Select a year
Overview
With a stylish cabin and a roomy back seat, the Envision quietly isolates you from the real world—in other words, it's a Buick. In fact, it just might be the vehicle that best embodies the Buick brand, completely without pretension or too many compromises.
Engines, Ride, and Handling
Two different four-cylinder engines are offered: The base version is a 2.5-liter unit that makes 197 horsepower that drives either the front or all four wheels through a six-speed automatic. Our engine of choice, however, is the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 252 horsepower; it pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission and can be had with a more sophisticated all-wheel-drive system featuring a locking rear differential. The Envision is all about comfort and solitude. The suspension is soft and easily floats over road imperfections, but that doesn't mean it completely falls apart if pitched into a corner at speed. It handles most scenarios with confidence but isn't likely to win the admiration of enthusiast drivers in the same way that the Audi Q5 or the BMW X3 do.
Interior and Technology
Inside, there's plenty of room for four adults and the Envision is reasonably well-equipped—although not quite as nicely finished as the Audi and BMW—especially in the infotainment department. An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard and also features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. More expensive versions get leather seats with available heat and ventilation, a head-up display, and a partially digital gauge cluster; driver-assistance features such as automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control are all optional.
