Compare the2025 Buick EnvistaVS 2025 Tesla Model Y

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Envista are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model Y doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Buick Envista achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Tesla Model Y has not been tested.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Envista’s optional Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Envista has standard OnStar®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model Y doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Envista and the Model Y have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

There are over 4 times as many Buick dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Envista’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick above average in initial quality. With 102 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick third in reliability, above the industry average. With 103 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 26th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick 6 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

The Envista has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Model Y doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Envista has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Model Y; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the Envista’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the Model Y’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.8 feet). The Envista w/18-19” Wheels’ turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Model Y’s (38.4 feet vs. 39.8 feet).

The Buick Envista may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 to 1250 pounds less than the Tesla Model Y.

The Envista is 4.4 inches shorter than the Model Y, making the Envista easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Envista uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Model Y doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Envista has .1 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model Y.

The Envista has a much larger cargo volume than the Model Y with its rear seat up (20.7 vs. 16.9 cubic feet).

The Envista can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Envista can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Model Y can’t be towed flat on the ground.

An Oil Life Monitor is standard on the Envista to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and air filter replacement based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model Y.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Envista’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Model Y doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Envista’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model Y doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Envista third among small suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Model Y isn’t in the top three.