Ford Bronco vs Buick Envision

The 2021 Buick Envision had undergone 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 planted appearance on the street. Its premium crossover styling was more sculpted than its cousin, the Cadillac XT4, but not as sleek as the Acura RDX. The Envision came in three trims: Preferred, Essence, and Avenir, with the Avenir trim making its debut in this model year. The Avenir trim featured upgraded exterior elements, including a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille, 20-inch Avenir-specific pearl nickel wheels, and a unique interior with leather-appointed seating and a head-up display. All Envisions came with LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights, along with a welcome lighting animation. The interior design was driver-centric, with a protruding center stack housing the infotainment screen and climate controls, angled towards the driver. However, the abundance of piano black plastic on the dashboard and center console attracted dust, detracting from the premium feel.

The 2022 Ford Bronco, with its retro styling and go-anywhere attitude, was one of the most sought-after vehicles. Following its successful debut, the Bronco returned with two new range-topping models: the Everglades and the Bronco Raptor. The Everglades model, designed for swamp trekking and deep water, featured an intake snorkel, a Warn winch, and 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires. The Bronco lineup expanded to seven trims, each with increasing off-road capabilities. The Bronco was available in two-door or four-door body styles, with a choice of a four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine, and a removable roof with either a soft- or hard-top. The Bronco's design was utilitarian, with short overhangs, low-profile bumpers, and a tall ride height. It featured large recovery hooks, removable fender flares, a full-size spare mounted to the tailgate, and modular construction for easy customization. Inside, the Bronco had sealed switches and buttons, marine-grade vinyl upholstery, and drain plugs in the floor, allowing for easy cleaning. The G.O.A.T. mode dial on the center console allowed the driver to select specific drive modes for different terrains. Despite its rugged look, the Bronco was equipped with advanced technology, including a digital instrument panel, a large infotainment touchscreen, and a full complement of cameras.

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 weight savings did not compensate for the power loss. The turbo-four engine was competent for daily driving, with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive available. The 2021 Envision was more fuel-efficient, 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 with 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined. However, the engine and road noise during acceleration and deceleration made the SUV seem less premium. The Envision's drivability was comfortable but not particularly engaging, with a typical GM drive mode selector. Switching to Sport mode changed the revs but did not significantly improve the driving experience.

The 2022 Ford Bronco offered a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, with an optional turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine delivering 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder engine was available with a seven-speed manual transmission, featuring a crawl gear for low-speed driving, while the V6 came with a mandatory 10-speed automatic transmission. All Broncos had four-wheel drive and an electronic two-speed transfer case. Both engines provided ample power, with varying degrees of off-road prowess across the lineup. The Everglades model, tested on challenging terrain, demonstrated impressive capabilities, including fording water up to 36.4 inches deep. On pavement, the Bronco's steering and ride quality were superior to its direct rival, the Jeep Wrangler, making it a better road trip companion. Wind noise on the highway was a minor complaint, but the absence of tire howl contributed to the Bronco's overall excellence.

The 2021 Buick Envision's redesign did not improve cabin functionality. Despite a longer wheelbase, the 2021 model 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. The driver-centric cockpit limited the front seat passenger's access to climate controls and the infotainment screen. Small-item storage was typical for the segment, and the Envision's comfort was comparable to other Buicks. Forward visibility was poor, requiring reliance on parking sensors.

The 2022 Ford Bronco's squared-off styling contributed to its spacious interior. Headroom was abundant, and there was plenty of legroom and lateral space. Accessing the rear seats in the two-door model required some effort, but the four-door model was more accommodating. Cargo capacity varied by model and roof type, with the two-door hard top offering up to 22.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 52.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The four-door hard top increased capacity to 35.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Bronco featured clever storage solutions, including large armrest bins, netted door pockets, and rubberized phone trays. External hard mounting points and removable fender flares added to its utility.

The 2021 Buick Envision's tech was not revolutionary, with a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen 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, driver massage, HD Radio, a surround-view camera, a head-up display, a rearview camera mirror, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Ford Bronco smartly used technology to enhance its off-road capabilities. The G.O.A.T. modes allowed drivers to select drivetrain and chassis settings for specific terrains, while the forward-looking trail camera provided confidence on challenging trails. The Bronco's Sync 4 infotainment system was responsive and loaded with helpful off-road apps. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and a wireless charging pad was available.

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 Ford Bronco's standard safety features included hill-start assist, hill descent control, and trailer sway control. Optional features included frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist, rear parking sensors, automatic high beams, front parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, and evasive steering assist. The NHTSA awarded the four-door Bronco four out of five stars for frontal crash protection and three out of five stars for rollover protection. The IIHS gave the Bronco its best score of "Good" in frontal, side, and roof strength tests and "Acceptable" for head restraints and seats.