Compact SUVs meet drivers’ varied pursuits, ranging from luxury to economy to trail hound. The 2025 Buick Envision and 2025 Subaru Forester offer different blends of all three.
The Envision offers a near-luxury experience at a price comparable to many well-equipped mainstream brands. Meanwhile, the Forester can take you off-road without spending big cash. Let’s take a closer look at these different offerings to see what works best for you.
2025 Buick Envision
With room for five passengers, the Envision is an attractive compact SUV filled with technology while featuring contemporary styling. It’s built to be a comfortable, competent vehicle with good road manners, which aligns it with the rest of the Buick portfolio.
Powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the Envision puts 228 horsepower into the standard all-wheel drive (AWD). It comes with plenty of nice touches, such as wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a hands-free tailgate. A slew of advanced driver safety technology is available in the upper trim levels. The Envision is available in three trim levels: Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir.
Buick Envision Highlights
Some luxury: Available as an option in the Avenir trim, a massaging driver’s seat kneads its occupant into full-on luxury vehicle territory. These front seats, covered in perforated leather, have heating and ventilation.
Tech help: The standard Technology Package 1 includes a head-up display and a 9-speaker Bose premium audio system. We love to see these tech features come standard on every trim.
Elegant interior: The first thing you’ll notice in the new Envision’s interior is a digital instrument cluster mounted flush with an expansive infotainment touchscreen. It stretches 30 inches diagonally and wouldn’t look out of place in a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Genesis product. Upper trims have niceties like perforated leather upholstery.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Envision models for sale near you.
2025 Subaru Forester
The name Subaru evokes many images, most involving some form of off-road adventure. Fortunately, the 2025 Forester does that while appealing to the value-conscious buyer. The Forester fits the bill if you want something that symbolizes capability and value.
All-new for 2025, the Forester gets new styling, tech, and features but remains a do-everything vehicle with standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Active Torque Vectoring, and Vehicle Dynamics Control. Plus, for the first time ever, the Forester is available with a hybrid powertrain in the United States.
It’s budget-friendly because of its affordable sticker price, which is considerably lower (nearly 20% lower) than the Buick Envision. Additionally, the previous generation received our Lowest 5-Year Cost to Own Award and our Best Resale Value Award. With six trim levels to choose from — each increasingly well-equipped — there’s a Forester for just about everyone.
Subaru Forester Highlights
X-Mode: All models, except the base Forester, are outfitted with X-Mode, which optimizes the transmission and all-wheel-drive system for better traction off-road or in slippery road conditions. The upper trims use a more advanced dual-mode X-Mode system with a Deep Snow/Mud setting.
Safety tech: The EyeSight safety tech suite bundles driver-assistance features like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, and lane departure alert. It’s standard on every Forester and has been upgraded with new equipment for 2025.
Value: Everyone likes good bang for their buck, and with a lower price tag than the Buick Envision and being among the lowest-cost vehicles to own, the Subaru Forester definitely offers that.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Forester models on sale near you.
Similarities
The Buick Envision and Subaru Forester are very appealing, with their clean and appealing exterior style, well-appointed and comfortable interiors, and loads of technology.
Pricing
New 2025 Buick Envision Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (44901)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$37,895
|
$36,136
|
|||
|
$40,395
|
$37,781
|
|||
|
$47,595
|
$45,496
|
New 2025 Subaru Forester Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (44901)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$31,415
|
$29,561
|
|||
|
$34,805
|
$32,546
|
|||
|
$37,525
|
$34,984
|
|||
|
$37,705
|
$37,052
|
|||
|
$39,115
|
$36,611
|
|||
|
$43,015
|
$40,128
|
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors.
The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Buick Envision vehicles and New 2025 Subaru Forester vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership.
These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Buick Envision | 2025 Subaru Forester | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder |
| Towing Capacity | N/A | N/A |
| Horsepower | 228 hp @ 5,000 rpm | 180 hp @ 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm | 178 lb-ft @ 3,700 rpm |
| Transmission | automatic, 9-speed | Automatic, CVT w/Lineartronic |
| Fuel Economy | 22 city/28 highway/24 combined mpg | 26 city/33 highway/29 combined mpg |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | Not rated | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 109 inches | 105.1 inches |
| Overall Length | 182.7 inches | 183.3 inches |
| Width | 74.1 inches | 81.2 inches |
| Height | 64.6 inches | 68.1 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.0 feet | 35.4 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.6 inches | 41.2 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 38.9 inches | 39.6 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 40.4 inches | 43.3 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 39.3 inches | 39.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 56.7 inches | 57.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 55.9 inches | 56.7 inches |
| Cargo Behind Second Seat | N/A | N/A |
| Cargo With All Seats Down | 52.7 feet | N/A |
Specification table reflects the typical configuration of vehicles shown.
Conclusion
This is a tale of two different vehicles. The Buick Envision offers a comfortable ride while enjoying a spacious, tech-heavy interior that gives buyers an experience approaching entry-level compact luxury SUVs. The Subaru Forester is designed to handle rough roads, making an uncomfortable ride easier and more enjoyable. It’s also loaded with technology that helps it conquer the off-road world while ensuring you can listen to your favorite media and remain cool doing it. Buy the one that fits your budget and lifestyle.