Buick Envision Review

The Buick Envision is one of the latest entries in the fast-growing luxury compact crossover SUV market. It slots in between the compact Encore and the larger Enclave, and it is Buick's first model to be made in China, a country where the Buick brand has seen fantastic sales success. The Envision covers the basics with comfortable seating for five and a range of reasonably fuel-efficient engines. The interior design is clean and modern, and Buick offers a long list of attractive options. Overall, we think the Envision has a lot going for it.

Current Buick Envision
Buick sells the Envision in four trim levels: Convenience, Leather, Premium and Premium II. All Envisions get an assortment of desirable features, including a power liftgate, heated and power-adjustable front seats, and an Android Auto/Apple CarPlay-compatible stereo. The Leather model adds more luxury features, including seats upholstered in, well, we're sure you can guess. Premium and Premium II trim levels, available exclusively with all-wheel drive, add more driver assistance features, such as the safety alert seat (which vibrates to warn the driver of hazards), a head-up display that projects speed and other information into the windshield, and an automated parking system. Adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking are only available as options on the Premium II model.

We've found the Buick Envision's interior to be a pleasant surprise. The quality of the materials is higher than we'd expect given the Envision's price and competitive set. The dashboard looks good, with a contemporary design and sensible control placement. The front seats are comfortable, and taller drivers will appreciate the thigh extender found on the driver seat of Premium II models. Backseat space is generous, and the reclining rear seatbacks are a nice bonus. The Envision's 26.9 cubic feet of cargo space is about average for the class, though the seats-down capacity of 57.3 cubic feet is less than the competition offers.

Convenience and Leather versions of the Buick Envision are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 197 horsepower and can be paired with either front- or all-wheel drive. Premium and Premium II get a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 252 hp. They also feature a more sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. Fuel economy estimates range from 25 mpg combined for 2.5-liter front-wheel-drive model down to 22 mpg for the all-wheel-drive turbo.

We spent some time with a turbo-powered Buick Envision, and we were suitably impressed: The engine delivers a smooth, even flow of power with little turbo lag evident. Acceleration feels adequate, if not particularly remarkable. The Envision handles competently in the corners, but what impressed us more was the smooth, quiet ride, which refuses to be thrown off by uneven, choppy pavement.

Used Buick Envision Models
The Buick Envision was introduced late in the 2016 model year in all-wheel-drive Premium and Premium II trims. Buick filled out the lineup for 2017, adding the Convenience and Leather trim levels, the 2.5-liter engine and front-wheel drive.

Read the most recent 2018 Buick Envision review.

If you are looking for older years, visit our used Buick Envision page.