Compare the2022 Toyota HighlanderVS 2022 Buick Envision

The Highlander has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Envision doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Highlander has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Envision doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Highlander Limited/Platinum has standard Automated Braking 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 Highlander’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 Highlander 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, 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, 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 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 Toyota Highlander 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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Envision has not been tested, yet.

The Highlander’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Envision’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Envision.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked fifth.

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

The Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 67 more horsepower (295 vs. 228) and 5 lbs.-ft. more torque (263 vs. 258) than the Envision’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Highlander is faster than the Buick Envision:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Envision requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.9 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Highlander has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision AWD’s standard fuel tank (17.9 vs. 16.1 gallons).

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Highlander’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than on the Envision (112.2 inches vs. 109.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Highlander is 2 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Envision.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Envision’s (37.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Envision can only carry 5.

The Highlander has 40.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Envision (141.3 vs. 100.4).

The Highlander has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 9.6 inches more rear hip room and 2.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envision.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander’s middle and third row seats recline. The Envision’s rear seats don’t recline.

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

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

The Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Envision’s (5000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Highlander’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 Highlander 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. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Envision can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Highlander 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.

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

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

The Highlander 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.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Highlander and the Buick Envision, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Buick Envision by over six to one during the 2021 model year.