Car Buyer Labs

Car Buying Advice, Tips, and Reviews

A black 2022 Buick Envision is shown parked outside of a modern home.

Escape Into an Envision Or Envision Yourself in an Escape?

So, you have found yourself in a predicament. While researching your next big purchase to replace your long-time compact SUV, you find yourself unable to choose between two great new models. Sure, you love what you currently drive, which is why you have held onto it for so long, but this time around, you want to try out a different make and model. We get it; sometimes, new can be refreshing. But we also understand that it can be hard to choose which is right for you. So how do you decide on a winner with a matchup like the 2022 Buick Envision vs 2022 Ford Escape?

The answer is simple. Unfortunately, you need to ask yourself another question to find the answer: What do you want from a new compact SUV? Choosing between your two chosen contenders will depend on what you desire.

Dig Deep In Search Of Your Desires

Since you know you want a compact SUV, you are one step further than most. The next step is choosing the brand, and that all depends on what you want from your next vehicle. This process begins with figuring out what you love about your current model and what aspects you wish were improved. This list that you end up creating will act as a guide to help point you in the direction of which model will be best for you.

While jotting down your list of things you love about your current SUV, you may notice that some of the features you love describe all SUVs. Although you might feel a little discouraged, don’t. This list validates that you are moving in the right direction by choosing a compact SUV for your next vehicle.

A silver 2022 Ford Escape Titanium Hybrid is shown on a city highway during a 2022 Buick Envision vs 2022 Ford Escape competition.

Get Your Money’s Worth

One of the great things about a compact SUV is the value you get for your money. You get the best of both a car and a truck at an affordable price. There is plenty of interior space for both passengers and cargo. It gets great fuel economy for its size, and all-wheel drive makes driving in any weather that much easier. It is the perfect vehicle for any lifestyle and driving needs.

Now to compare prices between your chosen contenders, the 2022 Ford Escape’s MSRP is $26,010. The 2022 Buick Envision starts at $31,500, some $4,500 more than the Escape. That may initially seem like a jump in price until you view the whole picture and compare the prices to what you are getting with your purchase.

Maximizing Comfort and Space

The Escape offers a maximum of 65.4 cubic feet of cargo volume for any belongings you may need to bring along with you, but if you are bringing passengers, there are 37.5 cubic feet of space for you to use to store stuff behind the second row. For you and your possible four passengers, you can enjoy a comfortable ride with 104 cubic feet of passenger volume. That includes 42.4 inches of front legroom and 40.7 inches for the back seat, which might even be more than what you are used to in your older model. The Buick Envision does fall short compared to the Escape, dimensionally, providing only a maximum of 52.7 cubic feet for cargo and 100.4 cubic feet for its five passengers. However, the Envision does provide an abundance of comfort by other means, making up for the differences in numbers.

Reap the Benefits of an SUV with Performance and Capability

As to be expected, the Ford Escape and Buick Envision are going to be similar in power and capability to what you are used to since they are the same type of vehicle. However, you may be shocked at how much farther you can go with newer models. With the Buick Envision, its 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine has an EPA-estimated range of 24 MPG city and 31 MPG highway with front-wheel drive and 22 MPG city and 29 MPG highway for the all-wheel drive models. That seems pretty enticing if you are looking to save on fuel costs or trips to the gas station.

Although the 2022 Ford Escape offers gasoline, hybrid, and electric-only power options, let us spotlight the gasoline-powered engine options. The 1.5L EcoBoost turbocharged 3-cylinder in the 2022 Ford Escape can outdrive the Envision since it is smaller and has an EPA-estimated 28 MPG city and 34 MPG highway for front-wheel drive and an EPA-estimated 26 MPG city and 31 MPG with all-wheel drive. With the Escape’s larger 2.0L EcoBoost turbocharged 4-cylinder, only available in all-wheel drive, you will see closer results to the Envision in fuel economy since it is the same size engine, with its EPA-estimated 22 MPG city and 31 MPG highway. Now, when you add the Envision into the comparison regarding power, sure, the Escape still takes the lead since the Buick Envision delivers 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. But the win is not by very much with the Escape producing a maximum of 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque with its 4-cylinder.

In general, both new models offer the basics that make an SUV desirable to you. They each have great gas mileage allowing you to get your money’s worth from fuel costs. They produce decent horsepower and torque to get you up to speed quickly, when needed, and keep you going at the pace you want to go. Plus, each offers an all-wheel drive option to get you where you need to go in any road condition, and they also come with affordable price tags. But to help you determine which new model will be best for you, you need to find out what truly sets them apart from one another.

A red 2022 Buick Envision is shown parked outside of a modern home.

Show Me the Amenities!

Amenities are what separate vehicles from one another and give you the power of customization. With advances in technology, both the 2022 Ford Escape and the 2022 Buick Envision have a variety of amenities beyond your older SUV’s wildest dreams. Although the Envision has fallen short in a few other comparisons, this is where the Buick Envision truly shines. Buick models are known for their glamor and luxury, in more than their good looks. Throughout the 2022 Buick Envision, you’ll feel a sense of richness and value. Even more so with all the available features and amenities for your needs.

Sure, the Escape and the Envision share some similar amenities, like the available panoramic moonroof, hands-free motion-activated liftgate, leather seats, and much more. But there are many features you can only get with the Envision. These amenities are what bring your level of comfort beyond just numbers. The 2022 Buick Envision is designed so that each part works together to reach one goal. From craftsmanship to luxurious features like a massaging driver seat, each piece works with the others to provide you with a remarkable driving experience every time you are behind the wheel.

For an enjoyable ride without any added noise from the road or the world outside your SUV, QuietTuning technology keeps any unwanted noise from tampering with your serenity. With triple door seals, laminated glass, upgraded suspension, and other measures working together, this technology eliminates any added noise that will keep you from enjoying the peace and quiet after a long day at work or the company of your friends and family on a journey together through the city or countryside. That is something even the Escape can’t offer you.

What about air quality? Have you ever wondered what is floating through the air you and your passengers are breathing? The germs, fumes, and who knows what else may be circulating through the cabin. Well, the 2022 Buick Envision has that covered also. The Air Filter with Micro Filter Technology will ensure that you and your passengers will always be breathing in fresh air. Better yet, you will even know the conditions of the cabin’s air because you will be able to monitor it with the Air Quality Indicator during your travels.

The Deciding Factor

A vehicle’s worth goes well beyond its appearance, dimensions, and statistics. So when deciding on whether you should escape into an Envision or envision yourself in an Escape, you need to compare everything while keeping your primary focus on what you desire. If you want to play it safe and hop into the driver’s seat of a vehicle similar to what you already know, then the Ford Escape is a good choice. But if you are looking for something that is similar to your current model and will make you feel pampered like royalty without an astronomical price tag, then jump into the Buick Envision. The deciding factor when choosing between the 2022 Buick Envision vs 2022 Ford Escape should not be derived solely from statistics; it should be based on how you want your SUV to make you feel.