2017 Buick Envision Review
Used Envision for sale
Appraise This Car
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
byMark Takahashi
Correspondent
Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.
Pros
- Manageable size makes it easy to drive and maneuver
- The cabin is as quiet inside as premium luxury SUVs
- You get a lot of features for the money
Cons
- Cargo capacity is merely average for the class
- Engine output is adequate but far from impressive
What’s new
The all-new Buick Envision debuted as a late 2016 model and was limited to its top two trim levels. For 2017, the Envision adds two lower trim levels that add the option of front-wheel drive.
Vehicle overview
In the market for an SUV that sits comfortably between compact and barely able to fit in the garage? Consider the 2017 Buick Envision, a midsize SUV that fits between the compact Encore and three-row Enclave in Buick's lineup. The manageable size makes it an excellent choice for a growing family while its choice of four-cylinder engines should deliver solid fuel economy. Inside and out, there's no missing the Buick design cues, and the use of high quality cabin materials make it feel more like an entry-level European vehicle.
Buick has positioned the Envision to compete against the Audi Q5, and in terms of pricing and feature content the Buick has an advantage. The Audi, however, still comes out on top for quality, performance and brand cache. We're more inclined to pit the Envision against comparably priced crossovers like the Edmunds A-rated Acura RDX and B-rated Lincoln MKC, Lexus NX200t and Volvo XC60.
After driving the 2017 Buick Envision, we wouldn't be surprised if it challenges the Acura with a strong rating of its own. As a near-luxury offering, the Buick exceeds expectations and is definitely worth consideration.
Standard safety features for all 2017 Buick Envision models include antilock brakes, traction/stability control, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, side and full-length side curtain airbags for front and rear outboard seats and knee airbags for the front seats.
The Leather trim adds rear cross-traffic alerts and a blind-zone monitor, while the Premium trim comes standard with frontal collision alerts, lane keeping assist, a safety alert driver seat and front parking sensors. Optional on the Premium II trim are frontal collision mitigation and a surround-view camera system.
Driving
We spent a day driving the 2017 Buick Envision with the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and were pleased with its linear power delivery that had no detectable turbo lag. There is enough power to confidently merge onto the highway and pass slower traffic. In the absence of testing results, we consider the acceleration adequate but not impressive.
The active all-wheel drive is standard with this engine and directs power to the appropriate wheel in order to maximize traction. From behind the wheel, it's undetectable as the SUV confidently tackles corners. Even over broken pavement, the vehicle tracks unfazed along the intended path, filtering out most of the imperfections before they reach occupants. Overall, the Envision is easy to drive and is as capable and comfortable as any of its competitors.
Interior
The 2017 Buick Envision's interior features a modern design and thoughtful placement of controls. Materials quality is better than we expect from this class and price, approaching the standards found in entry-level European vehicles.
From the driver's perspective, the low dash gives a good forward view with an almost car-like feel. As is typical of other midsize SUVs, the roof pillars tend to obstruct the outward view, forcing heavy reliance on the electronic driver assistants when maneuvering in tight quarters.
Front seats are well cushioned and shaped and the top trim's thigh cushion extender should be of particular interest for taller drivers. Rear seats can easily accommodate adults and are further enhanced by sliding/reclining features. Thanks to the absence of a center floor hump, even the rear center passenger will have enough legroom. With plenty of sound insulation and standard active noise cancellation, the Envision's cabin remains pleasantly quiet on the highway.
Cargo capacity behind the rear seats maxes out at 26.9 cubic feet, which is about average for the class. Remote release handles in that space allow you to unlatch the rear seats, but in order to get a flat load floor, you have to push the seatbacks down from the rear doorway until they lock in place. With those seats stowed, capacity increases to 57.3 cubic feet, which is smaller than rivals. Interior storage is generous, with plenty of large bins and pockets to hold your personal items.
2017 Buick Envision models
The 2017 Buick Envision is a midsize crossover SUV with seating for five. There are four trim levels offered, starting with the base-level Convenience trim which is available with either front- or all-wheel drive. Then there's the Leather trim level, which is also available with either front- or all-wheel drive. The Premium and Premium II models round out the lineup and are all-wheel drive only.