2021 Buick Envision Review

　　

2021 Buick Envision Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　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 zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　The Buick Envision is redesigned for 2021. This is Buick's small five-passenger SUV that slots between the even smaller Encore and the larger three-row Enclave. Highlights for this redesign include more standard driver assist features, a bigger touchscreen with Buick's latest infotainment system, and a new turbocharged engine that's standard on every Envision trim level.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Buick Envision Preferred 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$174/mo  for Envision Preferred

　　Envision Preferred

　　Preferred 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $31,800 MSRPPreferred 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $33,600 MSRPEssence 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) (Most Popular) - $35,800 MSRPEssence 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $37,600 MSRPAvenir 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $40,200 MSRPAvenir 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $42,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　There's little to fault the Envision for. It's a perfectly decent entry-level SUV that's a bit nicer than popular small SUVs such as the Honda CR-V but not as posh or expensive as an Audi Q5 or Mercedes GLC. Other alternatives include the Acura RDX or a loaded-up Mazda CX-5. Check out our Expert Rating below to get our in-depth take on this year's Envision.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Envision drive? Mat the gas and the Envision reaches 60 mph in 7.7 seconds, which is decently quick for a small SUV. From the driver's seat, it doesn't feel that quick, which could be a bonus for those who prefer quiet confidence over theater. The gas pedal is immediately and pleasingly responsive. The brakes are also better than average. Emergency stopping distances are short, and the vehicle remains composed and controllable. The pedal feel is reassuring.

　　The handling is decent, even with some notable body roll. The Envision is not an SUV to have fun with, but it feels confident at sensible speeds.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Envision? The front seats have enough adjustments for most drivers to find a preferred seating position. But the bottom seat cushion is a bit short for taller passengers. The padding is on the firm side and can create some hard spots after a few hours. The massage functions are weak compared to premium luxury versions, but they're a welcome relief when you start feeling those hard spots.

　　The ride quality is praiseworthy. It's biased toward softness and smooths over many imperfections that other SUVs ride more harshly on. Helping matters is a very quiet cabin that effectively eliminates most wind and road noise.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The interior design has a clean, understated look. Buick pleasingly canted the center dash section toward the driver to make it easier to reach. The push/pull button gear selector is more intuitive than alternatives from other carmakers, and it doesn't take up too much space on the center console.

　　The interior space is average for the class, which means taller passengers will likely feel cramped on a long trip. Outward visibility is helped by sensibly sized roof pillars and crisp resolution for the available surround-view camera system. Overall, there's not much to complain about, but also there's not much to praise.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, which means you don't need to use a USB cord to integrate your phone with the touchscreen. Unfortunately, Apple CarPlay with the wireless connection was very slow to respond in our testing, so we had to resort to using the USB cable instead. The Envision's native voice command system is OK, but it doesn't recognize natural speech commands.

　　The available 10-inch touchscreen looks sharp. But Buick's decision to put the infotainment controller knob right next to the screen is puzzling. You have to reach to the dashboard to use the touchscreen anyway, so why put them together? Locating the controller on the center console where your hand normally rests would have made more sense.

　　The Envision's driver aids such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist are well tuned and operate smoothly. We never experienced any false alarms. Audio quality from the Bose system degrades at higher volumes, and the bass lacks punch. At moderate volume, the quality is decent but not impressive for an upgraded system.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? With 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, the Envision cargo area is well below what the typical small SUV offers. Buick hasn't added any clever storage bins or shelves, but there are some hooks that you can use to secure grocery bags. The liftover height is about average, and the available hands-free hatch function works well.

　　Interior storage is adequate, with moderately sized door pockets, cupholders and center armrest bin. The wireless charging pad can help keep your phone in place. Got kids? Installing a large rear-facing infant seat will likely impinge on front seat space, but the LATCH anchors are easy to find and access.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the front-wheel-drive Envision will get 26 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is pretty decent considering the power the turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes. We observed 28.8 mpg on our 115-mile highway-heavy evaluation route, confirming that these estimates are realistic.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Envision a good value? The Envision occupies an odd space: one that's a cut above your standard small SUV in interior materials quality and exterior appearance, but at a hefty premium. You might cross-shop it across both luxury and non-luxury segments, but ultimately it's not as good a value as a mainstream SUV or as luxurious as a top European small SUV.

　　Warranty coverage is typical for the class, but Buick's roadside assistance coverage is an excellent six years/70,000 miles. That's better than much of the competition. The first scheduled maintenance visit is also complimentary, a small but nice perk.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　The Envision proves itself capable in terms of performance and comfort, but it isn't really outstanding in any given area. You can view it as a bargain luxury SUV or a nicer mainstream SUV, but we think it commands a buyer with very specific wants and it's not something that will appeal to the masses.

　　The Envision represents a step in the right direction for Buick. It's attractively designed and has an understated class. It makes a statement without saying much.

　　

Which Envision does zzdcar recommend?

The midtier Essence trim adds several upgrades that make the Envision look and feel more like a legitimate entry-level luxury SUV. To that, we'd add the optional Technology Package II to get adaptive cruise control and a few other features.

　　

2021 Buick Envision models

The 2021 Buick Envision is a five-passenger small luxury SUV available in three trim levels: Preferred, Essence and Avenir. All have a turbocharged 230-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional. Feature highlights for the Envision include:

　　Preferred

　　Starts you off with:

　　LED headlights Roof rails Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking) Keyless entry and ignition Power-adjustable driver's seat 8-inch touchscreen OnStar remote services with Wi-Fi hotspot Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Six-speaker audio systemEvery Envision also comes with the Buick Driver Confidence suite of safety features that includes:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane keeping assist (steers the vehicle back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Safety alert seat (vibrates the driver's seat cushion when a safety warning is triggered)Essence

　　Gains more premium features such as:

　　Hands-free liftgate Remote ignition Dual-zone automatic climate control Heated front seats Heated steering wheel Larger driver information display Driver-seat memory functions 10-inch touchscreen Seven-speaker audio systemAvenir

　　Front parking sensors Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Ventilated front seats Heated rear outboard seats Driver's seat massage functions Household-style power outlet Wireless charging pad Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Navigation system Nine-speaker Bose premium audio systemSome of the Envision's upper trim features are available on the lower trims as options.

　　Optional for the Avenir is the Technology Package II that includes:

　　Adaptive suspension (enhances ride comfort and cornering stability) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Enhanced forward collision mitigation system Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) Virtual rearview mirror (allows you to see out the back even with a fully loaded cargo area) Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)

　　

2021 Envision Highlights

Trim: PreferredEssenceAvenirPreferred

　　

Base MSRP	$31,800
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$174/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	25.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles