2019 Buick Envision vs 2020 Jeep Wrangler

The 2019 Buick Envision was considered one of the most attractive vehicles in Buick's SUV lineup. It had a more athletic and taut vibe compared to the subcompact Buick Encore and the full-size Buick Enclave. The strong body lines along the sides and the upright rear section of the side windows gave it proportions similar to a BMW X1. Inside, the Envision's cabin looked clean and straightforward, but closer inspection revealed that it fell short of the luxury billing Buick aimed for. The matte-finish materials used for some controls and the bezel around the radio and navigation system looked cheap, especially when combined with chrome and light-colored leather. The cabin's shortcomings were highlighted by small details like the one-touch power windows, which were only available for the driver’s door.

In contrast, the 2020 Jeep Wrangler had an unmistakable presence on the road with its circular headlights, seven-slat grille, and boxy styling. The Wrangler's industrial look was enhanced by exposed hinges and bolts, and the removable top and doors added to its rugged persona. Inside, Jeep focused on a retro look with circular climate vents and gauges, making the most of its ergonomic shortcomings. The Wrangler Unlimited, the four-door version, offered a variety of trims, from the basic Sport with manual windows and locks to the upscale Sahara and the off-road king, Rubicon. Special editions like the Willys and Black and Tan added unique features and styling options, making the Wrangler a versatile and customizable vehicle.

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 many driving situations. The Premium and Premium II trims featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 252 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired with a new 9-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided solid acceleration and came standard with AWD. The Envision's steering was responsive, and the ride was smooth, especially around town. 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 2020 Jeep Wrangler offered a variety of engine options. The base engine was a 3.6-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, available with a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission. A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque was also available. New for 2020 was a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine with 260 horsepower and an impressive 442 pound-feet of torque. The diesel engine provided excellent low-speed performance and fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined. The Wrangler's off-road capabilities were unmatched, with features like locking front and rear differentials and a disconnecting front sway bar. However, the on-road experience was rough, with significant road noise and a wandering tendency on the highway.

The 2019 Buick Envision offered a spacious interior with plenty of room for the driver and passengers. The second row had ample head- and legroom, and the seats could recline to different positions. With the rear seats up, the Envision provided 27 cubic feet of cargo space, which increased to 57 cubic feet when the seats were folded down. Buick made good use of the available space with helpful cargo tie-downs, deep pockets in all four doors, and a cargo tray above the glove box.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the four-door version, offered a unique combination of ruggedness and versatility. The doors could be removed, and the windshield could be folded down, with a small tool kit provided for these tasks. The Wrangler's most popular feature was its removable roof, available in several configurations, including a soft top, a hardtop, and the Sky One-Touch roof. With the rear bench lowered flat, the Wrangler Unlimited had about 72 cubic feet of cargo space, less than some less-capable SUVs. Despite the limited cargo space and comfort, the Wrangler's off-road capabilities made it a standout choice for adventure enthusiasts.

The 2019 Buick Envision came standard with GM's Intellilink infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with a straightforward layout. The system included hard buttons and dials below the screen, and the screen itself had customizable drag-and-drop icons. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the test vehicle included wireless charging for compatible smartphones. However, the touch-capacitive controls for the climate and heated/cooled front seats were not very responsive, making them less useful.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler offered a range of infotainment options. The Sport and Sport S trims came with a basic 5-inch touchscreen system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The Rubicon and Sahara featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available as an option on the Sport S. The Sahara and Rubicon could also be equipped with an 8.4-inch Uconnect system, adding navigation, HD Radio, real-time traffic and weather updates, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and an Alpine premium audio system. This system provided excellent sound quality, even at highway speeds.

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 included GM’s Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to alert the driver to potential hazards. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on the Essence and Premium trims. The Premium trim also included lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision alert. The Driver Confidence Package, available on the Premium II trim, added adaptive cruise control, automatic front braking, and a 360-degree camera. However, many of these features were optional, unlike some competitors that offered them as standard.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler came with standard safety features like airbags, electronic roll mitigation, and a backup camera cleverly located on the hub of the external spare tire. Optional safety packages included rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection for $895. The Advanced Safety Group, priced at $795, added adaptive cruise control and full-speed forward-collision warning. Automatic high beams were also available on the test model.