2024 Buick Envista vs 2025 Mazda CX-90

The 2024 Buick Envista, while sharing its platform with the Chevy Trax, took a distinct styling path with its sloping roofline, giving it a "crossover coupe" appearance reminiscent of more upscale models like the BMW X2, X4, and X6. This design choice, while slightly compromising rear visibility, was deemed acceptable. The front-end styling, inspired by the Buick Wildcat EV concept, featured a split lighting design with daytime running lights positioned above the actual headlights, which were integrated into vertical elements flanking the grille. This sleek design was a first for Buick, setting the Envista apart from its siblings, the Envision and Encore GX, which adopted similar styling as part of their mid-cycle refreshes.

The interior of the Envista mirrored the Trax cabin but with a more streamlined look, featuring softer materials on the dashboard and door armrests, albeit with a somewhat artificial texture. The ST grade was marked by black exterior trim and 18-inch wheels, while the top Avenir trim boasted bright exterior trim and standard 19-inch wheels. The cabin, although a step up from the Trax, remained within the expectations of an entry-level vehicle, offering cloth-and-leatherette upholstery on the base model and leather seats on the Avenir. The flat-bottom steering wheel and eight-way power driver's seat were standard across all trims in Canada.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 exuded a luxury SUV vibe with its lustrous paint, polished chrome trim, and intricate 21-inch wheels. Its sculptural sheet metal created a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, while the short front overhang, long hood, and rear-axle-focused cabin placement contributed to its athletic appearance. Inside, the CX-90 continued this premium feel with polished metallic trim, Nappa leather with contrast stitching, and clearly marked switchgear, although some materials reflected its price point.

However, the CX-90's design was not without its flaws. Ergonomic issues included a confusing electronic shifter and a counterintuitive climate panel. Mazda's reluctance to provide touchscreen operation for its infotainment system added to the frustration. Despite these drawbacks, the CX-90 stood out among midsize three-row crossover SUVs for its sophistication and overall aesthetic appeal.

The 2024 Buick Envista was powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This setup, borrowed from the Trax, offered a refined driving experience, delivering power smoothly akin to a larger engine. Unlike its predecessor, the Buick Encore, the Envista did not offer an all-wheel-drive option, distinguishing it from the Encore GX, which remained the cheapest Buick with AWD.

The Envista's suspension system varied by model, with base models featuring a torsion-beam rear suspension, while models with 19-inch wheels, like the Avenir and some ST models, boasted a Buick-exclusive Watts Link rear suspension for improved ride quality. The front suspension was a MacPherson strut setup, with Buick-specific bushings and damper tuning to enhance comfort and quietness. Despite some nervousness on less-than-perfect pavement, the Envista handled corners well and offered a quieter, more laid-back feel compared to the Trax.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 offered three powertrain variants: the standard-output 3.3 Turbo, the high-output 3.3 Turbo, and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The standard-output models delivered 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, while the high-output version, standard on the GT-P and Signature trims, produced 319 hp and 369 lb-ft (340 hp with premium gas). Power was transmitted through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard all-wheel-drive system, with a rear-wheel bias for improved dynamics.

Despite its impressive ride and handling, the CX-90's drivetrain lacked refinement, with unpredictable power delivery and transmission behaviour shortly after start-up. The vehicle also experienced unwanted engine surge and acceleration, leading to unpleasant driving experiences. Noise and impact harshness further detracted from the overall refinement, although the CX-90's taut suspension provided a communicative and engaging driving experience. The vehicle's various driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing, allowed for some customization, but the drivetrain's quirks overshadowed its dynamic capabilities.

The 2024 Buick Envista, with its 36-centimetre increase in length and 14.5-centimetre wheelbase stretch compared to the outgoing Buick Encore, offered improved interior space. Rear-seat legroom increased by 7.6 cm, and shoulder room in both rows grew by about 5 cm, creating a more spacious feel. However, the coupe-like design resulted in slightly reduced headroom, particularly for second-row passengers. The seats were comfortable for the price point, and features like a power moonroof and power liftgate were available on higher trims.

Despite its car-like design, the Envista offered limited cargo space, with 586 litres behind the rear seats and 1,189 litres with the seats folded, less than the old Encore and the Chevy Trax. The lower driving position and good outward visibility made maneuvering easy, but the cargo capacity was more akin to a hatchback than an SUV.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90, in Signature trim, featured Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the three-zone climate control system struggled to cool the cabin efficiently. The panoramic sunroof provided ample natural light, and second-row passengers enjoyed comfortable seating, although the long rear doors could make loading children challenging.

The CX-90's third row was best suited for children, with limited space for adults on longer trips. Storage space was limited, with a smartphone charging tray, a shallow bin under the centre armrest, and minimal door panel storage. The hands-free power liftgate revealed 451 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,155 litres with the third row folded and 2,129 litres with the second row down, which was small for the segment.

The 2024 Buick Envista came equipped with an 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital instrument cluster as standard, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The user interface was similar to the Trax, with easy-to-use controls and retained buttons and knobs for climate and audio. However, the centre stack's tilt towards the driver made it less accessible for passengers. While the Envista lacked some advanced tech features, it offered a competitive amount of technology for its price range.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90's dashboard featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, with traditional gauges on lower trims. The infotainment screen was touch-sensitive only for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, requiring the use of a knob and buttons for the native Mazda Connect platform. The voice recognition system was subpar, but the 12-speaker Bose audio system provided a rewarding listening experience. The Active Driving Display offered helpful data, and the blind-spot monitoring system added an extra layer of safety.

The 2024 Buick Envista's crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of publication. However, it came with standard driver assist tech, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. In Canada, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard, offering a typical safety equipment list for its price range.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 was one of only four midsize, three-row, gas-powered SUVs to receive a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and earned five-star ratings in all NHTSA crash tests for the PHEV model. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added advanced features like steering assist, emergency lane-keeping assist, and a surround-view camera system. The driver aids generally met expectations, although the numerous warning chimes could be overwhelming.