Smitten is how I feel after driving the Buick Envista for a week. And for many reasons: this may be one of the chicest cars on the road for it’s chiseled front end and pert hatchback. For its sophisticated vibes and modern edge, thanks to sleek head lights and lower metal accents. For interior details that feel plush and belie it’s 20-something price tag—the full range, from entry to loaded, falls within the $20,000 spectrum.
The Buick Envista is lovely to spend time in, easy to drive and delivers on a lot of promises. Here’s what this little gem holds.
This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Don’t Let Its Good Looks Fool You: It’s All That
Before I tell you about what you get for the money, how the Buick Envista delivers on luxe features with driver assist tech, a great HD camera, leatherette seating and wireless Apple CarPlay, let’s just talk about how it looks.
Think BMW X2, Mercedes-Benz GLC coupe, Audi Q5 Sportback, though on a smaller scale. The proportions, the wide-set wheels, the hatchback all lend to a coupe-style silhouette that luxury brands have embraced in the last few years and that some of us can’t get enough of. That, alone, may be reason enough to put the Buick Envista on your shopping list.
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The Face of the Buick Envista Shows the Beauty of Restraint
The front face of the Buick Envista is an exercise in restraint—another luxury practice. Some might call it minimalist, but here, it’s even less: black details hide things that might be overly blingy were they chrome, and highlight other features; notice the black frame of the headlights that make them stand out a bit more. Silver metals are added as an accent rather than a central element, and in a way that adds to the light rather than magnifies it.
The demonstration of restraint is seen in the relatively few lights on the front face of the Buick Envista, only the sleek headlights and lower lights. Adding to the less-is-more feel is that the Aquamarine Blue paint wraps across the front face, giving a sculpted rather than assembled look, and the quiet, low-set grille that allows the blue to really stand out.
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What It’s Like to Drive this 3 Cylinder—Yes, 3—Engine
The most amazing thing about this cute little coupe is its price, which ranges from $23,800 to $29,895. How does Buick do that? By trading a larger engine for a smaller one and then tuning it so it performs as expected, and needed, for daily driving in the US. That means a 1.2L turbo 3-cylinder engine that generates 137 HP and 162 lb.-ft of torque. It also means giving up some other things, like the option of all wheel drive.
Still, that turbo engine and ample torque for a car this size, plus a 6-speed transmission (rather than a CVT) gives it pelnty of power out on the road. It gets up to speed just fine, kept up with traffic and never felt slow or sluggish.
I drove solo most of the time, however, and can imagine that, when filling this car with people, a dorm room move or driving long distances, the smaller engine might not feel adequate. If that’s on your list, you might want to consider moving up to the Buick Envision.
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OK, Now Let’s Talk Spoilers: Tech, Luxury and More
Where the Buick Envista doesn’t skimp is on technology. Taking a page from Cadillac —yes, Cadillac— Buick added a curved flat screen multimedia system that lends the cabin a distinctly luxury feel. The screen has two distinct sections; multimedia on the right and a driver’s display in front of the steering wheel. The screen’s functions are not as elaborate as Cadillac’s, or even other Buick models, but it has most things; what’s missing are navigation and customization options.
What this screen does have, though, is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is where you’ll find navigation—from your own maps. If you prefer to use Apple or Google maps., you won’t miss built-in navigation.
A Nicely Organized Center Console
Just below the center screen is the climate control panel a phone cubby with USB ports, the gear shifter, a few drive control buttons—lane keep assist and auto stop/start—and cup holders. There is a nice arm rest with storage inside and a cubby underneath that offers another place to stow a phone or your key.
A Surprisingly Comfortable Rear Seat, But With Compromises
One of the benefits of a hatchback SUV is more interior space and the Buick Envista doesn’t skimp on that. I measured 31″ behind my seat set for me (I’m 5’8″) which means there’s plenty of space for a rear-facing child car seat. And for adults there’s plenty of leg room, as well as a flat rear floor, so there’s no hump that will make middle seat passengers uncomfortable.
To keep the price low, though, there are compromises that may not make this the ideal car for drivers who will regularly have rear seat passengers: there is no fold-down arm rest, the only cup holders are only pockets in the door panels, and there are no rear seat air vents, though there were two USB ports in our test model.
Overall I was surprised by the leg room and headroom, as well as by the flat rear floor, making this a good option for occasional passengers on short trips or a nice flexible space for cargo.
Buick Envista’s Cargo Space is Delightful
For a compact hatchback SUV the Envista’s 20.7 cubic feet of cargo space is decent. That means you can hold most gym gear, add organization and haul a week’s worth of groceries for the average family. The cargo space has a lip that keeps things from rolling out when you open the hatch, but it’s not as comfortable for tailgate sitting as those with a flush threshold.
Under the cargo floor is a spare tire and tools, so there’s no additional storage underneath.
Fold the Buick Envista’s Rear Seats For More Space
With the rear seats folded the cargo space grows to 42 cubic feet. This, plus the coupe shape, makes the Envista a good option for dorm or apartment moves or maybe a road trip with a large dog. Note that the seats don’t fold perfectly flat, though.
An Elegant New Look Greets You Every Time
During my week with the Envista I never tired of being greeted by the new Buick logo, another exercise in restraint, minimalist in its presentation. The new logo sums up the luxe approach that, even for the diminutive price, delivers quite a lot, including:
- Leatherette seating
- 11” multimedia screen
- 8” driver display
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Quiet cabin with noise cancellation
- 8 year Onstar Essentials plan included
- Rear seat reminder
- Front and rear seat USB ports
- Sporty flat bottom steering wheel (in our Sport Touring model)
- Driver assist and safety features: auto high beam headlights, follow distance indicator, forward collision, rear park assist lane keep assist
- HD camera
A Few Packages Complete the Perfect Picture
Our Buick Envista Sport Touring model, priced at $24,700, is a step up from the entry-level Preferred model. It included a few packages that, were it me, I’d include too:
- Convenience Package added a heated steering wheel, keyless entry, power, heated front seats for $895
- Advanced Safety Package added adaptive cruise control, lane change alert, blind zone alert and rear cross traffic alert for $595
- Aquamarine Blue paint added $495
With $1,095 destination, the full price of our test model came in at $27,780, still a couple of thousand below the top of the line Avenir model which adds a rear seat armrest, wireless phone charger, power heated seats and leather seating, among other features.
Either way, though, the chic, sophisticated style is standard and that, for the price, will have you smitten.
