Is the Buick Envision more reliable than the Honda CR-V?

Based on our data, the Buick Envision is more reliable with an average score of 77/100 compared to 75/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Buick Envision or the Honda CR-V?

The Honda CR-V has more recalls (46) compared to the Buick Envision (6). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Buick Envision or the Honda CR-V?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Buick Envision has a lower complaint rate at 4.9 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 8 for the Honda CR-V. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Buick Envision or the Honda CR-V?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda CR-V is cheaper to maintain at $407/year versus $573/year for the Buick Envision.

Is the Buick Envision or Honda CR-V safer?

Both the Buick Envision and Honda CR-V received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-07-26

Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Buick Envision

Good

Honda CR-V

Good

Choosing between the Buick Envision and the Honda CR-V? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Buick Envision currently leads with an average score of 77/100 compared to 75/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Buick Envision and Honda CR-V Generations Compare?

As of July 2026, the Honda CR-V is in its sixth generation, introduced in 2023. Being relatively early in its generation cycle, potential buyers should be aware that newer platforms can sometimes exhibit first-year issues as manufacturers work out kinks. The CR-V's history of facelifts, such as the 2020 update in the fifth generation, often reflects Honda's approach to refining its vehicles over time, enhancing reliability as the model matures. In contrast, the Buick Envision is in its second generation, which debuted in 2021 and received a refresh in 2024. This places the Envision in a more mature phase of its generation cycle, where many initial issues have likely been addressed, contributing to improved reliability. The Envision's relatively recent facelift suggests a focus on refining and updating features without a complete redesign, typically leading to a stable and reliable platform.

Verdict

The Buick Envision is more reliable than the Honda CR-V, scoring 77/100 vs 75/100.

The Honda CR-V and Buick Envision both show respectable reliability scores, with the Envision slightly ahead at 77/100 compared to the CR-V's 75/100. A significant differentiator is the recall history, where the CR-V has experienced 46 recalls over nine years, compared to just 6 for the Envision. Additionally, the CR-V has a higher owner complaint rate of 8 per 10,000 sold, while the Envision's rate is 4.9. However, the CR-V offers a lower estimated annual repair cost of $407 compared to the Envision's $573, making it the more economical choice for maintenance. Overall, the Buick Envision edges out in reliability with fewer recalls and complaints, despite higher repair costs.

Key Differences

1Honda CR-V costs $166 less per year to repair
2Buick Envision has 40 fewer total recalls
3Buick Envision has 3.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

3Buick Envision

—

2Honda CR-V

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencySafety Rating

Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V: Which Is More Reliable?

Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Buick Envision	Honda CR-V
Reliability Score	77/100	75/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	6	46
Complaints per 10k Sold	4.9	8
Annual Repair Cost	$573/yr	$407/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.3/yr
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	5	4

What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Envision and Honda CR-V?

The Honda CR-V exhibits a higher volume of complaints across all categories compared to the Buick Envision, with significant issues in steering, forward collision avoidance, and the electrical system. Notably, the CR-V has 1159 steering complaints with 24 linked to crashes, and 283 service brake complaints with 33 crash-linked, indicating potential safety concerns. In contrast, the Buick Envision's most reported issues are in the electrical system and power train, with a relatively low overall complaint count and only 1 crash-linked power train issue. While both models encounter challenges with their electrical systems, the CR-V's steering and service brake problems pose a more critical safety risk.

Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V common problem areas comparison
Component	Buick Envision	Honda CR-V
STEERING	0.3Very Low	1.8Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.9Very Low	0.9Very Low
ENGINE	0.4Very Low	0.8Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.5Very Low	0.4Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.6Very Low	0.2Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.4Very Low	0.3Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.6Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.3Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.3Very Low
TIRES	0.2Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.2Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.2Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.1Very Low
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	—None
STRUCTURE	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Buick Envision or Honda CR-V?

For cost-conscious buyers, the Honda CR-V offers a more economical choice in terms of maintenance and repair expenses. With an annual repair cost of $407, it is $166 cheaper per year compared to the Buick Envision's $573. Over a span of five years, this amounts to a savings of $830. The CR-V also has a lower repair frequency at 0.3 visits per year versus the Envision's 0.4 visits, indicating fewer disruptions. Additionally, the CR-V's major repair risk is 9%, a factor to consider if long-term reliability is a priority. These aspects make the CR-V a better value for those mindful of their budget.

How Does Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V Reliability Compare by Year?

Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Buick Envision	Honda CR-V	Edge
2026	77/1001R / 0C	83/1000R / 35C	Honda CR-V
2025	82/1000R / 7C	80/1006R / 201C	Buick Envision
2024	76/1001R / 10C	77/1004R / 406C	Honda CR-V
2023	76/1001R / 22C	72/1007R / 578C	Buick Envision
2022	75/1001R / 23C	76/1005R / 242C	Honda CR-V
2021	74/1002R / 23C	77/1003R / 241C	Honda CR-V
2020	78/1000R / 10C	74/10010R / 358C	Buick Envision
2019	78/1000R / 23C	69/1007R / 996C	Buick Envision
2018	78/1000R / 13C	65/1004R / 1960C	Buick Envision

Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Buick Envision scored 82/100 and the 2026 Honda CR-V scored 83/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Buick Envision vs the Honda CR-V?

If you prioritize low running costs and are concerned about maintenance expenses, the Honda CR-V might be the better fit for you. With an estimated annual repair cost of $407 and a repair frequency of just 0.3 times per year, it offers a more budget-friendly ownership experience. However, keep in mind that it has a higher number of total recalls (46) and a slightly higher rate of owner complaints, particularly regarding issues like steering and forward collision avoidance. On the other hand, if you seek a vehicle with fewer recalls and prioritize reliability, the Buick Envision is worth considering. With only 6 recalls and fewer owner complaints per 10,000 vehicles sold, it presents a more reliable track record. Although the Buick has a higher estimated annual repair cost of $573 and a repair frequency of 0.4 times per year, it compensates with a higher reliability score of 77/100. Choose the Envision if you value peace of mind and fewer potential issues.

Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V: Common Questions

Is the Buick Envision more reliable than the Honda CR-V?: Based on our data, the Buick Envision is more reliable with an average score of 77/100 compared to 75/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Buick Envision or the Honda CR-V?: The Honda CR-V has more recalls (46) compared to the Buick Envision (6). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Buick Envision or the Honda CR-V?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Buick Envision has a lower complaint rate at 4.9 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 8 for the Honda CR-V. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Buick Envision or the Honda CR-V?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda CR-V is cheaper to maintain at $407/year versus $573/year for the Buick Envision.
Is the Buick Envision or Honda CR-V safer?: Both the Buick Envision and Honda CR-V received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

More Buick Envision comparisons

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More Honda CR-V comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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