Compare the2024 BMW X5VS 2024 Buick Envision

The X5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Envision doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW X5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Envision doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X5 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Envision doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X5 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Envision doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The X5’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 Envision doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X5 and the Envision have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The BMW X5 weighs 834 to 1669 pounds more than the Buick Envision. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The BMW X5 achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Envision has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The X5 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Envision’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The X5’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the Envision’s (12/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Envision.

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 BMW X5’s reliability 35 points higher than the Envision.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 3 places higher in reliability than Buick.

The X5 s/xDrive40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 147 more horsepower (375 vs. 228) and 140 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 258) than the Envision’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X5 xDrive50e’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 255 more horsepower (483 vs. 228) and 258 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 258) than the Envision’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X5 M60i xDrive’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 295 more horsepower (523 vs. 228) and 295 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 258) than the Envision’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The X550e xDrive can travel with zero emissions for 40 miles. The Envision can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the X5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Envision doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X5 has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision (21.9 vs. 16.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The X5 has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port on the xDrive50e which lock and unlock with the power locks. The Envision doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The X5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Envision doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the X5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Envision:

For better traction, the X5 has larger standard tires than the Envision (265/50R19 vs. 235/60R18). The X5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Envision (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 245/45R20).

The X5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Envision Preferred’s standard 60 series tires. The X5’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Envision Sport Touring/Avenir’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Envision Preferred. The X5’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Envision Sport Touring/Avenir.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X5 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Envision doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The X5 M60i offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Envision doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X5 M60i xDrive offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Buick doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Envision.

The X5 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Envision doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The X5 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Envision doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X5’s wheelbase is 7.7 inches longer than on the Envision (117.1 inches vs. 109.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X5 is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Envision.

The X5 has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envision.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X5’s rear seats recline. The Envision’s rear seats don’t recline.

The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envision with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 25.2 cubic feet). The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envision with its rear seat folded (72.3 vs. 52.7 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Envision doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the X5. The Envision doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The X5’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Envision’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The X5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Envision’s (5952 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Buick Envision is only 1500 pounds. The X5 offers up to a 7209 lbs. towing capacity.

The engine in the X5 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.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Envision, the X5 M60i has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The X5’s front and rear power windows all 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 Envision’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the X5 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Envision can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Envision’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Envision doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The X5 has a 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. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Envision.

The X5’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Envision Avenir’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The X5 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Envision doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the BMW X5 as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X5 outsold the Buick Envision by 64% during 2023.