Compare the2024 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2024 Buick Envista

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Crosstrek 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 Buick Envista doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Subaru Crosstrek 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 Envista doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crosstrek Limited/Wilderness has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Envista doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Crosstrek has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Envista doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Crosstrek offers available parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Envista doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Crosstrek’s 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 Envista doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Crosstrek and the Envista have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

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

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Crosstrek’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Envista’s camshafts. If the Envista’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 6 places higher in reliability than Buick.

The Crosstrek’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 15 more horsepower (152 vs. 137) than the Envista’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Crosstrek Sport/Limited/Wilderness’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 45 more horsepower (182 vs. 137) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (178 vs. 162) than the Envista’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Crosstrek is faster than the Buick Envista:

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Envista doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek 2.0 gets better fuel mileage than the Envista (27 city/34 hwy vs. 28 city/32 hwy).

The Crosstrek has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envista (16.6 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Crosstrek 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 Envista doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Crosstrek’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Envista:

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

The Crosstrek stops shorter than the Envista:

For superior ride and handling, the Subaru Crosstrek has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Buick Envista has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Crosstrek handles at .81 G’s, while the Envista Sport Touring pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek Wilderness’ turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Envista’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Crosstrek’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Envista 19” Wheels’ (35.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Crosstrek is 6.2 inches shorter than the Envista, making the Crosstrek easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Crosstrek has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Envista (100.5 vs. 97.5).

The Crosstrek has .4 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 9.4 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envista.

The Crosstrek has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envista with its rear seat folded (54.7 vs. 42 cubic feet).

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

The Crosstrek has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Envista has no towing capacity.

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

The Crosstrek’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 Envista’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

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

The Crosstrek’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Envista doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The Crosstrek Limited’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Envista’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Crosstrek as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2024 issue and they ranked the Subaru Crosstrek higher than the Buick Envista Sport Touring.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Buick Envista by almost 12 to one during 2023.