2019 Buick Envision vs 2020 Cadillac XT4

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 looked attractive with a clean and straightforward setup, but closer examination revealed that it didn’t quite meet the luxury billing Buick aimed for. The matte-finish material used for some of the climate 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 Cadillac XT4 employed a “Y” trim level strategy, starting with the standard Luxury trim and upgrading to Premium Luxury or Sport trim. The test vehicle had Premium Luxury trim, featuring front-wheel drive, Silver Radiant metallic paint, 20-inch aluminum wheels, a navigation system, and a Bose premium audio system. The XT4 was visually appealing, especially with the 20-inch alloy wheels, and had a crisp, tailored styling. The interior was pleasant with competitive quality materials, though there were some missteps like the plain black trim around the power window controls. Despite these minor issues, the XT4’s cabin was generally well-received.

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Preferred, and Essence trims came with a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 197 horsepower, paired with an outdated 6-speed automatic transmission.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, making 252 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired with 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 felt a bit 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 was rated at 20/25/22 mpg.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, powering either the front or all four wheels. The EPA rated the FWD XT4 at 26 mpg, and the test vehicle returned 24.8 mpg. The XT4’s fat band of torque gave it a lively driving character, though the optional twin-clutch AWD system was recommended to limit front-wheel slip and torque steer. The nine-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifts but was hesitant to downshift in Tour mode. The XT4’s ride and handling were mixed, with good steering effort in Tour mode but an artificially heavy sensation in Sport mode. The standard suspension did not handle speed humps well and allowed too much body movement on country roads.

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

The 2020 Cadillac XT4’s interior was comfortable for the driver and front passenger, with soft leather, densely padded armrests, and heated, ventilated, and massaging seats. The rear seats were heated and had air conditioning vents, and the rear passenger compartment felt roomier than many small SUVs. However, the rear seat cushion was rather flat and lacked support. The XT4’s air conditioning system was highly effective, rapidly cooling the interior even during a Southern California heatwave. The climate controls were elegantly arranged, and the cabin offered plenty of storage space, including umbrella holders and an angled wireless smartphone charger. Cargo space was limited, with 22.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 48.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. A hands-free power liftgate was available.

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, and the screen itself had 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 test vehicle also had wireless charging, though the charging pad was a weird little “pocket” rather than a flat surface. Below the touchscreen, touch-capacitive controls for the climate and heated/cooled front seats were less useful, responding only half the time.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 featured the latest version of the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system, which was much easier and more satisfying to use than previous versions. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, Cadillac Connected Access services, and near-field communication pairing to Bluetooth for two devices. The 8-inch display was a touchscreen, and there were intuitive controls on the center console and steering wheel, as well as a voice-recognition system. However, the screen could have been larger, and the climate system was not tied to the voice-recognition system. The optional 13-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround audio system provided a satisfying listening experience. The test car did not have a head-up display or a rear camera mirror.

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 came standard with 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 only on the Premium II trim, added adaptive cruise control, automatic front braking, and a 360-degree camera. However, many of these features were optional, unlike some competitors that offered them as standard.

For the 2020 model year, the Cadillac XT4 added forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and the Safety Alert Seat to its standard equipment list. These features joined a rear-seat reminder, Teen Driver parental report card technology, and two free years of automatic collision notification and emergency assistance service. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and lane-change warning systems. The Driver Awareness Package included automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a following-distance indicator. Adaptive cruise control was available with the Driver Assist Package, which also included high-speed automatic emergency braking and reverse automatic braking. The XT4 received a 5-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).