Compare the2024 Kia SportageVS 2024 Buick Envision

The Sportage’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 Sportage and the Envision have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Kia Sportage 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 Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-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 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Envision. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Envision ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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 Sportage’s reliability 13 points higher than the Envision.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked second.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 2 places higher in reliability than Buick.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Envision requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 51.4 cents more per gallon.

The Sportage has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Envision. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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

The Sportage 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.

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 550 pounds less than the Buick Envision.

The Sportage has 1 inch more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 2 inches more rear legroom and 6 inches more rear hip room than the Envision.

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

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envision with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 25.2 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envision with its rear seat folded (74.1 vs. 52.7 cubic feet).

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Envision’s (2500 vs. 1500 pounds).

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage X-Pro to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Envision doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $345 less than the Envision over a five-year period.

The Sportage will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sportage will retain 54.88% to 56.18% of its original price after five years, while the Envision only retains 52.65% to 53.82%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sportage will be $4799 to $6792 less than for the Buick Envision.

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

The Kia Sportage outsold the Buick Envision by over three to one during 2023.