2019 Buick Envision vs 2020 Ford Edge

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 clean and straightforward, 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 Ford Edge, which received a styling update in 2019, maintained a fresh look that resembled a crossover version of the Ford Fusion sedan. The cabin showed signs of its age, with an overall layout unchanged since 2015, but it still offered plenty of soft-touch materials and solid fit-and-finish. The center console had small, awkwardly arranged climate and radio controls, and the rotary shifter was a contemporary design cue that solved some space issues. Despite the heavy use of hard plastics, the cabin quality was generally good. The Edge's design was clearly aimed at American consumers, with a spacious and comfortable interior that provided a commanding view of the road.

The 2019 Buick Envision offered two engine options. The FWD, Preferred, and Essence trims came with a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that produced 197 horsepower, paired with an outdated 6-speed automatic transmission.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 delivered power well and provided solid acceleration, with standard AWD enhancing its performance. The Envision's steering was responsive and tight, though it 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 Ford Edge came standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided solid low-end acceleration, making it great for city driving, though it struggled at higher speeds. The Edge ST, the performance variant, featured a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine with 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The ST offered impressive acceleration and handling, with a Sport mode that enhanced throttle response and transmission mapping. The Edge's suspension was designed to handle American roads, soaking up potholes while remaining refined and engaging to drive.

The 2019 Buick Envision's driver's seat offered plenty of room and a commanding position with excellent visibility. The second row also provided ample head- and legroom, with seats that could recline to multiple 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. This made it competitive with class leaders like 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 Ford Edge excelled in cabin layout, offering a commanding view of the road without being overly upright. The seats were surrounded by plenty of cubbies and compartments, designed for commuting or road trips. The second row provided ample head- and legroom, with no need to move the front seats forward for rear-seat comfort. The Edge offered 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 73.4 cubic feet with the 60/40 split-fold rear seats folded. This was more than the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Murano, though slightly less than the Honda Passport. The SEL and Titanium trims featured a hands-free foot-activated power rear liftgate.

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 seamlessly transitioned between connectivity screens. The Envision also offered wireless charging for compatible smartphones, though the charging pad was a small pocket rather than a flat surface. Below the touchscreen, touch-capacitive controls for climate and heated/cooled front seats were less responsive and seemed like unnecessary tech additions.

The 2020 Ford Edge featured the SYNC 3 infotainment system as standard on all trims. SYNC 3 included an 8-inch touchscreen with a row of icons for audio, phone, navigation, apps, and settings, as well as a home button for easy navigation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration were standard, allowing users to use their preferred maps app without paying extra for navigation. The optional voice-activated navigation system included SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link with real-time traffic updates. The Edge also came with two smart-charging USB ports and an optional dual rear-seat entertainment system with screens in the front headrests.

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 featured GM’s Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to alert the driver to potential hazards. Essence and Premium trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the Premium trim added lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision alert. The Driver Confidence Package, available on the Premium II trim, included adaptive cruise control, automatic front braking, and a 360-degree camera. However, many of these features required additional payment.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with a full array of front and side-impact airbags, AdvanceTrac traction control with Roll Stability Control and Curve Control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a child seat anchoring system. The Ford Co-Pilot360 safety system was standard on all trims, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The SEL trim offered the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, adding adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, and active lane centering. The Edge received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.