If you are like most commuters, you want to make sure you have a comfortable and reliable vehicle that won’t cost too much, both when you buy it and when you fill up the gas tank. Comfort is important because you know you are going to be spending a significant part of your day sitting in traffic. If you’re not comfortable, you’re going to be in a bad mood at the office, or worse, when you get home. You also want something that is reliable, since you are going to be driving it every weekday. All that mileage to and from work starts to add up, so you want something that can stand up to the wear-and-tear. As for cost, you need an affordable model that gets exceptional fuel economy. This is why you are probably looking at the 2023 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Buick Envision.
The Rogue is the older of the two models, having been introduced during the 2008 model year. Meanwhile, Buick brought out the Envision in time for the 2016 model year. Both underwent a major remodeling before the 2021 model year, making the 2023 Nissan Rogue part of the third generation, and the 2023 Buick Envision a second-generation vehicle.
Brilliance on Budget: Which One Is More Affordable?
Whether you are leasing your compact SUV, taking out a loan, or buying it outright for cash, you want something that represents brilliance on a budget. In other words, you want your vehicle to be affordable, without sacrificing the comfort and convenience features you need. The 2023 Nissan Rogue has a base MSRP of $27,910, which will put you behind the wheel of a front-wheel drive Rogue S model. If you want all-wheel drive, that is an option, but it will add to your sticker price, with the Rogue S AWD starting at $29,410. Nissan offers the 2023 Rogue with five different trim levels, with the top trim being the fully loaded Platinum model.
In contrast, the 2023 Buick Envision has a base MSRP of $34,795. This is for the Envision Preferred with front-wheel drive. Just like the Nissan Rogue, the better traction offered by all-wheel drive comes at a premium, with the Envision Preferred AWD starting at $38,445. However, unlike the Rogue, Buick only offers the Envision with two other trims, the Essence and top trim Avenir, as well as a special edition called the Sport Touring. In addition, the sticker price for a basic Envision Preferred is about the same as the Rogue Midnight Edition and SL, each of which come with more standard equipment than the base model Envision.
Getting Around Town: Power and Performance
Of the two models, the 2023 Buick Envision has the larger engine. This is a 2.0L EcoTec Turbo I-4 gas engine. It comes paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and features engine stop/start, which automatically shuts down the engine when you come to a complete stop in a traffic jam or red light, and then restarts it as soon as you remove pressure from the brake pedal. This helps reduce fuel consumption and emissions. This engine is capable of delivering 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.
The 2023 Nissan Rogue has a smaller engine than the Envision, a 1.5L Variable Compression Turbo I-3. This has a continuously variable transmission, and features variable valve timing to improve engine efficiency. It utilizes direct fuel injection to provide up to 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. These numbers are fairly close to the output of the Envision, but with a much smaller engine.
When it comes to speed and acceleration, the Buick Envision will do slightly better than the Nissan Rogue. The Envision will get you from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.3 seconds with a top speed of 130 miles per hour. The Rogue is slightly less sprightly, giving you the ability to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.8 seconds with a top speed of 120 miles per hour. Despite these slight differences, they will both get you onto a crowded highway with little difficulty.
Saving at the Pump: Fuel Economy
If you are commuting every day to work, then a significant amount of your budget goes to filling up your car’s gas tank each week. The best way to save money is to drive a vehicle that doesn’t drink gasoline like water.
The 2023 Nissan Rogue with front-wheel drive is one of the most fuel-efficient models in its class. You can get an impressive 33 miles per gallon in combined fuel economy with this vehicle. If you opt for the better traction provided by all-wheel drive, the Rogue will still get an exceptional 31 miles per gallon combined.
This is significantly better than the 2023 Buick Envision. The Envision with front-wheel drive only gets 26 miles per gallon in combined fuel economy. If you choose to get all-wheel drive, you will only get 25 miles per gallon combined. This can add up to more expenses for you in the long run.
Interior Space and Comfort: Room for Activities
Both the 2023 Nissan Rogue and 2023 Buick Envision have comfortable seats with high quality upholstery materials. However, the interior of the Rogue is roomier than the Envision, with 105.4 cu.ft. of passenger space compared to only 100.4 cu.ft. on the Envision. As a result, you get 41.1 inches of headroom and 41.5 inches of legroom in the driver’s seat of the Rogue, as compared to only 39.6 inches of headroom and 40.4 inches of legroom in the Envision’s driver’s seat. This makes it harder to stretch out in the Envision.
If you need to carry things, you are going to find that the 2023 Nissan Rogue has more trunk space as well. The lift gate on the Rogue opens up to 36.5 cu.ft. of cargo space. If you need more, you can fold down the rear seat to give you 74.1 cubic feet of space behind the driver’s seat. (These figures drop slightly to 36.3 and 72.9 cu.ft. respectively with the optional moonroof.) In comparison, the 2023 Buick Envision only has 25.2 cu.ft. of trunk space, and only 52.7 cu.ft. for cargo with the seats folded down. This is a significant difference in carrying capacity.
Safety and Reliability: The Dependable Companion
Nissan and Buick have equipped their respective compact SUVs with a set of standard driver assistance features. These will make driving the Rogue and Envision safer and easier than ever. However, of the two, the 2023 Nissan Rogue is the model that was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Each year, the IIHS puts most passenger vehicles through a series of rigorous safety tests. This determines how each vehicle will perform in different crash and accident conditions. The best vehicles, like the 2023 Rogue, are named Top Safety Picks by the IIHS.
As for reliability, both Nissan and Buick have developed a reputation for building reliable and dependable vehicles. This is certainly the case with the Nissan Rogue and Buick Envision, both of which rank at or near the top when it comes to reliable compact SUVs.
Make Your Commute More Efficient in a 2023 Nissan Rogue
While the 2023 Buick Envision is a good compact SUV, it just cannot compare to the 2023 Nissan Rogue when it comes to fuel economy, spaciousness, and affordability. Each of these factors is of paramount concern to daily commuters like you. This is why when you consider your next vehicle, you should take a strong look at the 2023 Nissan Rogue.
