2019 Buick Envision vs 2020 GMC Acadia

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 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. Small details, like the one-touch power windows only available for the driver’s door, indicated that some corners were cut in the design.

The 2020 GMC Acadia, positioned as a premium brand, featured noticeable design changes, especially in the front with squared-off headlights and a boxier grille. The Denali trim, in particular, conveyed upscale aspirations with its brightwork. Inside, changes were subtle, with new electronic transmission shift switches, a redesigned center console, and real open-pore wood trim for Denali models. The cabin had a mix of soft surfaces and hard plastic panels, with controls laid out logically. However, aside from leather upholstery and wood trim, there wasn’t much to establish the Acadia as a premium choice. The Denali trim included wide and supportive 10-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, making it comfortable for road trips. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated and provided similar comfort levels.

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Preferred, and Essence trims came with a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 197 horsepower, paired with an outdated 6-speed automatic transmission.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 delivered power well and provided solid acceleration, making it the recommended choice. The Envision's steering was responsive and tight, though it could feel top-heavy in corners. It was best suited for town driving, where its ride was smoothest. 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, with an observed 21.3 mpg.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered three engine options. Lower trims had a 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The SLT trim featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 230 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The AT4 and Denali variants included a 310-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine, which was also available in other trims. All engines were paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission. The AT4 trim had an exclusive dual-clutch AWD system and all-terrain tires. The V6 engine and nine-speed automatic combination provided smooth, refined, and effortless power, with a towing capacity of up to 4,000 pounds. The EPA rating for the test vehicle was 21 mpg combined, with an observed 20.1 mpg. The Acadia’s ride and handling were finely tuned, making it easy to drive, though it lacked a memorable driving character.

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 reclining seat-back 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 class leader. 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 GMC Acadia could seat five, six, or seven passengers, depending on the trim level and configuration. The Denali trim provided 6-passenger seating with standard second-row captain’s chairs, though a bench seat was available as a no-cost option. The front seats were wide, supportive, and 10-way power-adjustable with heating and ventilation. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated, and rear passengers had access to air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a household-style power outlet. The third-row seat was roomier than expected, though the distance between the seat and the back of the SUV was limited. Cargo volume was 12.1 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 41.7 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 79 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded, about average for the segment.

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, with a dock of icons for music, connectivity, and navigation. The system also came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and our test vehicle included 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 GMC Acadia included standard infotainment features such as Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and GMC Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Versions with an 8-inch touchscreen had a higher resolution display, a simplified user experience, and improved voice recognition. The test vehicle included navigation and a Bose premium sound system, with voice-recognition technology that worked well most of the time. Additional technology upgrades for 2020 included new USB-C connection and charging ports, a more powerful wireless charging pad, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror that provided an unobstructed wide-angle view.

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, included 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 similar features as standard.

The 2020 GMC Acadia needed to improve its safety features. While it came standard with a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology, advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) were limited. The base Acadia SL and up included a standard blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning system. However, forward collision warning and low-speed automatic emergency braking were only available on SLT or AT4 trims and cost extra. The enhanced automatic emergency braking system was exclusive to the Denali trim. In crash tests, the NHTSA gave the Acadia 5-star ratings in most assessments and a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS provided incomplete data, with high marks in available tests but missing assessments for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection for the front passenger.