2021 Buick Envision vs 2021 Subaru Forester

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, was sold in China and North America. The 2021 Envision was lower and wider than its predecessor, boasting a more premium crossover styling that gave it a planted appearance. It featured three trim levels—Preferred, Essence, and Avenir—with the Avenir trim making its debut in the Envision lineup. The Avenir models were equipped with upgraded exterior elements, including a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille, 20-inch Avenir-specific pearl nickel wheels, and a unique interior trim pattern. The Envision also came with LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights, along with a welcome lighting animation. Inside, the driver-centric design of the center stack angled the infotainment screen and climate controls toward the driver, creating a tighter cabin feel.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite being redesigned for the 2019 model year, retained a styling that looked older due to its carryover design from the previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. The Forester's boxy, upright shape appealed to many SUV shoppers, offering a clean and unpretentious look. The Forester Sport models featured orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact. The Forester rode on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with other Subaru models, and maintained a rugged SUV image. The interior was a mix of durable materials, with the Sport trim adding orange accents. The Forester offered cloth upholstery in Base, Premium, and Sport trims, while Limited and Touring trims featured leather upholstery. An All-Weather Package added heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, and a windshield de-icer.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 2.5-liter engine. This new engine produced 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, a downgrade from the previous model's 252 hp and 295 lb-ft. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds, the Envision's performance was more about comfortable cruising than sporty driving. The 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. The AWD version fared slightly worse. The Envision's acceleration and deceleration were noisy, and its drivability was more akin to a Lincoln than a Mazda. The Sport mode altered the revs but did not significantly enhance the driving experience.

The 2021 Subaru Forester was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity. The Forester had a 1,500-pound towing capacity and standard Trailer Stability Assist. While the power was adequate for most situations, it lacked the thrust needed for highway merging or overtaking. The suspension was softly sprung, resulting in poor body control and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement. The Forester's AWD system was standard, with X-Mode for different surfaces and Dual X-Mode on Sport models. Premium and higher trims included hill-descent control, and all models had 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making the Forester capable of handling mud and dirt better than many competitors.

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 was also reduced, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The driver-centric cockpit limited the front passenger's access to controls. Small-item storage was typical for the segment, and the Envision offered standard heated front seats, power-adjustable seats, and a heated steering wheel. Forward visibility was poor, especially for shorter drivers.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. The roofline also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feeling. The Forester had 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with the seats folded, more than some competitors. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench. A power liftgate was optional on the Sport trim and standard on Limited and Touring trims. The Forester's cupholders were decently sized, and the center console was reasonably spacious, though the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-size phone. A power-adjustable driver's seat was available on the Premium trim and higher. The Forester's large knobs for audio and climate control were user-friendly, but the numerous buttons on the steering wheel could be confusing.

The 2021 Buick Envision's tech was not particularly advanced, but it featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen that was responsive and displayed necessary functionalities clearly. The driver could see station and song information faster on the available 8.0-inch driver information display. 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, a surround-view camera, a head-up display, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and front-row USB ports. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring models included navigation and rear USB ports. The Forester's infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls. However, the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also had a secondary screen in the center of the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included Buckle to Drive, 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 Subaru Forester received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included the EyeSight suite, with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. The Forester also had steering-responsive headlights, automatic high beams, and a rear seatbelt reminder. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The Forester's driver-monitoring system, DriverFocus, checked for signs of distraction.