SUVs have become an American staple. These days, they are so much more
than just a crossover between a truck and a sedan. They have become their own
entity, proving their worth over years of adjustments and perfection. One
company that has managed to lead the charge in the world of SUVs is Buick.
Since 2014, the Buick Envision has won drivers and critics over year after
year. This year, Buick continues to plug away at making quite possibly the best
running SUV on the road, and at Liberty
Buick GMC we have the best selection of 2017
Buick Envisions at the lowest price.
The market has been flooded with SUVs in recent years, this
makes it essential to do meticulous research before settling on your new ride.
Going for a test drive, popping the hood, and kicking the tire a few times is
good. It gives you a feel for the vehicle, but what you really need is a good
comparison.
2017 Buick Envision
Versus the Nissan Murano
Both the
2017
Buick Envision and the 2017 Nissan Murano come with a nice, sleek exterior
and roomy, comfortable interior. They both drive well, and have impressed the
competition in recent years. However, upon closer look, one does stand out a
bit more than the other in terms of overall performance. Here is what we have
found:
·
Fuel
Economy. While the Nissan Murano gets 21 miles per gallon in the city and 28-highway,
the 2017 Buick Envision gets 22-mpg city and 29-highway. It may not seem like
that big of a deal to have one gallon less for both city and highway, but it’s
a very big deal. Over years of driving a Buick Envision, these two extra
gallons will add up to quite a bit of money. Think long-term on this category
and you begin to realize just how much Buick saves you.
·
Safety.
The results to this comparison are a little different than those on fuel
economy. A lot different actually. While the 2017 Buick Envision receives top
scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2017 Nissan Murano
only gets four stars from the federal government. The biggest difference
between the two vehicles is that the Buick Envision comes standard with a slew
of impressive safety features. The Murano, however, requires you to upgrade to
the SL or Platinum trim levels before you get to really see some top-level
features in safety.
Overall, there is no reason to pay
more money to feel safer when Buick provides this at the standard price. Better
gas mileage and higher safety ratings cause the 2017 Buick Envision to win out
over the 2017 Nissan Murano.
2017 Buick Envision
Versus the Subaru Outback
Until recently, Buick was struggling to come up with an
interesting design to its vehicles. The quality has always been there, and
actually gotten better by the year, but in terms of looks, Buick couldn’t quite
catch up to vehicles like the Subaru Outback. Things have changed in recent
years though, and now Buick is making its mark with bright, new styles that can
compete with the likes of the respected Outback. Here is what we found out
after taking a good look at both exteriors and testing out how well they
perform:
·
Styling.
The 2017 Subaru Outback manages to keep its wagon-like look, its soft, yet
rugged feel, but it loses in way of its stylishness. Actually, there really
isn’t much style at all to the new Outback. Its nice curves and extra elevation
from the ground make it look different than in years past, but it’s hard to find
anything definable about it, it is rather boring. Enter the
2017
Buick Envision and we have ourselves a different story. The sheer presence
of the large SUV provides enough emphasis to make anyone turn a head. The small
front grille helps accentuate the billowing curves coming from the front and
folding themselves over and around the large body. The cat-eyed headlights
offer a sophistication not found in the Outback, and for a moment you are not
sure if you are looking at a foreign luxury vehicle or an off-roading machine
fit for muddy trails and dirt roads.
·
Performance.
The
2017
Buick Envision comes standard with a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine that can
easily be upgraded to a 2.0-liter Turbo. Most impressive about the new Envision
is the ultra smooth and quiet ride with the option for all-wheel-drive. Sitting
at a stoplight, you might honestly think the vehicle has turned off. Even with
the windows down it is tough to hear that powerful engine purr. The Outback
offers two engines styles: a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder and a 3.6-liter, 6-cylinder.
While it is nice to have the option between the two, the Outback’s renowned all-wheel-drive
tends to drink a lot of fuel. It does have a nice ride, however, we found it
not to be nearly as soft and quiet as the 2017 Buick Envision.
Between the all-new Envision and the new Outback, we like
the Buick. There is just this feeling of quality that isn’t there in the
Subaru.
2017 Buick Envision
Versus the Acura RDX
Even though the Acura RDX is considered more of a luxury SUV
than the Buick Envision, it is increasingly more difficult to see the
differences. While the 2017 RDX maintains the status quo, it’s safe to say the
2017
Buick Envision makes some impressive advancements that push it out ahead of
the Acura to a certain degree. Both perform at top levels, but there is more
that sticks out in the Envision.
·
Features.
Looking at both vehicles list of features, we find things we like and a few we
do not. The 2017 Buick Envision has plenty to offer with its five trim levels.
You are sure to find all the regulars: collision alerts, power everything, a
wide range of paint colors, individual climate control, and packages with nice new
features that are beyond adaptive. The 2017 Envision pushes the envelope and
makes driving easier, more fun. The only downside is navigating through the
long list of features that correspond only to certain trim levels. The 2017
Acura RDX comes in ten different builds, but you won’t find much of anything
that is not also offered in the
Buick
Envision. The problem with the Acura is that you are already paying more
for a luxury title, but then you have to spend even more cash to get the
features you really want. Those feature packages you can also find in the
Envision end up costing you a whole lot more in the end. The way we see it, if
you can already get the same quality in ride, safety, comfort, performance, and
features from the
2017
Buick Envision, why pay more to get the Acura. It might have made sense to
go for the Acura five or ten years ago, but not when you look at the new things
Buick has done. Spend less and get top quality.
Andrae Bergeron
Content Writer
CCP Web Design
