Compare the2022 Lexus RXVS 2022 Buick Envision

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus RX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Buick Envision doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The Lexus RX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Envision doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The RX has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Envision doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The RX offers optional Auto Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Envision doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The RX’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 RX and the Envision have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus RX is safer than the Buick Envision:

	RX	Envision
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	53	128
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	110 G’s	139 G’s
Hip Force	214 lbs.	261 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	165	311
Spine Acceleration	44 G’s	52 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches

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 RX the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Envision has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

The RX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-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 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Envision. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Envision ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The RX’s 6 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Envision runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RX first among midsize premium suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Envision was rated third in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked 12th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked fifth.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in reliability. Buick is ranked fourth.

Engine

The RX 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 67 more horsepower (295 vs. 228) and 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (268 vs. 258) than the Envision’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The RX 450h’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 80 more horsepower (308 vs. 228) than the Envision’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the RX 450h 3.5 V6 Hybrid CVT AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Envision AWD (31 city/28 hwy vs. 22 city/29 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the RX Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Envision doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The RX Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.2 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The RX’s standard fuel tank has 3.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision AWD’s standard fuel tank (19.2 vs. 16.1 gallons).

Transmission

The RX 450h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Envision doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the RX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Envision:

	RX	Envision
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	12.4 inches

Suspension and Handling

The RX 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 track (width between the wheels) on the RX is 1.1 inches wider in the front and .7 inches wider in the rear than on the Envision.

Passenger Space

The RX has 3.7 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 8.7 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envision.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the RX’s rear seats recline. The Envision’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers or raises the RX’s optional rear seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Envision doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the RX. The Envision doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Buick Envision is limited to 1500 pounds. The RX offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Buick. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 36% lower rating, Buick is ranked 13th.

Ergonomics

The RX’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Envision’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the RX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Envision can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RX 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.

The RX’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Envision’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the RX to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Envision doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The RX has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Envision.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Lexus RX as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lexus RX outsold the Buick Envision by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.

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