2021 Buick Envision vs 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2021 Buick Envision underwent a significant redesign, following two consecutive years of facelifts. This two-row compact crossover, positioned between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave, featured a lower and wider stance, giving it a more planted appearance. The Envision's new sculpted look was more refined than its cousin, the Cadillac XT4, but not as sleek as the Acura RDX. The three trim levels—Preferred, Essence, and Avenir—offered distinct looks, with the Avenir trim making its debut in the Envision lineup. The Avenir grade added premium exterior elements like a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille and 20-inch Avenir-specific pearl nickel wheels, while the interior boasted leather-appointed seating with diamond perforated inserts and a head-up display.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, still in its second generation since its 2005 launch, received an interior and exterior refresh in 2018, which carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced the dual-screen center console that became a hallmark of Land Rover interiors. The Range Rover Sport offered a variety of trims, including SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition. Standard features on the base SE trim included leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and an eight-speaker Meridian sound system. Higher trims added more luxurious features, such as quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system. The SVR models featured a more powerful V8 engine and performance-oriented seats.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This was a downgrade from the previous model's 252 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds, the Envision's performance remained competent but not particularly engaging. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available. The Envision's fuel efficiency improved, with the FWD model achieving 24 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. AWD versions fared slightly worse. The Envision's drivability was comfortable but noisy, with engine and road noise permeating the cabin.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model's P400 powertrain delivered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition offered plug-in hybrid and diesel options, with the P400e plug-in hybrid generating 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 producing 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, while the SVR models boasted 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive. The Range Rover Sport's air suspension and Terrain Response system provided impressive off-road capabilities and on-road handling. Most variants could tow up to 7,716 pounds, except the SVR, which could tow 6,613 pounds.

The 2021 Buick Envision's redesign did not improve cabin functionality. Despite a longer wheelbase, the Envision had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, and rear-seat passengers lost two inches of legroom and nearly six inches of hip room. Cargo capacity also decreased, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The driver-centric cockpit limited the front passenger's access to controls. Small-item storage was typical for the segment, and the Envision's comfort was adequate but unremarkable. Forward visibility was poor, especially for shorter drivers.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity to seven but provided only 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Both the first and second rows offered ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was best suited for children. The Range Rover Sport's interior combined space with luxurious appointments, making it a comfortable choice for passengers.

The 2021 Buick Envision's tech was not groundbreaking but functional. The standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen was responsive and displayed necessary functionalities clearly. The driver could use the available 8.0-inch driver information display to scroll through channels more efficiently. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, keyless entry, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Available features included navigation, driver massage, HD Radio, a surround-view camera, a head-up display, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by the dual-screen center console. The lower screen controlled climate and vehicle settings, while the upper screen housed the infotainment system. The system was not always intuitive and had a learning curve, but the pair of dials on the lower screen provided versatile control. The upper screen's layout was simplified, with reasonably sized icons for easy navigation. The Range Rover Sport also featured a real volume button, though it was somewhat hidden. Overall, the infotainment system had room for improvement but was functional.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included a following distance indicator, forward-collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, rear-seat alert, automatic emergency braking, and teen-driver monitoring. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models. The Envision did not have GM's Super Cruise or lane-centering technology.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Other available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist. A head-up display was also available.