2021 Buick Envision vs 2021 Subaru Outback

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 sculpted look was more pronounced 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 and a head-up display. The Envision's driver-centric cabin design, however, made the front of the cabin feel tighter, and the abundance of piano black plastic on the dashboard and center console attracted dust.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, retained a familiar and comfortable feel. The interior, especially in higher trims, felt fresher compared to the smaller Crosstrek. The Premium and above trims featured an 11.6-inch portrait display, which was bright and sharp, surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim. The quality of materials was evident, with Limited and Touring trims offering two-tone leather upholstery. The Onyx Edition XT featured gray and black StarTex upholstery with lime green contrast stitching. The Outback's exterior maintained a smooth and plain styling, with gray cladding on the wheel arches and bumpers. The 2021 model introduced a new brown paint option and standard adaptive LED headlights. The Outback's lifted wagon design made it a great alternative to typical crossovers or SUVs.

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 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 city, 31 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined, while the AWD version managed 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. However, engine and road noise permeated the cabin, detracting from the premium feel.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base 2.5-liter flat-four engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This engine struggled to move the Outback's weight, especially when loaded, resulting in slow and noisy performance. The XT models, with a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four engine, offered a significant improvement with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. The turbo engine provided better performance and refinement, though fuel economy suffered slightly at 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. The Outback's handling was geared towards comfort, with long-travel springs and 8.7 inches of ground clearance making it capable off-road. Subaru's electronically-variable AWD system was proactive and effective, with X-Mode optimizing performance in tough conditions.

The 2021 Buick Envision's redesign resulted in 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 seats folded. The driver-centric cockpit design limited the front passenger's access to controls. Despite these drawbacks, the Envision offered standard heated front seats, eight-way power-adjustable seats, and a heated steering wheel. Forward visibility was compromised by the hood's slope, making parking sensors essential.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered ample interior space, with 76 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, free of intrusive wheel arches. Headroom and legroom were generous in all seating positions, and outward visibility was excellent. Storage options included large map pockets, bottle holders, and handy pockets in the front center console. However, push-button start and rear climate vents were standard only on higher trims. The Outback's best feature was the standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, which could be swiveled and locked in place within seconds.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which was responsive and cleanly displayed necessary functionalities. The driver could easily see station and song title information on the available 8.0-inch driver information display. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, rearview camera, keyless entry, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Available features included navigation, driver massage, HD Radio, surround-view camera, HUD, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system looked dated, with graphics and typefaces reminiscent of older technology. The central screen in the instrument panel was even worse. However, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the optional navigation was more modern-looking. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. The system offered good semi-automated control but relied solely on forward-looking cameras, which could be impeded in certain conditions.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included Buckle to Drive, 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 2021 Subaru Outback rode on a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver’s knee airbag and passenger seat-cushion airbag. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. Rear emergency braking and a driver-attention monitor were available on specific trims. The 2020 Outback, identical to the 2021 model, earned the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award and received top ratings in all crash tests. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Outback an overall five-star rating, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.