Compare the2023 Buick EnvisionVS 2023 Tesla Model Y

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Model Y 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 Model Y doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Envision (except Preferred) offers an optional Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model Y only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Envision’s standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Envision has standard OnStar®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model Y doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Envision and the Model Y 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 and available all wheel drive.

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 Tesla Model Y:

	Envision	Model Y
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21.3%	25%
Neck Stress	195 lbs.	210 lbs.
Neck Compression	25 lbs.	68 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	153/386 lbs.	298/427 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23.1%	28%
Neck Stress	111 lbs.	165 lbs.
Neck Compression	61 lbs.	189 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 Tesla Model Y:

	Envision	Model Y
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	139 lbs.	145 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	311	358
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	249	283
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	313 lbs.	682 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are almost 13 times as many Buick dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much 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 16 points higher than the Model Y.

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 Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 87 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 28th, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick 8 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

Tires and Wheels

The Envision has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Model Y; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Envision has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Envision flat and controlled during cornering. The Model Y’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 Model Y’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better maneuverability, the Envision’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Model Y’s (38 feet vs. 39.8 feet).

Chassis

The Buick Envision may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 650 pounds less than the Tesla Model Y.

The Envision is 4.5 inches shorter than the Model Y, 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 Model Y doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Envision has 1.3 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model Y.

Cargo Capacity

The Envision has a much larger cargo volume than the Model Y with its rear seat up (25.2 vs. 16.9 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Envision’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model Y doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

Standard Trailer Sway Control (TSC) on the Envision uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Model Y doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

An Oil Life Monitor is standard on the Envision to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and air filter replacement based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model Y.

Ergonomics

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 Model Y doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Envision has a standard rear wiper. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Envision’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model Y doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Envision Avenir keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Model Y doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 Model Y.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The Envision is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Model Y doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Envision owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Envision will cost $3210 to $4420 less than the Model Y 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 $7987 to $16098 less than for the Tesla Model Y.

Recommendations

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