2021 Buick Envision vs 2021 Lexus NX

The 2021 Buick Envision underwent a significant redesign following two consecutive years of facelifts in 2019 and 2020. As a two-row compact crossover, the Envision was designed to slot above the smaller Encore GX but below the larger Enclave in Buick's lineup, and it was available only in China and North America.

With its new design, the Envision adopted a lower and wider stance than its predecessor, giving it a more grounded street presence. The more sculpted look made it appear classier than its cousin, the Cadillac XT4, although it wasn't as sleek as the Acura RDX. Buick offered the Envision in three trims: Preferred, Essence, and the premium Avenir, a first for this model. The Avenir trim featured exclusive elements like a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille, body-color painted lowers and wheel arches, rear LED taillamps with a swipe-style turn sequence, and 20-inch Avenir-specific pearl nickel wheels. Internally, the Avenir boasted a unique trim pattern, diamond perforated leather inserts, Avenir-badged sill plates, trim-specific floor mats, and a head-up display (HUD).

All Envision models came with LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights, accompanied by a welcome lighting animation that projected the Buick logo onto the surrounding area as the key fob holder approached. Wheel options ranged from 18 to 20 inches, wrapped in standard all-season tires.

Inside, the redesigned Envision featured a protruding center stack, which housed the infotainment screen and climate controls—both angled severely toward the driver. Though the design initially seemed driver-centric, the tight feel grew more familiar and comfortable. The dashboard had plenty of piano black plastic, which tended to accumulate dust quickly.

In comparison, the 2021 Lexus NX retained sharp design lines that conveyed a sense of familiarity akin to the smaller Lexus UX and the larger RX. This two-row, five-seat SUV had the same dimensions as the Toyota RAV4. Base models featured power-folding outside mirrors and 17-inch wheels.

The NX 300 F Sport trim brought a sportier aesthetic with its honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, lower chrome-trimmed bumper, rear lower bumper and taillights, laser fog light housing, larger exhaust opening, and 18-inch F Sport wheels with either all-season or summer tires. The interior featured quilted NuLuxe sport seats unique to the F Sport, with optional Circuit Red upholstery and other traditional colorways like Black and Arctic White/Black combos. Material fit and finish in the NX was top-notch, exemplifying traditional Lexus quality, although the gauge cluster and center stack design began to show their age.

Buick ditched the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for the 2021 Envision in favor of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite the upgrade, the new engine produced only 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, a reduction from the previous year's 252 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Buick managed to cut 200 to 300 pounds from the vehicle's weight depending on the trim level, but the weight savings didn't fully compensate for the reduced power. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard across all trims, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available as an option. The 2021 Envision's fuel economy improved slightly, with FWD models achieving 24 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. The AWD variants rated at 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined.

Noise was a downside to the Envision’s performance, with engine and road noise permeating the cabin. Nevertheless, the vehicle prioritised comfort over sportiness, delivering a quiet, cruise-oriented drive. Drive modes included a Sport mode, which slightly altered the revs but did little to reduce the noise or boost fuel efficiency.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus NX 300 and 300 F Sport featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The NX had a standard six-speed automatic transmission, which lagged behind the smoother eight-, nine-, or ten-speed transmissions found in rival models. The turbocharged engine clocked a 0-60 mph time of around seven seconds, typical for the segment. The NX's ride was generally quiet, although hard acceleration could introduce some engine noise. Active Sound Control in F Sport models electronically enhanced the engine note through the car's speakers, a feature that purists might find unnecessary.

Both FWD and AWD were available across all NX trims, with AWD models capable of transferring up to 50% of available torque to the rear axle. Fuel efficiency figures were modest, with the FWD model achieving 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. AWD versions slightly dipped to 24 mpg combined. The NX 300 had a decent standard towing capacity of 2,000 pounds and offered three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport, each altering throttle response and power-steering assist.

The interior transformations in the 2021 Buick Envision didn’t substantially enhance its functionality. Despite a longer wheelbase, the Envision offered less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row compared to its previous iteration. Rear-seat passengers lost two inches of legroom and substantial hip room, making the revised model less adult-friendly even if it maintained similar passenger volumes in calculations.

The Envision's lower height and width for 2021 translated into reduced cargo capacity, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down. This metric fell short of other luxury SUVs but remained suitable for daily activities. The driver-centric cockpit hindered the front passenger’s access to climate controls and the infotainment system, a design more suited to sports cars than family SUVs.

Conversely, the Lexus NX excelled in interior comfort and design, offering ample room for front and rear passengers. The back seats were suitable for two adults with adequate legroom. However, the NX lagged in cargo space, providing just 17.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 54.6 cubic feet with seats folded—a tighter storage capacity compared to its competitors. Lexus outfitted the NX with a power liftgate with kick sensor technology and available power-folding rear seats, adding a layer of convenience.

Technology the 2021 Buick Envision was serviceable though not groundbreaking. The vehicle's highlight was the standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which was responsive and user-friendly. However, passenger interaction with the infotainment system was cumbersome due to the driver-centric design. Standard tech features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, keyless entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel, OnStar and Buick Connected Services, remote start, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Optional upgrades featured navigation, driver massage, surround-view camera, HUD, and wireless device charging.

In contrast, the Lexus NX’s tech focused on an 8-inch standard infotainment screen, with an option for a 10.3-inch display as part of the Navigation package. The system included predictive traffic data, ETA calculations, and fuel station guidance, alongside Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Lexus introduced HomeLink to its Navigation package for 2021 and offered Lexus Enform Destination Assist for in-car concierge services. The NX featured keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, USB ports, HD Radio, WiFi hot spot, and an eight-speaker audio system. Mark Levinson’s 14-speaker system was available in top-tier trims. The Lexus Enform app provided remote vehicle control and monitoring capabilities.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) at the time of this review. Standard safety features included Buckle to Drive, following distance indicator, forward-collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane-change alert with blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and teen-driver monitoring. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available in the Avenir model.

The 2021 Lexus NX excelled in safety, receiving top "Good" scores from the IIHS in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front crash prevention. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included park assist, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive headlights. All models came with Lexus Enform Safety Connect services, including emergency assistance and stolen vehicle notifications.