One of the most popular SUVs in the Buick lineup is the Envision. As a luxury crossover with a petite demeanor, this pint-sized vehicle sure does pack a punch. Even the marketing team at Buick has opted to reinvent the vehicle’s class by calling it an S(YOU)V because the Envision was built to be driver-centric. Today, we are going to compare the new 2021 Buick Envision vs 2020 Buick Envision to see what new updates have been made.
From the inside-out, the new Envision has been posted and perfected with sculpted, athletic style and luxurious features. Its eye-catching design plus the slew of advanced tech features make it a very attractive option for families who appreciate style.
Cabin Configurations
Both the 2021 and 2020 Buick Envision models can carry up to five people. As a two-row crossover, this vehicle is ideal for small families, couples, active singles, and even folks with four-legged companions. However, there are some slight variations in the cargo area.
The new 2021 Envision offers 25.2 cubic feet of space behind the second row of seating. On the other hand, the 2020 model provides 26.9 cubes of room. If you fold the second row down in the 2021 version, you can gain access to up to 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Meanwhile, the 2020 Envision offers slightly less with a maximum cargo area measured at 57.3 cubes. While last year’s Envision has a tad more space behind the back row, this year’s model is a bit bigger with the back seats folded down. Overall, the differences in cargo spaces are slight.
Now let’s look at just how much room passengers inside the vehicles. Front headroom, legroom, and shoulder room all shrink in the 2021 Envision. The front headroom is measured at 39.6-inches, down by 0.4-inches. The front legroom has been reduced by 0.5-inches to be 40.4-inches, and the front shoulder room has also shrunk by 0.3-inches to 56.7-inches. However, the hip room for front-seat occupants has been increased by 0.7-inches to a comfortable 55.1-inches.
For back seat passengers, there is also a little bit of give and take. The rear shoulder room has been reduced by 0.7-inches to 55.1-inches, and the rear hip room has been dropped by a surprising 5.7-inches to be 47.4-inches. Meanwhile, the rear headroom gets an extra 0.4-inches to be 38.9-inches, and the rear legroom has been increased by 1.8-inches to total 55.1-inches.
Size and Weight
From the outside, you may notice that the 2021 Envision is slightly larger than the 2020 model if you park the two vehicles side-by-side. The 2021 Envision is measured at 185.5-inches long, 74.1-inches wide, 64.60inches tall, and with a wheelbase of 109.4-inches. That puts the newer model at about 1.8-inches longer, 1.7-inches wider, and 2.2-inches lower than the 2020 Envision. As for the total weight, the 2020 Envision hit the scales at 3,755 pounds, and the new 2021 Envision is only 3,685 pounds.
Powertrains
As of this writing, the representatives at Buick have not yet released the powertrain details for the 2021 Envision. However, we can confidently say given new information that the engine will be a 2.0L inline-four with 230 hp and 258lb-ft of torque. We can go over the 2020 powertrain lineup and make a more educated guess about the new offerings.
The 2020 Envision is available with two unique powertrain options. The first is standard on the base model. It’s a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder motor that uses a 6-speed automatic transmission and FWD. Generating 197 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, it gets about 25 mpg combined (22 city/29 highways). The second powertrain option is centered around a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. In this unit, you can choose between FWD or AWD. Producing 252 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, this turbocharged motor has a fuel economy set at 24 mpg combined (21 city/27 highway).
After careful research, the turbocharged 2.0-liter powertrain is most likely to stay. As for towing, the 2020 Envision models are able to pull up to 1,500 pounds, which is average for compact crossovers.
Trim Levels and Pricing
As we mentioned before, not many details have been released about the new 2021 Buick Envision. However, we do know the names of the trim levels and about how much each one will cost. This vehicle will be offered in five trims, starting with the Select at about $38,000. Next, we have the Preferred trim at around $41,000, followed by the mid-level Essence model at $44,000. Stepping up to the Premium will cost you about $46,000, and the top-of-the-line Avenir trim will run you approximately $50,000.
Let’s compare those trims and price points with the current 2020 Envision models. While it is still offered in five trim levels, some of the names are different, and the pricing has changed as well. The base model SV1 and the Preferred start at about $33,500. Next is the Essence trim at $35,800, followed by the Premium at $40,700. The top-tier Premium II model will run you about $43,600. As you can see, the prices have gone up a bit for the 2021 Buick Envision models.
Infotainment Technology
Again, hardly any details about the features inside the 2021 Buick Envision have been released. However, we can make some reasonable assumptions about the infotainment features that will most likely be included. We expect to see a standard touchscreen interface that measures at least 8.0-inches. Higher trim levels may even get a larger 10.0-inch touchscreen. A 4G LTE Wifi connection is also expected to be standard, as well as compatibility with Bluetooth and smartphone integration systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trim levels will most likely get a navigation system and satellite radio.
Standard infotainment features on the 2020 Buick Envision include an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wifi hotspot, and satellite radio. The top-tier Premium II model gets an added wireless charging pad and a navigation system.
Safety Features
As of now, we anticipate that there will be a few advanced safety systems included on the base model of the 2021 Buick Envision. These may include lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. We also expect to see an automated parking system and adaptive cruise control on higher trims.
How did we come to these conclusions about the safety features if that information has not yet been released? We looked at the 2020 Envision models. The SV1 comes with rear parking sensors, and the Preferred gets blindspot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Premium trim gets a forward-collision warning and a lane-departure warning system. Finally, the Premium II comes with a head-up display, automatic high beam, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, and a top-down parking camera system.
Get on a Waitlist
Want to purchase a 2021 Buick Envision? Find your local Buick dealership, give them a call, and ask to be put on the waitlist. You will be notified when these vehicles roll onto the lot so that you can get one for yourself.
