2019 Buick Envision vs 2020 Acura RDX

The 2019 Buick Envision was considered one of the most attractive vehicles in Buick's SUV lineup. It had a more athletic and taut vibe compared to the subcompact Buick Encore and the full-size Buick Enclave. The strong body lines along the sides and the upright rear section of the side windows gave it proportions similar to a BMW X1. Inside, the cabin initially appeared attractive with a clean and straightforward layout, but closer inspection revealed that it fell short of the luxury billing Buick aimed for. The matte-finish materials used for some controls and the bezel around the radio and navigation system looked cheap, especially when combined with chrome and light-colored leather. The multifunction steering wheel also felt coarse to the touch.

In contrast, the 2020 Acura RDX maintained its sharp, precise styling from the previous model year, which was a good thing. The imposing grille and rakish headlights gave it a strong presence, although the large logo within the grille was comically oversized. The upper character line swooped from the windshield to the rear hatch, intersected by another line that gave the appearance of a large spoiler. Inside, the RDX featured eye-catching red leather upholstery that contrasted well with the black interior. The cabin was well-equipped with standard features like synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power moonroof, and a 10.2-inch infotainment screen. The A-Spec model added ventilated front seats, a panoramic moonroof, and sport pedals, while the range-topping Advance Package included rain-sensing wipers, heated rear seats, and natural Olive Ash wood trim.

The 2019 Buick Envision offered two engine options. The FWD, Preferred, and Essence trims came with a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 197 horsepower, paired with an outdated 6-speed automatic transmission. This setup felt underpowered and sluggish in many driving situations. The Premium and Premium II trims featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 252 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, mated to a new 9-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided solid acceleration and came standard with AWD. The Envision's steering was responsive and tight, though the vehicle could feel top-heavy in corners. Fuel economy for the 2.5-liter FWD was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, while the turbo AWD model achieved 20/25/22 mpg.

The 2020 Acura RDX came with a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided impressive acceleration and a great engine note. Power was routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission to either the front wheels or available Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD). The 10-speed auto managed power well, aiding both fuel economy and performance. The Integrated Dynamics System allowed drivers to choose between Comfort, Snow, Sport, and Sport-Plus drive modes, affecting throttle response, shift patterns, steering feel, and power delivery. Fuel economy for the A-Spec model with SH-AWD was 22 mpg city, 27 highway, and 24 combined. The RDX offered fantastic handling and remained incredibly comfortable, making it a well-rounded performer.

The 2019 Buick Envision provided plenty of room in the driver's seat, offering a commanding position and good visibility. The second row had ample head- and legroom, with seats that could recline to a couple of positions. With the rear seats up, the Envision offered 27 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 57 cubic feet when the seats were folded down. This was on par with the Acura RDX. The Envision also featured helpful cargo tie-downs, deep pockets in all four doors, and a cargo tray above the glove box, making good use of its space.

The 2020 Acura RDX pushed the limits of what constituted a "compact" SUV. The cabin was spacious, with very comfortable and supportive front seats. Finding a good driving position was easy, and there was plenty of head- and legroom. The second row also offered great headroom and decent legroom. The front row had space for large water bottles in the doors and center console, with a pass-through cargo tray beneath the shifter console. The second row featured a fold-down center console with cup holders and in-door cup holders. The RDX provided 29.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 58.9 cubic feet when the seats were folded down. The cargo area was easily accessible, with a good load floor height and a hidden cargo area beneath a liftable panel.

The 2019 Buick Envision came standard with GM's Intellilink infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with a straightforward layout. The system included hard buttons and dials below the screen, with a dock of icons for music, connectivity, and navigation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the system was seamless in transitioning between screens. The Envision also featured wireless charging, though the charging pocket design was less convenient. Touch-capacitive controls for the climate and heated/cooled front seats were less responsive and seemed like unnecessary tech additions.

The 2020 Acura RDX's infotainment system was a letdown. The vivid widescreen system was operated via a touchpad, which Acura called the True Touchpad Interface. This system was less intuitive than the Lexus Remote Touch trackpad, requiring constant attention to ensure correct selections. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard but were not optimized for the touchpad interface. Other standard tech features included Bluetooth, two USB ports, a WiFi hot spot, a 9-speaker audio system, and satellite radio. The Technology Package added more USB ports, navigation, and the ELS premium audio system. The A-Spec model featured the ELS Studio 3D premium sound system with 16 speakers, while the Advance Package added a 10.5-inch head-up display.

The 2019 Buick Envision came standard with ten airbags, including side-curtain and knee airbags, and a reversing camera with Rear Park Assist. The Premium and Premium II trims included GM’s Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to alert the driver to potential hazards. Essence and Premium trims featured blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Premium trim also included lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision alert. The Driver Confidence Package, available on the Premium II trim, added adaptive cruise control, automatic front braking, and a 360-degree camera. However, many of these features required additional payment.

The 2020 Acura RDX came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, LATCH child-seat mounting systems, a tire pressure monitoring system, hill-start assist, and a rear-view camera. It also included a full suite of driver-assistance features, such as lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, road-departure mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow. The Technology Package added front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic monitoring. The Advance Package included a 10.5-inch head-up display, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a washer nozzle for the rear-view camera. The 2019 RDX received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.