Compare the2023 Buick EnvisionVS 2021 Lexus NX Series

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 Envision are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The NX Series doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Envision and the NX Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Buick Envision is safer than the Lexus NX Series:

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

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

There are over 8 times as many Buick dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Envision’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Envision third among compact suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The NX Series isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 6th.

The Envision’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 34 more horsepower (228 vs. 194) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 199) than the NX 300h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Buick Envision is faster than the NX 300h :

On the EPA test cycle the Envision gets better mileage than the NX Series:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Envision’s fuel efficiency. The NX Series doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Buick Envision uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended for maximum performance). The NX 300 requires premium, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

The Envision FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX Series Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Envision 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 NX Series doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Buick Envision higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus NX Series (3 to 7). This means the Envision produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the NX Series every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Buick Envision, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the NX Series.

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

The Envision stops shorter than the NX Series:

For better traction, the Envision has larger standard tires than the NX Series (235/60R18 vs. 225/65R17). The Envision’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the NX Series (245/45R20 vs. 235/55R18).

The Envision’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX Series’ standard 65 series tires. The Envision’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the NX Series F Sport’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Envision has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the NX Series. The Envision’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the NX Series.

The Envision’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The NX Series doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Envision’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the NX Series (109.4 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Envision is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the NX Series.

The Buick Envision may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 pounds less than the Lexus NX Series.

The Envision uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The NX Series doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Envision has 28.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the NX Series (100.4 vs. 71.6).

The Envision has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX Series.

The Envision has a much larger cargo volume than the NX Series with its rear seat up (25.2 vs. 17.7 cubic feet).

The Envision’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX Series’ (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

The Envision (except Preferred) offers an available heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The NX Series doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Envision’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The NX Series’ power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Both the Envision and the NX Series offer optional heated front seats. The Envision Avenir also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the NX Series.

The Envision Avenir offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the NX Series.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Buick Envision Avenir has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The NX Series doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Envision Avenir has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The NX Series doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Envision Avenir’s Enhanced Automatic Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The NX Series doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Buick Envision and the Lexus NX Series, based on reliability, safety and performance.