Compare the2023 Buick EnvisionVS 2023 GMC Terrain

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Buick Envision are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The GMC Terrain doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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

The Envision has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Terrain’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Envision has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Terrain.

Both the Envision and the Terrain have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 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 GMC Terrain:

	Envision	Terrain
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	153/386 lbs.	363/349 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	223	376
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	23.1%	26%
Neck Stress	111 lbs.	153 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	221/21 lbs.	264/236 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 Buick Envision is safer than the GMC Terrain:

	Envision	Terrain
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	139 lbs.	195 lbs.
Hip Force	261 lbs.	357 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	52 G’s	55 G’s
Hip Force	572 lbs.	630 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	249	377
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	313 lbs.	730 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Envision is 1.6% to 1.7% less likely to roll over than the Terrain.

Warranty

There are over 17 percent more Buick dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Envision’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Envision’s reliability 32 points higher than the Terrain.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 7th.

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 GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 45 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 17th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick fourth in overall reliability. GMC is ranked 16th.

Engine

The Envision’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 53 more horsepower (228 vs. 175) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 203) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Envision FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Terrain FWD (23 city/31 hwy vs. 24 city/29 hwy).

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

The Envision FWD’s standard fuel tank has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 14.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Envision	Terrain
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	11.3 inches

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 Terrain are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Envision has larger standard tires than the Terrain (235/60R18 vs. 225/65R17). The Envision’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Terrain (245/45R20 vs. 235/50R19).

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 Terrain SLE/AT4’s standard 65 series tires. The Envision’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Terrain’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Envision has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Terrain SLE/AT4. The Envision’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Terrain.

Suspension and Handling

The Envision has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Envision flat and controlled during cornering. The Terrain’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Envision offers an available continuously variable suspension system. Using sensors on steering angle, speed and other driver inputs, the shocks soften to improve ride, or stiffen when appropriate to aid handling on tricky roads or off-road. The Terrain’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

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 Terrain doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Envision’s wheelbase is 2.1 inches longer than on the Terrain (109.4 inches vs. 107.3 inches).

Passenger Space

The Envision has .7 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Terrain.

Servicing Ease

The Envision uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Terrain uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than GMC. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 19% lower rating, GMC is ranked 15th.

Ergonomics

The Envision’s front power windows 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 Terrain’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Envision’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Terrain’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Envision Essence/Avenir offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Terrain doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 Terrain.

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

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Buick Envision, based on reliability, safety and performance. The GMC Terrain isn't recommended.