The facelift for the first generation of the Buick Envision was launched in China in late 2017. In January 2018 it was showcased at the North American International Auto Show, for the U.S. market.
It was the premium sibling of the GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Equinox and it was addressed to first-time buyers of the American brand. The Buick adopted a range of names that began with EN letters. The smallest one was the Encore and the biggest one was the Enclave. The Envision sat right between them.
The overall shape of the black grille surrounded by a chromed rim mimicked the Buick shield. The eagle eye style of the headlights was a theme design for the brand. On the hood, there were two fake scoops closer to the cabin. The arched roofline and the tailgate formed an SUV-like shape. A middle road between a hatchback and an SUV. But despite the chromed lines here and there, it didn't inspire too much premium feeling.
Inside, things were better. Even if the car was built in China, it featured good attention to details. The man-made leather, the authentic stitches, and the faux-wood trims on the dash inspired an expensive vehicle. For the infotainment system, Buick chose an 8” touch-screen display, and it supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. A 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot was available via AT&T.
Under the hood, the Envision was offered with a choice of two gasoline engines, offered with different power outputs and mated to 6-, 7-, or 9-speed automatic gearboxes, with front- or all-wheel-drive systems.
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