2026–27 Buick Envision vs Chevrolet Equinox: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Equinox — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–1.5 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($28,600 vs $41,300) and better 5-year value retention (47% vs 43.3%). Choose the Envision if you want the most power (228 hp vs 175 hp).
Scorecard: Envision 1.5 pts · Equinox 5 pts across 7 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 Envision | 2027 Equinox | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $41,300 | $28,600 | Equinox |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | — | 0.35 | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 43.3% | 47% | Equinox |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 25 mpg | 27 mpg | Equinox |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 228 hp | 175 hp | Envision |
| Max towing (1) | 1,500 lb | 1,500 lb | Tie |
| Standard seats (1) | 5 | 5 | Tie |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | — | 8.4% off MSRP | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 2 | 4 | Envision |
| Weighted points | 1.5 | 5 | Equinox |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Equinox — 27 mpg vs 25 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: it's a wash — Envision 5 vs Equinox 5 (standard seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Equinox — $28,600 vs $41,300 (starting MSRP).
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the Equinox — 47% vs 43.3% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: it's a wash — Envision 1,500 lb vs Equinox 1,500 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Envision starts at $41,300 and tops out at $50,700; the Equinox runs $28,600 to $33,000 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Equinox buyers paid a median 8.4% off MSRP across 9 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 13% off.
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Envision: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Equinox: 0.35 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 79th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Envision 2, Equinox 4.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Envision 2021 (solid), 2022 (caution), 2023 (caution) · Equinox 2016 (solid), 2017 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2026 Envision | 2027 Equinox | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $41,300 | $28,600 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $50,700 | $33,000 |
| Horsepower | 228 hp | 175 hp |
| Max torque | 258 lb-ft | 203 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 25 mpg | 26–27 mpg |
| Max towing | 1,500 lb | 1,500 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 5 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Envision lists for a median $21,214 — 43.3% of today's median new price of $48,943. A 5-year-old (2021) Equinox lists for a median $16,286 — 47% of today's median new price of $34,640.
Shop both
- See new 2026 Buick Envisions for sale →
- See 40,232 new 2027 Chevrolet Equinox for sale →Median listed price $34,821 · updated Nov 7, 2026
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Buick Envision
More on the Chevrolet Equinox
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Envision better than the Equinox?
On our data, no — the Equinox comes out ahead. Our pick: the Equinox — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–1.5 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($28,600 vs $41,300) and better 5-year value retention (47% vs 43.3%). Choose the Envision if you want the most power (228 hp vs 175 hp).
Which is more reliable, the Envision or the Equinox?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Envision and 4 for the Equinox.
Which holds its value better, the Envision or the Equinox?
The Equinox: a 5-year-old example lists for 47% of the new price, versus 43.3% for the Envision, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the Envision or the Equinox?
The Equinox starts lower: $28,600 vs $41,300 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the Envision or the Equinox?
The Equinox: up to 27 mpg combined vs 25 mpg for the Envision (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2026–27 Buick Envision vs Chevrolet Equinox: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/buick-envision-vs-chevrolet-equinox, updated November 8, 2026.