Compare the2018 GMC AcadiaVS 2018 Buick Envision

The Acadia Denali’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Envision doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Acadia are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Envision doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Acadia has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Envision doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Forward Automatic Braking optional in the Acadia as “Superior.” The Envision scores at most only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

Both the Acadia and the Envision have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Acadia’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 58 more horsepower (310 vs. 252) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (271 vs. 260) than the Envision Premium’s standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Acadia uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Envision Premium requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Acadia FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision (19.4 vs. 17.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Acadia AWD’s standard fuel tank has 4.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision (21.7 vs. 17.3 gallons).

The Acadia has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Envision doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Acadia’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Envision are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Acadia has larger standard tires than the Envision (235/65R18 vs. 225/60R18). The Acadia’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Envision (245/65R17 vs. 235/50R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Acadia offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Envision’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The GMC Acadia’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Buick Envision only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Acadia has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Envision doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Acadia offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Envision’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Acadia has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Envision doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Acadia’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the Envision (112.5 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Acadia is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Envision.

The Acadia has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Envision can only carry 5.

The Acadia has 43.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Envision (143.8 vs. 100.6).

The Acadia has .3 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom, .2 inches more rear hip room and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envision.

The Acadia’s cargo area provides more volume than the Envision.

Maximum trailer towing in the Buick Envision is limited to 1500 pounds. The Acadia offers up to a 4000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Acadia’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Envision’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the GMC Acadia will be $3422 to $4274 less than for the Buick Envision.