Compare the2023 Subaru OutbackVS 2023 Buick Envision

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Outback 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 its rear seat belts.

The Outback has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the Envision.

The Outback’s optional 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 Outback and the Envision have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors 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 Subaru Outback is safer than the Buick Envision:

	Outback	Envision
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	158	175
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/249 lbs.	153/386 lbs.

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 Subaru Outback is safer than the Buick Envision:

	Outback	Envision
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	28	128
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	101 lbs.	139 lbs.
Hip Force	247 lbs.	261 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	116	311
Spine Acceleration	51 G’s	52 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	146	249

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Envision has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

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

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 4 places higher in reliability than Buick.

Engine

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 32 more horsepower (260 vs. 228) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 258) than the Envision’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Envision doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Outback gets better mileage than the Envision:

			MPG
Outback
	AWD	2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/32 hwy
Envision
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy

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

The Outback has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision FWD’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Outback has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision AWD’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 16.1 gallons).

Transmission

The Outback 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.

Tires and Wheels

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx XT has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Envision; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Envision’s (36.1 feet vs. 38 feet).

Chassis

The front grille of the Outback 2.5i uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Envision doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Outback has 8.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Envision (109 vs. 100.4).

The Outback has .5 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom, 7.4 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envision.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envision with its rear seat up (32.6 vs. 25.2 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envision with its rear seat folded (75.6 vs. 52.7 cubic feet).

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

Towing

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Envision’s (2700 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Buick Envision is only 1500 pounds. The Outback offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Envision. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Outback Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx Edition’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The Envision’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Outback Base). 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.

The Outback 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.

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

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Outback owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Outback will cost $120 to $1590 less than the Envision over a five-year period.

The Outback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Outback will retain 52.14% to 55.07% of its original price after five years, while the Envision only retains 43.87% to 43.96%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Outback will be $6340 to $7828 less than for the Buick Envision.

Recommendations

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

The Subaru Outback outsold the Buick Envision by almost six to one during 2022.