Compare the2022 Chevrolet EquinoxVS 2020 Buick Envision

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 Equinox 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.

Both the Equinox and the Envision have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors 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 Chevrolet Equinox 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, its standard 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 Equinox 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.

There are over 48 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are Buick dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Equinox’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Equinox third 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 Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked 7th.

The Equinox’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (203 vs. 192) than the Envision’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Equinox AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Envision Premium AWD turbo 4 cyl. (25 city/30 hwy vs. 20 city/25 hwy).

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

The Equinox 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.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Equinox higher (7 out of 10) than the Buick Envision (5). This means the Equinox produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Envision every 15,000 miles.

The Equinox stops shorter than the Envision:

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

The Chevrolet Equinox may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 550 pounds less than the Buick Envision.

The Equinox has 2.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Envision (103.2 vs. 100.6).

The Equinox has .2 inches more front shoulder room and 2.4 inches more rear legroom than the Envision.

The Equinox has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envision with its rear seat up (29.9 vs. 26.9 cubic feet). The Equinox has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envision with its rear seat folded (63.9 vs. 57.3 cubic feet).

The Equinox’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Envision does not have an oil pressure gauge.

On a hot day the Equinox’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Envision can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Equinox’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Envision doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Insurance will cost less for the Equinox owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Equinox will cost $145 less than the Envision over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Equinox is less expensive to operate than the Envision because typical repairs cost much less on the Equinox than the Envision, including $611 less for front struts and $307 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Equinox will be $8040 to $8766 less than for the Buick Envision.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Equinox, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Buick Envision isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Equinox second among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Envision isn’t in the top three.