Buick Envision vs Hyundai Venue

The 2021 Buick Envision underwent a significant redesign, following two years of facelifts, to present a more premium crossover styling. Positioned between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave, the Envision was sold in China and North America. Its new design was lower and wider, offering a more planted appearance on the street. 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—each provided distinct looks, with the Avenir trim offering upgraded exterior elements like a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille and 20-inch Avenir-specific wheels. Inside, the Avenir featured leather-appointed seating and a head-up display. The Envision's cabin was driver-centric, with a protruding center stack angled toward the driver, though it suffered from an abundance of piano black plastic that attracted dust.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, was a stylish little crossover that seemed timeless in its design. Its upright stance, horizontal roofline, and steep tailgate gave it a unique shape that belied its small size. The grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the design. The Venue's exterior updates for 2021 included 15-inch alloys on the base SE trim and 17-inch alloys on the SEL and Denim trims. The top-line Denim trim was particularly eye-catching with its white roof and unique paint job. Inside, the Venue's materials were inexpensive but didn't feel spartan. The cabin was bright, thanks to thin A-pillars and big windows, and the heated seats in the SEL trim added comfort. Despite its low-cost build, the Venue's interior managed to look modern.

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 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds, the Envision's performance was more about comfortable cruising than sporty driving. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available. The Envision's fuel efficiency improved slightly, with the FWD model achieving 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. The AWD version fared slightly worse. The Envision's drive mode selector included a Sport mode, but the engine and road noise detracted from the experience.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), as the six-speed manual was discontinued. The Venue's performance was adequate for its size, with front-wheel drive as the only option. Despite its modest power, the Venue's light weight made it feel lively in lower-speed areas. However, it lacked the power for more thrilling highway driving. The Venue's slim weight allowed it to move sprightly, but it was not designed for high-performance driving.

The 2021 Buick Envision's redesign did not enhance its cabin's 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. Cargo capacity was also reduced, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. The driver-centric cockpit limited the front passenger's access to controls. The Envision offered standard heated seats and a heated steering wheel, but forward visibility was compromised by the hood's slope.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, with decent storage space. The center console's bin was small, but the Venue's automatic climate control effectively managed the cabin's temperature. The back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 31.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Venue's cargo capacity lagged behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport. Despite its limitations, the Venue's hatchback design allowed for more versatility than a compact sedan.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which was responsive and displayed necessary functionalities. The driver information display was available in 8.0-inch and 4.2-inch sizes. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available features included navigation, a surround-view camera, and wireless device charging. The Envision's tech was functional but not groundbreaking.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue boasted an 8-inch touchscreen with high resolution and quick swipe functionality. Physical buttons provided easy access to media sources, and the interface was designed for simplicity. The Venue's infotainment system allowed for driver profiles and included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Venue's tech was impressive for its price, with thoughtful details like classic tube-amp-style radio displays.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Envision's Buckle to Drive feature ensured seatbelt use before shifting from park. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue included standard automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue's safety features were seamlessly integrated, avoiding distracting alerts. In NHTSA crash tests, the Venue received four out of five stars for front collision and rollover.