Compare the2025 Mazda CX-50VS 2025 Buick Envista

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-50 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Buick Envista doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-50 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 Mazda CX-50 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 Envista doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The CX-50 has standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Envista 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus has standard Smart Brake Support-Reverse 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 CX-50 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Envista doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus has a standard 360° Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Envista only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The CX-50 has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 Envista’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-50 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking on the Turbo Premium Plus automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Buick charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Envista and the Envista’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The CX-50’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 CX-50 and the Envista have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The Mazda CX-50 weighs 604 to 871 pounds more than the Buick Envista. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

The Mazda CX-50 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Envista has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Warranty

The CX-50’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Envista’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CX-50’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 Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 5 places higher in reliability than Buick.

Engine

The CX-50’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 50 more horsepower (187 vs. 137) and 23 lbs.-ft. more torque (185 vs. 162) than the Envista’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The CX-50’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 82 more horsepower (219 vs. 137) and 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (163 vs. 162) than the Envista’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 119 more horsepower (256 vs. 137) and 158 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 162) than the Envista’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-50 4 cyl. is faster than the Buick Envista:

	CX-50	Envista
Zero to 60 MPH	8.5 sec	9.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	17.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	84.1 MPH	80.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 2.5 4-cylinder Hybrid CVT gets better fuel mileage than the Envista (39 city/37 hwy vs. 28 city/32 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo/Hybrid)’s fuel efficiency. The Envista doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the CX-50 Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Envista doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The CX-50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envista (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-50’s standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envista (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons).

The CX-50 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Envista. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

For more complete vehicle control the CX-50 offers an optional manually controlled automatic, with the available convenience of an automatic transmission and the complete gear control of a manual transmission without the inconvenience of a clutch. A manually controlled automatic allows the driver to eliminate unwanted shifts and maximize engine braking by down shifting while cornering. The Envista doesn’t offer a transmission that allows complete gear control.

The CX-50 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.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CX-50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Envista:

	CX-50	Envista
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.8 inches	11.3 inches

The CX-50 stops much shorter than the Envista:

	CX-50	Envista
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo has standard 20-inch wheels. The Envista’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the Envista (110.8 inches vs. 106 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 3.8 inches wider in the front and 3.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Envista.

The CX-50’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (58.9% to 41.1%) than the Envista’s (60% to 40%). This gives the CX-50 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-50 handles at .87 G’s, while the Envista Avenir pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Envista Sport Touring (26.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-50 Hybrid’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Envista’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The CX-50’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the Envista w/18-19” Wheels’ (36 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Passenger Space

The CX-50 has 2.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Envista (100.3 vs. 97.5).

The CX-50 has 1.3 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and 6.3 inches more rear hip room than the Envista.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envista with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 20.7 cubic feet). The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envista with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 42 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Envista doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The CX-50 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Envista has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The CX-50 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Envista 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.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo/Hybrid Premium, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Envista doesn’t offer a memory system.

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning 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 Envista doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-50’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 Envista’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

On a hot day the CX-50’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Envista can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CX-50’s standard Advanced Keyless Entry and Start allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the Envista only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The CX-50’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 Envista’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-50 has a standard rear wiper. The Envista doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-50 Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Envista doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the CX-50 Turbo is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Envista’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the CX-50 and the Envista offer available heated front seats. The CX-50 Turbo also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Envista.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Envista doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The CX-50’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.

Both the CX-50 and the Envista offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-50 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Envista doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

With standard voice command, the CX-50 offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Envista doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Compared to the Buick Envista, the Mazda CX-50 eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-50, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-50 outsold the Buick Envista by over three to one during 2023.

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