2022 Buick Envision

With the graceful echo of Volvo reverberating through its body, the Envision sculpts its face and body sides with a light touch. The swept-back headlights blend in casually, and team with LED daytime running lights to frame the Envision’s attractive grille. Thick roof pillars are balanced out with creased rear fenders to keep the Envision well grounded. A Sport Touring package blacks out some of the shiny bits on the body.

The Envision cabin has a couple of notable foibles—the steering wheel is thin, and the touchscreen tilts back from the driver at an awkward angle. Mostly, it’s a soothing environment dressed in a high grade of trim. The driver sits amid swoops of upholstered dash and console panels, thin metallic ribbons, and panes of gloss trim. A sport-appearance package blacks out some exterior metallic trim. In Avenir guise, a pretty but not very convincing silvery-wood trim has a dimpled texture that gives away its synthetic status; the light-beige leather offsets it handsomely.

All-wheel drive can be fitted to every model.

How fast is the Buick Envision?

With its 228-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4, the Envision passes traffic on the highway with good urgency. It twists out 258 lb-ft of torque, which comes into effect at 1,500 rpm and lets the Envision pull strongly past 5,000 rpm. It’s eager to needle through urban traffic, so long as it’s not stuffed with a full load of cargo and passengers—it weighs between 3,692 to 3,932 pounds without passengers. It does put out a fair amount of engine noise even with active noise cancellation, and front-drive Envisions scrabble for traction from a stoplight launch.

The 9-speed automatic standard on every Envision judders very infrequently at low speeds, but shifts cleanly in most scenarios. A drive mode selector spins it from Touring to Sport or Snow/Ice modes, and paddles let the driver shift at will. With all-wheel drive, the Snow/Ice mode gives way to Off-Road and AWD modes—optimistic Band-Aids, since the Envision has only middling ground clearance, all-season tires, and a low tow rating of 1,500 lb.

Refinement is the Envision’s safe word. With an independent suspension at all corners, the Envision has standard 18-inch wheels that may offer a more pleasant ride. We’ve driven Avenir editions with 20-inch wheels and adaptive dampers, and with the constantly adjusting shocks the Envision still skitters over big bumps. It’s not rough or uncontrolled, though. Its electric power steering doesn’t offer feedback through its slim steering wheel, but the steering responds quickly to inputs without overreacting.

The Envision’s twin-lidded armrest teams with a big storage bin that sits under the climate controls and a lower storage area; there’s plenty of space to hide small items.

The Envision’s back seat has swell shaping for two large passengers and surrounds them with good foot and knee room; head room gets trimmed by the optional panoramic sunroof. We say pass it up, and get heating for the rear outboard seats instead.

With a power tailgate (standard on most versions) the Envision opens up a 25.2-cubic-foot cargo hold that can be expanded to 52.7 cubic feet by folding down the rear seats.

The Envision’s cabin is softly padded and quieted with thicker materials and active noise cancellation for the engine. It has a solid feel, and with the lighter-toned interior, it pings Volvo’s radar in the right ways.

The Envision also comes standard with rear parking sensors, active lane control, and blind-spot monitors. It’s a good thing since the thick rear roof pillars blot out some of the view to the rear.

Adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, front parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system can be fitted to the Envision on models where they’re not included.

A $2,500 package upgrades the Preferred to 9-speaker Bose audio and a 10.2-inch touchscreen, front parking sensors, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system. A Sport Touring package factors in 20-inch wheels and dark body trim. 

Which Buick Envision should I buy?

For less than $38,000, the Envision Essence with front-wheel drive offers the best value. It gains leather upholstery, a power tailgate, heated front seats, a power front passenger seat, the 10.2-inch touchscreen, and remote start. We’d pass on all-wheel drive and the available panoramic sunroof, and spend about $4,000 extra for the technology bundle’s head-up display and surround-view camera system.

How much is a fully loaded Buick Envision?

At more than $41,000, the Envision Avenir has heated rear seats, 20-inch wheels, navigation, and a surround-view camera system. For about $2,000 more, it’s topped off with adaptive dampers, automatic park assist, a rear camera mirror, and adaptive cruise control.