2019 Buick Envision vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE

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 Mercedes-Benz GLE had a smoother and less sculpted design, with softened lines and removed edges and scalloping, contributing to a lower drag coefficient of .29. The front end represented the most transformative change, making it a handsome vehicle. Inside, the GLE offered extra headroom and legroom due to a 3.1-inch extended wheelbase, and for the first time, an optional third row. However, the $720 Emerald Green Metallic paint showcased a surprising amount of orange-peel effect. The GLE 350’s starting price of $53,700 included a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, but the price quickly escalated with various options, leading to a walkaway price of $78,370 for the test model.

The 2019 Buick Envision's 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Preferred, and Essence trims came with a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 197 horsepower, paired with an outdated 6-speed automatic transmission.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, paired with a new 9-speed automatic transmission, providing solid acceleration and standard AWD. The Envision's steering was responsive and tight, though it felt 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 achieved 20/25/22 mpg.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 used a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Despite the significant power upgrade, the engine felt sluggish from a stop due to turbo lag and the vehicle's nearly 5,000-pound weight. The 9-speed automatic transmission was decent but not as smooth as the 8-speed in the BMW X5. The GLE 350 4Matic's fuel economy was 19 mpg city, 26 highway, 22 combined, which was competitive but slightly less powerful compared to the X5's turbocharged inline-6.

The 2019 Buick Envision offered plenty of room in the driver's seat, providing a commanding position and good visibility. The second row had ample head- and legroom, with reclining seat-back positions. With the rear seats up, the Envision provided 27 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 57 cubic feet with the seats folded, comparable to 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.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE benefited from an extra 3 inches in its wheelbase, making the second row exceptionally spacious. Depending on the options, the GLE offered between 33.3 and 39.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 79.4 cubic feet with the seats lowered. The interior was dominated by dual 12.3-inch screens, setting a new standard for dash design and customizability. The seats were comfortable, with a “Seat Kinetics” system to prevent cramping on long drives. However, the steering wheel often blocked parts of the screen, and the upgraded Burmester stereo caused substantial vibration through the brake pedal.

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 supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the test vehicle included wireless charging. However, the touch-capacitive controls for the climate and heated/cooled front seats were not very responsive.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured the new MBUX infotainment system, which was deep and daunting at first but became second nature with use. The system included two giant 12.3-inch screens and a comprehensive HUD. The driver-assistance tech was better than BMW's, and gesture control worked well. However, the new voice control system was less effective in the GLE compared to the A-Class. The GLE was also set up for future technology that would allow cars to communicate with surrounding infrastructure.

The 2019 Buick Envision came standard with ten 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, while the Premium trim added lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision alert. The Driver Confidence Package 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 Mercedes-Benz GLE had no current testing data from NHTSA or IIHS, but it offered an impressive suite of autonomous safety systems. Attention Assist monitored eye contact and head position to anticipate drowsiness, and Seat Kinetics adjusted seating positions to prevent cramping. However, the safety systems were less effective at high speeds, causing the car to bounce around the lane and get confused by shadows or unexpected lines.