Compare the2023 Buick EnvisionVS 2021 Volvo V60

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 V60 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Envision AWD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The V60 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Envision and the V60 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, 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 Volvo V60:

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 Volvo V60:

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

Buick’s powertrain warranty covers the Envision 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the V60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the V60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 7 times as many Buick dealers as there are Volvo 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 V60 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick above average in initial quality. With 54 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is rated below average.

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 Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 109 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 30th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick fourth in overall reliability. Volvo is ranked 18th.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Envision’s fuel efficiency. The V60 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Envision and the V60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Envisions have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch costs extra on the V60.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Buick Envision uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended for maximum performance). The V60 requires premium, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Buick Envision higher (7 out of 10) than the Volvo V60 (5 to 7). This means the Envision produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the V60 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 an eight-speed automatic is available for the V60.

For better traction, the Envision’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the V60 (245/45R20 vs. 235/45R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Envision offers optional 20-inch wheels. The V60’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The front and rear suspension of the Envision uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

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 V60 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Buick Envision may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 pounds less than the Volvo V60.

The Envision is 4.9 inches shorter than the V60, making the Envision easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Envision uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The V60 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Envision has 6.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the V60 (100.4 vs. 94).

The Envision has 1.2 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the V60.

The Envision has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the V60 with its rear seat up (25.2 vs. 23.2 cubic feet). The Envision has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the V60 with its rear seat folded (52.7 vs. 50.9 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 18% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The Envision Essence/Avenir’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The V60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Envision has standard extendable sun visors. The V60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 V60 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 V60 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 V60’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Insurance will cost less for the Envision owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Envision will cost $200 less than the V60 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Buick Envision will be $7671 to $24525 less than for the Volvo V60.

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

The Buick Envision outsold the Volvo 60 Series by over three to one during the 2021 model year.