Buick Envision vs Kia Seltos

The 2021 Buick Envision underwent a significant redesign after two consecutive years of facelifts. This two-row compact crossover, available in China and North America, positioned itself between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave in Buick’s lineup. The 2021 model was lower and wider than its predecessor, boasting a more planted appearance with premium crossover styling. 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 featured upgraded exterior elements, including a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille and 20-inch Avenir-specific pearl nickel wheels, along with a unique interior trim pattern and leather-appointed seating.

The 2022 Kia Seltos, positioned between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offered five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission, a black grille, added body cladding, and robust roof rails. The Seltos' design was appealing, though the headlights and intricate wheels had mixed reviews. Inside, the Seltos displayed a good sense of style with contrast-color dashboard panels, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of hard plastic detracted from the overall quality. The controls were logically arranged, and the build quality was excellent, making the Seltos a practical and stylish choice in its segment.

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. 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 not particularly engaging, with noticeable engine and road noise.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The turbo engine provided a more engaging driving experience, with torque available between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm. The Seltos offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. The AWD system included a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds. The Seltos' suspension tuning was less appealing, with noticeable impacts from road imperfections. However, it felt lively in urban environments and had good grip on smooth corners. The Seltos Nightfall Edition achieved 27 mpg in combined driving.

The 2021 Buick Envision's redesign did not improve cabin functionality. Despite a longer wheelbase, it 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 seat folded down. 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 comfort features like heated seats and a heated steering wheel. Forward visibility was a challenge for shorter drivers.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy access due to its ride height and large door openings. The Nightfall Edition featured a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The rear seat was spacious, with generous legroom and footroom, though the seatback angle was slightly reclined. The Seltos provided decent storage space, including a smartphone shelf and plastic grocery sack hooks. Cargo space measured 26.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2021 Buick Envision's tech was not revolutionary but functional. It featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, responsive to touch, and an 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 HUD, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Kia Seltos expanded the availability of its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard on higher trims and optional on the S trim. It included Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection. The system was intuitive, with physical knobs and buttons for primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was frustrating without an active subscription to connected services.

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 2022 Kia Seltos came with numerous driving assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The Seltos earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.