Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2020 Buick Envision

The Sportage’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Envision doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sportage and the Envision have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Buick Envision:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Buick Envision:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sportage the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 119 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Envision last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2016.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Envision’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Envision. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Envision ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage second among compact suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Envision isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked 7th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked fifth.

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage FWD with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the Envision FWD with its standard engine (23 city/30 hwy vs. 22 city/29 hwy).

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

The Sportage stops shorter than the Envision:

For better traction, the Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Envision (245/45R19 vs. 235/50R19).

The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Envision Premium’s 50 series tires.

The Sportage has vehicle speed sensitive 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 better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Envision.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Envision Premium pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Envision Premium (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Envision’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.4 feet). The Sportage’s turning circle is 4.7 feet tighter than the Envision Premium’s (34.8 feet vs. 39.5 feet).

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 450 pounds less than the Buick Envision.

The Sportage is 7.3 inches shorter than the Envision, making the Sportage easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sportage has .6 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and .7 inches more rear legroom than the Envision.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envision with its rear seat up (30.7 vs. 26.9 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envision with its rear seat folded (60.1 vs. 57.3 cubic feet).

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Envision’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Sportage has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Envision doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Envision doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Sportage’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Envision’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $330 less than the Envision over a five-year period.

The Sportage will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sportage will retain 45.89% to 49.54% of its original price after five years, while the Envision only retains 32.33% to 37.32%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sportage is less expensive to operate than the Envision because it costs $246 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Sportage than the Envision, including $95 less for a water pump, $130 less for front brake pads, $222 less for a starter, $174 less for a fuel pump, $531 less for front struts and $275 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sportage will be $10563 to $11790 less than for the Buick Envision.

The Kia Sportage has won recognition from these important consumer publications: