spacious and upscale cabin and the affordable price, especially when compared to other luxury brands. If you are looking for an affordable luxury SUV, the 2021 Buick Envision will impress with its many luxury amenities and has one of the best infotainment systems in the industry. And this is a sharp-looking SUV. While the 2021 model brings new styling, a new engine, and a new interior, the 2020 model was already a success. So let’s take a look at how these two model years compare and see what changes Buick has made with the 2021 Buick Envision vs 2020 Buick Envision.
The 2021 Buick Envision impresses with its styling and extensive list of features, so much so that it is clearly one of the better bargains on the market. If you are looking for a luxury SUV, but do not want to pay the luxury-like prices of its foreign competitors, the Buick Envision is a terrific option. With plenty of room for gear and one of the best infotainment systems in the segment, as well as a turbocharged engine and excellent crash test scores, there is no better family car out there. Both model years bring great value. Here you’ll find the luxury of other cars in its segment, such as Lexus and Acura, but all for several thousand dollars less.
Both model years of the Buick Envision start at just above $30,000, and this is a bargain when considering you’re buying a luxury SUV. The Envision boasts plenty of room for gear, if you need more space than the Encore, and seats five adults.
The standard engine for the 2020 Buick Envision is a 2.5-liter inline-4 that produces 197 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. This engine also features excellent fuel efficiency with a rating of 22 city/29 highway MPG. This is a great standard engine, and features sufficient power and impressive fuel economy. If you are looking for an efficient family hauler with enough power for merging and passing on the highway, this engine is one of the best out there. If you are looking for a luxury SUV with a solid base engine, this is a good one, but it is the least powerful of all the engine options that we are looking at today.
The second engine offered for the 2020 model year in the Buick Envision is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 that produces 252 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. This is a powerful engine that will win many drag races, especially against other SUVs in its class. It also returns excellent fuel efficiency with a rating of 20/25 MPG. For the combination of power and efficiency, it’s hard to beat this optional engine. This engine comes as standard on the Premium models and is paired with GM’s impressive 9-speed automatic transmission. The standard engine comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission, which is a good one too, but the 9-speed is truly refined. This is an impressive powertrain all around and one that everyone should consider if they are looking for an engine with incredible value and exceptional performance.
The 2021 Buick Envision drops the standard 2.5-liter engine from the previous year and makes a stronger and more powerful engine standard. This is a great move if you are looking for the newest Envision. The 2021 model year sees a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that produces 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque enter the lineup. This engine offers exceptional power for a standard engine and is also expected to be extremely fuel-efficient. In fact, at 24/31 MPG, it is more efficient than the base engine from the 2020 model year. While it has less power than the optional engine from the previous year, it’s not much less, and as a standard offering, this engine brings incredible value.
Both the 2021 and 2020 Buick Envision offer great engine choices, but the presence of a powerful and efficient turbocharged engine as standard in the 2021 model year gives the newest Envision the edge here. However, if you are looking at a 2020 model, both engine options are solid choices too.
What comes standard? Good question. For the 2020 Buick Envision, there are a lot of standard features: keyless entry and start, a rearview camera and backup sensors, 8-way-power front seats with 4-way lumbar support, and a hands-free power liftgate. Again, we’re still talking about what’s standard. And there’s more: remote start, an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, 18-inch alloy wheels, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi. This sounds too good to be true. This is luxury at an affordable price that you won’t find anywhere else. This is a car that focuses on the driving experience, ensuring that your ride will be comfortable and quiet in the tranquil cabin.
For the 2021 Buick Envision, you can expect similar standard equipment. The notable changes are that the 2021 model is expected to feature more standard safety equipment, adding even more value to an already-loaded base-level trim. The other change to the 2021 model year is the addition of an Avenir trim. This will be the top trim level, and the Avenir trim level should, if other Buick models are any indication, contain features like leather upholstery with contrast stitching, dedicated mats, wood trim, and Avenir-badged scuff plates. The trim levels for the 2021 model year will include the Base, Preferred, Essence, and Avenir trims. Expect wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard on all models, while the Avenir will also offer features like 20-inch wheels, heated and cooled front seats, and a head-up display.
Both the 2021 and 2020 Buick Envision are loaded with value with so many tech and convenience featured as standard equipment. If you are looking for a luxury SUV loaded with the latest tech and many luxury touches and amenities, the Buick Envision is the clear choice. Both model years deliver with exciting features and exceptional value. The addition of the Avenir trim brings the Buick Envision in line with its more expensive luxury competitors, offering a more affordable option for a luxury SUV.
For the 2021 Buick Envision, there are more safety features included as standard than the 2020 model year. Forward collision alert, for example, is now standard. This was not standard on the 2020 model. Also standard is pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking. These are impressive safety features to be included as standard equipment. Another feature that is equally impressive—and also standard—is lane keep assist with lane departure warning. This system lets the driver know when they are drifting in their lane and can help to keep them in their lane. The 2021 Buick Envision also features a following distance indicator that lets you know how much space there should be between you and the vehicle in front of you. This is a standard feature for the 2021 model year.
The 2020 model year features many impressive safety features as well, though not as much standard equipment. Included with the base model are ten airbags, a rear-seat reminder so that you don’t leave anyone behind, and GM’s Teen Driver system, which lets you monitor and control the driving habits of the new drivers in your family. Other safety features include a Safety Alert Seat that vibrates to warn of hazards on either side of your car, with the right side of the seat vibrating to warn of hazards on the right, etc. The safety-alert seat is also a safety feature on the 2021 Buick Envision.
Clearly, the 2021 model year offers more standard safety equipment. However, both model years offer an impressive list of available safety features to keep your family safe.