2021 Buick Envision vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2021 Buick Envision underwent a significant redesign, following two years of facelifts, to present a more premium crossover styling. Positioned between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave, the Envision was sold in China and North America. Its new design was lower and wider, offering a more planted appearance on the street. The Envision's sculpted look was more pronounced than its cousin, the Cadillac XT4, but not as sleek as the Acura RDX. The three trim levels—Preferred, Essence, and Avenir—each offered distinct looks, with the Avenir trim introducing premium features like a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille and 20-inch Avenir-specific wheels. The interior of the Avenir models featured leather-appointed seating with diamond perforated inserts and a head-up display. The Envision's cabin was driver-centric, with a protruding center stack angled toward the driver, though the abundance of piano black plastic attracted dust.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold design that could polarize opinions, especially with its flat, faceless grille. The vehicle's personality changed with color and trim, with body-colored vertical strakes that blended better in darker shades. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and featured distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile showcased angular fender sculpting and black plastic tabs atop each wheel well, while the rear view adopted a Range Rover-like style. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, with a simple horizontal dashboard layout. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim, equipped with the Executive package, offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though the labeling on buttons was difficult to read. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, were somewhat firm, but the surrounding materials were of excellent quality, with options like engineered wood and carbon fiber trim.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This was a downgrade from the previous model's 252 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds, the Envision's power loss was noticeable, though it remained competent for daily driving. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available. The Envision's fuel efficiency improved, with the FWD model achieving 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. The AWD version fared slightly worse. The Envision's drivability was comfortable but not sporty, with a noisy engine and road noise permeating the cabin. The Sport mode altered revs but did not significantly enhance performance.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with electric motors, producing 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a six-speed transmission and was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The Hybrid offered a quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. The Telluride's ride was tuned for comfort, with the X-Pro Prestige trim providing a surprisingly smooth ride despite its off-road suspension. The Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride with its 20-inch wheels. The Telluride was composed on winding roads, though not particularly sporty. The brake pedal effort was soft, but brake response was immediate in panic stops.

The 2021 Buick Envision's redesign did not enhance cabin functionality. Despite a longer wheelbase, the Envision had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, with rear-seat passengers losing two inches of legroom and nearly six inches of hip room. Cargo capacity was reduced, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. The driver-centric cockpit limited passenger access to controls. Small-item storage was typical for the segment, and the Envision offered standard heated seats and a heated steering wheel. Forward visibility was limited, requiring reliance on parking sensors.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid offered ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The second row featured power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation in the Hybrid SX Prestige trim. The middle-row seats had significant travel, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride could hold up to 22.3 cu-ft of cargo behind the third row, with a maximum of 89.3 cu-ft with seats folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds (4,500 for the Hybrid). Small-item storage was well-designed, with a large center bin and deployable cupholders.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, responsive to touch, though channel scrolling was best left to the driver. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Available features included navigation, a surround-view camera, and wireless device charging.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system was easy to use, though it required a firm tap to register. The middle climate control screen was difficult to use while driving, but physical temperature control buttons were available. The Telluride offered customizable themes and a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system in the SX trim and above.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not been rated by NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was available on Avenir models.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid had not been rated by NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The driver attention monitor had operational issues at night.