Porsche Cayenne vs Buick Envista

The 2024 Buick Envista, while sharing its platform with the Chevy Trax, took a distinct styling path. Its sloping roofline gave it a "crossover coupe" appearance, a design previously reserved for larger, pricier vehicles like the BMW X2, X4, and X6. Although a more traditional roofline might have improved rear visibility, the Envista's design was deemed acceptable. The coupe-like profile was paired with a new front-end styling inspired by the Buick Wildcat EV concept, featuring a split lighting design with thin daytime running lights above and real headlights in vertical elements flanking the grille. This sleek design was a first for Buick, setting the Envista apart from models like the Envision and Encore GX, which received similar styling as part of mid-cycle refreshes.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a choice between a standard SUV with a squared-off rear end and a sporty Cayenne Coupe. The GTS trim level, which was the focus of this review, featured high gloss black trim, a unique front fascia with larger air intakes, and tinted headlights. Red brake calipers peeked through 21-inch wheels, and the Cayenne Coupe boasted an adaptive rear spoiler. Inside, the Cayenne allowed for extensive customization, from colour choices to trim and seat belts. The cabin was well-organized, with mechanical controls for essential features like HVAC and volume, and a shifter toggle mounted on the dashboard for added storage space.

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 powertrain, shared with the Trax, delivered a refined performance, offering smooth power delivery akin to a larger engine. 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 for improved ride quality. The suspension was tuned to minimize road noise, and the Envista handled bumps well, though it felt slightly unsettled on less-than-perfect pavement.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a range of engines, with the GTS trim featuring a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 producing 493 horsepower and 486 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed transmission delivered power to all four wheels, allowing the Cayenne to accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds with the Sport Chrono package. The GTS trim struck a balance between sporty and comfortable performance, with precise steering and a low centre of gravity. The Cayenne's adaptive suspension and Pirelli P Zero tires contributed to its agile handling, while optional carbon ceramic brakes provided ample stopping power. In Normal mode, the Cayenne transformed into a comfortable commuter, maintaining its V8 charm without the aggression of sportier modes.

The 2024 Buick Envista was 36 centimetres longer than the outgoing Buick Encore, with 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 coupe-like design reduced headroom slightly, especially for second-row passengers. The seats were comfortable, and a power moonroof was optional on Sport Touring and standard on Avenir trims. The Envista offered 586 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,189 litres with them folded, less than the Trax and the old Encore.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne, true to Porsche's a la carte approach, offered limited standard features, with many options available for customization. The GTS trim included a GT Sport steering wheel and Race-Tex headliner, with options for Race-Tex or leather interiors. The Cayenne accommodated five passengers comfortably, with ample headroom in the second row. The standard Cayenne offered 772 litres of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 1,708 litres with the seats folded. The coupe version had slightly less space, with 576 and 1,486 litres, respectively. The Cayenne's towing capacity was impressive, matching that of a mid-size pickup truck.

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 buttons and knobs for climate control and audio volume. However, the centre stack's tilt towards the driver made controls a bit of a reach for the passenger. While the Envista lacked some optional tech features, it offered an impressive amount of standard features for its price range.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne featured a curved 12.6-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with the Porsche Communication Management system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Spotify, Apple Music, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot were included. An optional 10.9-inch passenger screen allowed for navigation and media control. The Cayenne also offered a head-up display, night-vision assist, and four high-speed USB-C charging ports, along with a cooled wireless charging area.

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.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered standard parking sensors, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring, but adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist were optional. Porsche's InnoDrive adaptive cruise control system was not tested due to the car's German specifications. The Cayenne had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS.