2019 Buick Envision vs 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2019 Buick Envision was considered one of the more attractive vehicles in Buick's SUV lineup, boasting a taut and athletic vibe that set it apart from its siblings. Its strong body lines and upright rear section gave it a proportion similar to a BMW X1. Inside, the Envision's cabin appeared attractive at first glance, with a clean and straightforward layout. However, upon closer inspection, the materials used did not quite meet the luxury standards Buick aimed for. The matte-finish materials, intended to mimic those in luxury vehicles like the Lexus NX, fell short, appearing cheap when combined with chrome and light-colored leather. The cabin's shortcomings were further highlighted by small details, such as the lack of one-touch power-up windows for all doors, which suggested some corners were cut in its design.

In contrast, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe marked a bold departure from Hyundai's traditionally conservative styling, showcasing a daring and futuristic exterior. While its design drew comparisons to the Jeep Cherokee's LED strip and headlight configuration, Hyundai executed it more effectively. The interior of the Santa Fe was modern and practical, prioritizing functionality with deep compartments and easy-to-use features. Despite its practicality, the cabin exuded a unique style with earthy tones, a distinctive speaker pattern, and a textured headliner that added to its organic ambiance. The Santa Fe's design was a refreshing change, offering a crisp and modern feel that stood out in the SUV market.

The 2019 Buick Envision offered two engine options. The FWD, Preferred, and Essence trims came with a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 197 horsepower, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This setup felt underpowered and sluggish in various driving situations. The Premium and Premium II trims featured a more robust 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, delivering 252 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This engine, coupled with a new 9-speed automatic transmission, provided solid acceleration and came standard with AWD. The Envision's steering was responsive, though it felt top-heavy in corners. It excelled in city driving, offering a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to extensive sound-deadening materials. Fuel economy for the 2.5-liter engine with FWD was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, while the turbo AWD model achieved 20/25/22 mpg.

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe also offered two engine choices. All trims came standard with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The Limited and Ultimate trims had an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, generating 235 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, with power sent to the front wheels or available AWD. The base engine was sluggish, but the 2.0T provided strong acceleration. The Santa Fe's low ground clearance of 7.2 inches contributed to its stable handling, with minimal body roll. The AWD model featured a locking differential for light off-road conditions. The Santa Fe's driving dynamics were composed, with well-weighted steering and a drive mode selector offering Sport, Comfort, and Smart settings. Fuel economy for the FWD 2.4-liter engine was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, while the AWD turbo model achieved 19/24/21 mpg.

The 2019 Buick Envision offered a spacious interior, with a high driver's seat providing excellent visibility. The second row had ample legroom, though headroom was slightly limited. The rear seats could recline to different positions, enhancing passenger comfort. With the rear seats up, the Envision provided 27 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 57 cubic feet when folded, comparable to the Acura RDX. The Envision featured useful cargo tie-downs, deep door pockets, and a cargo tray above the glove box, making efficient use of its space.

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its rear seats folded, offered 71 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly less than the compact Honda CR-V. The 60/40 split-fold rear bench was easy to drop using side levers or rear buttons. With the rear seats up, the Santa Fe provided 35.9 cubic feet of cargo space. The Santa Fe's hands-free power liftgate was user-friendly, automatically deploying when the key fob was detected nearby. Despite its modest cargo capacity, the Santa Fe featured clever storage solutions, including multiple compartments and deep center console bins.

The 2019 Buick Envision came standard with GM's Intellilink infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with a straightforward layout. It included hard buttons and dials below the screen, with customizable drag-and-drop icons. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, offering seamless connectivity. The Envision also featured wireless charging, though the design of the charging pocket was unconventional. Below the touchscreen, touch-capacitive controls for climate and seat functions were less responsive, appearing as tech for tech's sake.

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a "floating" touchscreen infotainment system, with hard buttons and dials for ease of use. The base SE trim included Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added satellite radio, HD Radio, and Hyundai’s BlueLink system with Alexa integration. The Ultimate trim featured a head-up display, wireless charging, and an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen. The Santa Fe's thoughtful design included heated seat switches on the door and rear USB ports.

The 2019 Buick Envision came standard with ten airbags, including side-curtain and knee airbags, and a reversing camera with Rear Park Assist. The Premium and Premium II trims featured GM’s Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to alert the driver to potential hazards. Essence and Premium trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Premium trim added lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision alert. The Driver Confidence Package, available on the Premium II trim, included adaptive cruise control, automatic front braking, and a 360-degree camera. However, many of these features required additional payment.

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Hyundai's Smart Sense package included forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Santa Fe also featured rear cross-path detection with visual cues in the instrument panel. A standout feature was the Safe Exit Assist System, which tied the rear child-proof locks to the blind-spot monitoring, preventing the rear doors from opening if a vehicle was approaching.