2024 Buick Envista Avenir – Looks Can Be Deceiving

In all frankness, I believe General Motors should have killed Buick instead of Pontiac during its great purge of 2009. Teetering on the verge of bankruptcy, the company’s leadership had to make some tough calls. Buick was doing well in China—really, really well—so they kept Buick and killed Pontiac. GM had the U.S. luxury market covered with Cadillac and could have easily added some product to dip down into Buick’s price range. However, it didn’t (and still doesn’t) have a strictly performance-oriented brand. They tried that with Cadillac, with no real success, because people don’t think of Cadillac that way.

It would have worked with Pontiac though. In fact, the marque was just starting to field a roster of enticing performance cars—led by the Solstice roadster and the G8 sedan (a rebadged Holden Commodore from Australia). Flash forward 15 years and most of the U.S. car-buying public would be hard-pressed to name the models in Buick’s lineup. This would not be true of a contemporary Pontiac brand made up of strictly high-performance offerings.

Today, Buick’s product line consists solely of crossover SUVs. These are Enclave, Encore, Envision and the subject of this review, the all-new for 2024 Buick Envista. That model’s pricing starts at $23,995. The price as tested for the top of the line Envista Avenir I drove came to $30,490.

2024 Buick Envista Avenir First Impressions

Now, with all of that said, the Envista is a strong offering—for its intended purpose. Possessing nice lines and delivering a strong value proposition, the entry-level Buick solidly anchors the brand’s lineup. Designed specifically to accommodate the way most people use SUVs—for urban and suburban transportation—the Envista also looks way more expensive than it turns out to be. The example I drove was outfitted with the Avenir trim package, which is the most sumptuously equipped version. I’ll get into its features below. For now though, let’s say I was pleasantly surprised by it—for the most part.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

Power is sourced from a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which is good for 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission conducts the powerplant’s output to the front wheels. There is no all-wheel drive option.

Though diminutive by any automotive standard, the 1.2-liter three-cylinder does a satisfactory job of motivating the Envista under most circumstances. In fact, the average driver will probably have no idea they’re sitting behind a three-cylinder engine. But they might wonder why it takes a bit of time to get the Buick up to highway speeds.

On the other hand, the Envista rides smoothly. The Buick also steers with precision and offers reassuring braking performance. What’s more, the Envista is impressively quiet. Further, Buick’s smallest offering exhibits poise on city streets and stability on the highway.

Performance Specifications

Buick Envista Avenir Fuel Economy

The Envista is also easy on fuel consumption. The EPA says you can look forward to 28 MPG in the city, 32 on the highway and 30 overall. I saw 31 MPG over the course of my week with the Ocean Blue Metallic 2024 Buick Envista Avenir.

Interior Design And Comfort

At the risk of date stamping myself here, one of my neighbors owned a brand-new white 1974 Buick Electra 225 with deep red velour upholstery when I was in high school. I can still recall how riding in that car gave me the feeling I was sitting in something truly special. Even better, you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t cool when he entrusted it to me to drive to my senior prom. And, of course, I also wore a white tux with a deep red bow tie. (Hey, times were different back then — don’t judge me!)

Seriously though, my point here is you won’t get that same feeling from any Buick today. The Envista’s passenger compartment looks built to a price, even when you select the range-topping Avenir trim package. Here, I should clarify, it doesn’t look cheap. It just doesn’t radiate the aura of quality you’ll experience with competitors such as the Mazda CX-30 or the Volkswagen Taos.

The heated steering wheel and front seats were pleasant finds too. Leg-, shoulder- and hip room were surprisingly generous, given the Envista’s size. Plus, unlike other crossovers with coupe-like rooflines, the Envista didn’t completely sacrifice rear passenger headroom.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

As has seemingly become de riguer, the Buick employs a wide-screen digital monitor for instrumentation and infotainment functions. The left side reports speed and related data, while the right side offers a touch-screen interface for comfort and convenience features. Buttons on the steering wheel provide access to a number of other features.

The climate control system can be operated independently of the touchscreen, making it easier to use. Wireless Carplay and Android compatibility are fitted as well. The Buick also offers remote start, Bluetooth streaming for two active devices and wireless charging for smartphones. Additionally, the Envista can serve as a W-Fi hotspot. Buick’s QuietTuning, which employs active noise cancelation technology, plays a significant role in the cabin serenity I praised earlier.

Cargo And Storage Space

Squared-off, the cargo compartment makes all of its space readily accessible. This is a good thing too, because it can’t be honestly labeled cavernous. The rear seats do fold though, so you can up the cargo ante by leaving one or two people behind. Rear passengers get storage in door cubbies, but there is no rear-seat armrest. Front-seat passengers get door cubbies too, along with center console storage and a glove box.

2024 Buick Envista Vs. Its Competitors

The subcompact crossover category bristles with formidable competition. Chevrolet, Hyundai, Ford, Kia, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen—to name but a few— are all fielding solid choices. That said, price-wise and prestige-wise, Buick’s closest rivals are the Mazda CX-30 and the Volkswagen Taos.

How The Buick Envista Compares To The Mazda CX-30

Genuinely fun to drive, handsomely styled, and possessing an outstanding interior treatment, the

is the one to beat in this category. In fact, the Mazda can also be realistically compared to commensurately sized offerings from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz—all of which are undercut by the CX-30’s price.

The CX-30’s base engine is a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter normally aspirated DOHC four-cylinder, which also generates 186 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission feeds the front wheels in the trims priced closest to the Envista. Fuel economy ratings are 22 in the city, 30 on the highway and 25 combined.

Granted, these figures do trail the Buick’s. However, the Mazda is quicker and handles much better, while also delivering a comfortable ride and a nicely executed upscale interior treatment. Pricing starts at $24,995.

How The Buick Envista Compares To The Volkswagen Taos

Like the Buick and the Mazda, the

is definitely easy on the eyes. What’s more, the VW offers high degrees of refinement, practicality and roadability. It’s also considerably more spacious than the Buick or the Mazda.

The sole engine offering is a 158-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter inline four, which is good for 184 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed transmission comes standard with the front-drive configuration. Taos’ all-wheel-drive system employs a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Build quality is high. Ride quality is impressive, and the VW offers outstanding comfort. Pricing starts at $23,995.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

As nice as the Buick and VW are, the Mazda is the one I’d buy. It’s good-looking, fun to drive and finished to a high standard. And yes, these factors are equally true of the VW.

However, the Mazda’s passenger compartment is more interesting than the VW’s. The CX-30 also exhibits greater agility. Further, while there is a lot to be said about the Teutonic efficiency of the VW, the Mazda exudes more passion.

So, where does this leave the 2024 Buick Envista Avenir? Trailing, but not by a huge margin. The Buick offers an outstanding value proposition, plus, it looks way more expensive than it is. You could do a lot worse than the Buick.