Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Buick Envision

The 2021 Buick Envision underwent a significant redesign, following two years of facelifts in 2019 and 2020. This two-row compact crossover, positioned between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave, was available in China and North America. The Envision's new design was lower and wider, giving it a more grounded appearance. It featured premium crossover styling, with a sculpted look that set it apart from its cousin, the Cadillac XT4, though it wasn't as sleek as the Acura RDX. The Envision offered three trim levels: Preferred, Essence, and Avenir, with the Avenir trim making its debut in this model year. The Avenir trim included upgraded exterior elements, such as a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille and 20-inch Avenir-specific wheels, along with a unique interior trim pattern and leather-appointed seating.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar appearance to the smaller 2021 Grand Cherokee L. It featured traditional SUV styling with a tall hood, broad shoulders, and an upright profile. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. It had a forward-leaning grille with laser-etched knurling and acrylic glass-covered wheel center caps. The Grand Wagoneer boasted a new body-on-frame architecture, independent suspension, and weight-saving aluminum components. Inside, it shared styling features with the Wagoneer but offered more convenience features and higher-quality materials, including 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine was less powerful than the previous model's, but Buick managed to reduce the vehicle's weight by 200 to 300 pounds, depending on the trim. The Envision offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available. The weight reduction and engine changes improved fuel efficiency, with the FWD model achieving 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. However, the Envision's acceleration and deceleration were noisy, and its drivability leaned more towards comfort than sportiness.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came equipped with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Wagoneer accelerated from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, despite its 6,400-pound weight. It had standard four-wheel drive with the Quadra-Drive II system, offering five drive modes and a Quadra-Lift air suspension system. The Grand Wagoneer provided 10 inches of ground clearance and could ford up to 24 inches of water. While it excelled in off-road capabilities, its ride was bouncy at higher speeds, and its steering was imprecise.

The 2021 Buick Envision's redesign did not enhance cabin functionality. Despite a longer wheelbase, it had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, with reduced rear-seat legroom and hip room. Cargo capacity decreased to 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The driver-centric cockpit limited passenger access to controls, and forward visibility was challenging for shorter drivers. However, the Envision offered standard heated seats, power-adjustable seats, and a heated steering wheel.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer accommodated seven passengers with standard captain's chairs or eight with an optional bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. Cargo space was 27.4 cubic feet with all seats in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds. It featured a standard sunroof, four-zone climate control, and large storage bins. Forward visibility was limited, but the standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate this issue.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, responsive to touch, and an 8.0-inch driver information display. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone climate control, a rearview camera, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Available features included navigation, a surround-view camera, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer featured Uconnect 5 with an Android-based operating system and over-the-air updates. It offered Amazon Alexa connectivity and Fire TV for Auto, allowing passengers to stream content.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. It featured standard safety equipment, including a following distance indicator, forward-collision alert, lane change alert, and automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not received crash-test ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA. It offered standard safety features such as a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane centering, with a hands-free version planned for future release.