2019 Buick Envision vs 2020 Ford Escape

The 2019 Buick Envision was arguably the most handsome vehicle in Buick's SUV lineup. It had a more athletic vibe compared to the stubby Encore and the full-size 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 controls looked cheap, and the multifunction steering wheel felt coarse to the touch. Small details, like the one-touch power windows only for the driver’s door, indicated that some corners were cut in the design.

The 2020 Ford Escape, on the other hand, was a very attractive compact crossover. It shared its large grille with the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks, and the headlights were inspired by the Ford GT supercar. The new curvaceous design came at a cost, but the Escape remained one of the best-looking small SUVs on the market. Inside, the cabin was modern and forward-looking, with a fully digital instrument panel and a floating infotainment screen. The design kept basic controls where they belonged, making it user-friendly and stylish.

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Preferred, and Essence trims came with a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that made 197 horsepower, paired with an outdated 6-speed automatic transmission.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 it could feel top-heavy in corners. Fuel economy for the 2.5-liter FWD was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, 25 combined, while the turbo AWD model managed 20/25/22.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered four engine options, including a new 3-cylinder engine making 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium, made 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine was part of the hybrid drivetrain, making 198 horsepower, and there was also a plug-in hybrid variant. The conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic, while the hybrids used a CVT. The 3-cylinder and non-plug-in hybrid setups were available with FWD or AWD, while the turbo engine and plug-in came standard with AWD. The most efficient version was the non-Sport hybrid, returning 44 mpg city, 37 highway, 41 combined.

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. With the rear seats up, the Envision offered 27 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 57 cubic feet when folded. This was on par with the Acura RDX. Buick made good use of the space with helpful cargo tie-downs, deep pockets in all four doors, and a cargo tray above the glove box.

The 2020 Ford Escape had a sleeker design but sacrificed some cargo space. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, dropping to 34.4 cubic feet in hybrid models. With the backseat down, it provided 65.4 cubic feet or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. This was less than the outgoing 2019 Escape and rivals like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. However, the Escape emphasized passenger space, with plenty of headroom and decent legroom in the second row. The front seats provided a commanding position and good visibility. There were also plenty of storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2019 Buick Envision came standard with GM's Intellilink infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with a straightforward layout. It included hard buttons and dials below the screen, and the screen itself had a dock of icons for music, connectivity, and navigation. The system also came with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and our test vehicle had wireless charging for compatible smartphones. However, the touch-capacitive controls for the climate and heated/cooled front seats were not very sensitive and seemed to respond only half the time.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim had a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, but the SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The latest version of Sync was fantastic, allowing for multi-tasking. The Titanium trim included a head-up display (HUD) with a small flip-up screen, which was less effective for taller drivers. The Escape's tech features were user-friendly and provided a seamless experience.

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, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, 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 were optional, unlike competitors like the Toyota RAV4, which included them as standard.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. It earned the best overall score of Good from the IIHS in all phases of testing. The Escape also came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor as standard features.