Compare the2025 Subaru ForesterVS 2025 Buick Envision

The Forester has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Envision doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Forester Touring’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 Forester and the Envision have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Subaru Forester 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 an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Envision has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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

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

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Forester uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Envision requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 49.8 cents more per gallon.

The Forester 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.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Forester higher (7 out of 10) than the Buick Envision (6). This means the Forester produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Envision every 15,000 miles.

The Forester 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 Envision doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better maneuverability, the Forester’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Envision’s (35.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Subaru Forester may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 pounds less than the Buick Envision.

The Forester has 10.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Envision (110.8 vs. 100.4).

The Forester has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 2.9 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom, 6.3 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envision.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring’s rear seats recline. The Envision’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Forester has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envision with its rear seat up (29.6 vs. 25.2 cubic feet). The Forester has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envision with its rear seat folded (74.4 vs. 52.7 cubic feet).

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

The engine in the Forester 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.

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

The Forester 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 Subaru Forester outsold the Buick Envision by over three to one during 2023.