Chevrolet Equinox vs Buick Envision

The 2021 Buick Envision underwent a significant redesign after 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 new 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 came with upgraded exterior elements, including a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille, 20-inch Avenir-specific wheels, and a unique interior trim pattern. The Envision's cabin had a driver-centric design, with a protruding center stack housing the infotainment screen and climate controls, angled towards the driver. However, the use of piano black plastic on the dashboard and center console attracted dust, detracting from the overall premium feel.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received styling updates, including a new grille, LED headlights, and subtle changes to the rear fascia. The Equinox's design was more upright and chunkier, with large fake air intakes flanking the grille. Unlike the rugged styling of the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4, the Equinox maintained a car-based crossover look, with a tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia. The dashboard featured a creative design with a touchscreen and large air vents at the center, and the materials and fit and finish were decent for its price range. The new RS model added black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, giving it a bit more personality. However, the black interior felt too subdued.

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 weight savings did not fully compensate for the power loss. The Envision offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available. The FWD model achieved an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined, while the AWD version managed 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined. The Envision's drivability was comfortable but not particularly engaging, with noticeable engine and road noise. The Sport mode altered the revs but did not significantly enhance the driving experience.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, generating 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Equinox offered more torque than most rivals but less horsepower. In city driving, the Equinox's torque was beneficial, but at higher speeds, the engine felt coarse and unresponsive. The automatic transmission's shifts were also a bit rough. The Equinox was not designed for sporty handling, lacking the solidity and refinement of competitors like the Honda CR-V. However, it was decently comfortable on poorly maintained pavement.

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 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 offered standard heated front seats, power-adjustable seats, and a heated steering wheel. Forward visibility was compromised by the cowling and hood slope.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered decent headroom in both rows and good second-row legroom. However, front seat legroom was limited, and the lack of a telescoping steering wheel made it difficult to find a comfortable driving position. The Equinox provided a tall seating position with an unobstructed forward view, but rear visibility was hampered by the small rear window. The climate control buttons and knobs were prominently placed below the touchscreen, making them easy to access. The Equinox had 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was near the bottom of the segment. A power liftgate was available, but the Equinox lacked features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which was responsive and displayed necessary functionalities clearly. The driver could see station and song title information faster 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 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trim levels received an 8-inch touchscreen and 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen. Navigation and a Bose 7-speaker audio system were available. The 8-inch touchscreen was responsive and easy to use, with large, smartphone-like menu icons. The addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a significant advantage. The Equinox also offered multiple USB ports and power outlets, but the center-console slot for phones was too small.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, 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 hands-free system or lane-centering technology.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It earned a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The NHTSA gave the Equinox a five-star overall safety rating. Standard driver-assist features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and Chevy's Teen Driver system. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system.