Lexus NX vs Buick Envista

The 2024 Buick Envista, despite 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 Envista's 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, while similar to the Trax, offered a more streamlined look with softer materials, though some elements felt cheap. The cabin was a step up from the Trax but remained within the expectations of an entry-level vehicle.

The 2026 Lexus NX, despite being a few years into its second generation, maintained a fresh appearance with well-integrated styling elements like chunky fenders, LED daytime running lights, and the signature spindle grille. While not as classically handsome as some competitors, the NX's design was more refined than its German counterparts. The NX 350, NX 350h hybrid, and NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid models offered various packages, with the F Sport packages adding sporty elements like adaptive dampers and black 20-inch wheels. However, the base NX 350's interior didn't quite meet luxury expectations, feeling similar to high-end Toyota RAV4 models. The F Sport 3 package added sport seats and aluminum pedals, but these features didn't significantly elevate the interior's luxury feel.

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, shared with the Trax, offered a refined driving experience, delivering power smoothly. Unlike its predecessor, the Buick Encore, the Envista did not offer an all-wheel-drive option, differentiating it from the Encore GX. The Envista featured a torsion-beam rear suspension on base models, while models with 19-inch wheels received a Buick-exclusive Watts Link rear suspension, enhancing ride quality. The suspension was tuned to minimize road noise, providing a quieter ride. Despite some nervousness on imperfect roads, the Envista offered a more premium feel than the Trax, with a quieter and more comfortable ride.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered multiple powertrain options, with the NX 350 featuring a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. However, the engine felt more suited to a pickup truck, with a coarse exhaust note and a lack of urgency. The NX 350h hybrid and NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid models offered more compelling performance on paper, with the latter achieving 304 horsepower and a 0-100 km/h time of 6.1 seconds. Despite the F Sport 3 package's adaptive dampers and 20-inch wheels, the NX's ride quality was firm and unsettled, with lifeless steering. The NX struggled to match the performance and comfort levels of its German competitors, with wind noise further detracting from the driving experience.

The 2024 Buick Envista, with its coupe-like design, was 36 centimetres longer than the outgoing Buick Encore, offering a 14.5-centimetre wheelbase stretch. This resulted in increased rear-seat legroom by 7.6 cm and greater shoulder room in both rows. However, the sloping roofline reduced headroom, particularly for second-row passengers. The seats were comfortable for the price point, and a power moonroof was available on higher trims. The Envista's car-like design provided good outward visibility, but cargo space was limited, with 586 litres available with the rear seats up and 1,189 litres with them folded, less than the Trax and other competitors.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered competitive passenger space among compact luxury SUVs, though with some compromises. Rear-seat headroom was comparable to rivals, but legroom was slightly less. Front-seat legroom was similar to the Audi and Mercedes, but the Acura offered more. The front seats felt constrained, with limited headroom and hindered visibility due to the deep dashboard and large mirrors. The F Sport 3 package's sport seats were comfortable but unnecessary given the NX's performance. Cargo space measured 643 litres with the rear seats up and 1,328 litres with them folded, trailing most competitors. The NX's towing capacity was also below class-leading figures.

The 2024 Buick Envista came standard with an 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital instrument cluster, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The interface was user-friendly, with retained buttons and knobs for climate and audio controls. However, the centre stack's tilt towards the driver made controls a bit of a reach for passengers. While lacking some advanced tech features, the Envista's infotainment system was impressive for its price range, offering more than some competitors' entry-level models.

The 2026 Lexus NX featured a 9.8-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, with a 14-inch display available on higher packages. All models included a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and six USB ports. Wireless device charging was standard, with a head-up display and 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system available on higher trims. Data connectivity packages offered additional features like cloud-based navigation and digital key functionality. The 14-inch touchscreen was well-placed, but some controls, like fan speed, were awkwardly managed via touch sliders. The voice recognition system offered some convenience but had limitations in functionality.

The 2024 Buick Envista's crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of publication. Standard driver-assist features included 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, typical for the vehicle's price range.

The 2026 Lexus NX came equipped with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, offering comprehensive driver-assist features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping aids. Additional features included park assist, front cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. The NX was named a 2025 Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, missing the highest award due to an "Acceptable" score in one crash test. NHTSA ratings were not available.