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6 speed, Automatic
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Front Wheel Drive
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
The Buick Envista competes in the Small SUV market segment. According to data collected from verified new-vehicle buyers for the JD Power 2023 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, owners rated their Small SUVs in 10 primary categories.
Listed below in descending order, you’ll find their preferences, from what they like most about their Small SUVs to what they like least:
Because the Envista is a new model, the 2023 APEAL Study did not include it.
In the sections that follow, our independent expert analyzes a 2024 Buick Envista Sport Touring equipped with the following options:
The test vehicle’s price was $29,070, including the $1,095 destination charge.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
My test car was comfortable thanks to an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The artificial leather covering the seats can feel a little sticky though, and the front passenger seat lacks height adjustment. Getting in and out is a simple affair thanks to the Envista’s elevated ride height.
You face an artfully rendered dual-screen digital instrumentation and infotainment panel containing an 8-inch gauge display and an 11-inch touchscreen. There is a stereo volume knob, but it’s hard to grasp, so it's better to use the hidden volume and tuning buttons located on the back of the steering wheel spokes.
A single-zone automatic climate control system uses traditional knobs and buttons, and the steering wheel controls are intuitive. Gratefully, Buick renders them in a matte-black finish for easy legibility.
Hard, shiny plastic is the rule, not the exception. But this is an entry-level vehicle, so you should expect it. Storage space is generous and practical, and the test vehicle had a wireless smartphone charging pad located forward of the transmission shifter.
Unexpectedly, given the Envista’s sloping roofline, the back seat is roomy for adults. There is good legroom, headroom, and footroom, and the front seatbacks are soft and padded to be kind to knees and shins. Air vents are absent, but you get a couple of USB charging ports and a cubby to stash your phone.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Buick equips the Envista with a sophisticated infotainment system. Highlights include:
I had no trouble pairing my iPhone to the system, and I thought the speakers sounded remarkably good for unbranded audio in an entry-level vehicle. Streaming music via Pandora, making and receiving calls, listening to and responding to text messages, and using Siri to request directions via Apple Maps proved simple and easy. To switch back to the native Buick infotainment system environment, you use the touch-sensing icons on the left side of the display.
In addition to the standard Remote Access plan, you can upgrade the Envista’s connected services to a Premium plan. If you choose the Envista Avenir, the Premium plan is complimentary for three years and equips the SUV with automatic collision notification, an SOS emergency help button, and more.
The Envista also has standard Teen Driver technology that monitors how a young, inexperienced driver uses the SUV and produces a driving report card for parents. A Buckle to Drive function, which you can turn off, prevents anyone from driving the Envista until all occupants are buckled up.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
A turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine powers the 2024 Envista. Though it sounds like something you could tuck into the front pocket of your jeans, it’s a better powerplant than you might expect, and torque certainly has something to do with it. Nevertheless, the Envista deserves better.
Buick says the engine makes 137 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 162 pound-feet of torque between 2,500 rpm and 4,000 rpm. That torque spread isn’t broad, and it's easy to catch both the turbo and the six-speed automatic sleeping on the job, such as after you round a city street corner or change lanes to go around traffic. In these situations, engine revs dip below the torque peak, so it takes a beat for the transmission to downshift and the turbo to spool up some forward thrust.
Eventually, you acclimate to the drivetrain’s quirks. In addition, it’s important to remember that the Envista is front-wheel drive, and you can’t get all-wheel drive. If you need the extra traction for driving in the snow or mud, you’ll need to consider the Buick Encore GX.
In addition, the Envista’s cost-saving rear suspension design frequently hurts the ride quality and handling. Models with 19-inch wheels add something called a Watts Link to smooth over the lack of an independent rear suspension, but it’s a Band-Aid solution that proves displeasing on anything except perfect pavement.
Fortunately, the Envista feels lively and enjoyable enough for daily driving. The test model’s optional 19-inch wheels and 245/45 Continental ProContact all-season tires gave it excellent grip in turns, and the light steering proves accurate if nothing else. Even the brakes, with Duralife rotors to reduce maintenance costs, perform well, though the pedal doesn’t always feel good underfoot.
Buick also equips the Envista with sound-suppressing acoustic windshield glass, an Active Noise Cancellation feature, and QuietTuning noise insulation. The result is a small SUV that’s hushed inside compared to many of its rivals.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Thanks to the test vehicle’s standard Buick Driver Confidence and optional Advanced Safety packages, it had every advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) Buick offers for the Envista.
During my evaluation, the technology displayed remarkable accuracy and refinement. Granted, the SUV did not have a lane-centering assistance system or a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system, and those are frequently the cause of complaints during my test drives. However, their absence isn’t why I praise the Envista’s ADAS.
For example, the forward-collision warning system alerted me only for a legitimate reason, using a visual indicator flashing on the windshield and an audible warning that gets the driver’s attention without sparking a heart attack.
In addition, the lane-departure warning system produced only one false alert during a week and nearly 400 miles of driving. The lane-keeping assist system steers only when necessary with subtle and measured inputs rather than sudden and dramatic corrections. The blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems worked well, and the Envista’s high-definition reversing camera with guidance lines resolves the SUV’s poor rear visibility problem.
Similarly, the adaptive cruise control proved effective. When catching slower traffic, it smoothly adjusted speed to match the pace of the vehicles ahead. After signaling and changing lanes to pass, it quickly recognized the path was clear and hustled to get back up to the chosen speed.
Because the Envista’s ADAS behaves as you want and expect, you’re more inclined to use it than turn it off. And that’s the point of such technologies in the first place.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Open the Envista’s available power liftgate, and you’ll find a roomy 20.7 cubic-foot trunk. The rakish rear roofline reduces the maximum volume, but the stylish exterior look is worth it. A standard cargo area light helps to illuminate the space after dark, and there is a tray to the left of the load floor where you can secure items.
Fold the 60/40-split rear seat down, and the Envista can hold 42 cu-ft of cargo. Unfortunately, unlike the Buick Encore GX, the Envista does not have a front passenger seat that folds flat to carry long items. However, Buick says you can diagonally load things 7.5 feet long.
According to the EPA, the Envista should get 30 mpg in combined driving. The SUV averaged less than that during my evaluation, at 28 mpg. Based on my result and the Envista’s 13.2-gallon fuel tank, you can expect a maximum range of 369 miles. However, since you’re not going to drain the Buick dry before stopping for gas, you should count on visits to the fuel pump every 330 miles or so.
As of this writing, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has performed crash tests on the new Envista. So, although the SUV offers a comprehensive collection of effective ADAS and has a base curb weight of just over 3,000 pounds, I cannot comment on how safe it might be in a collision.
Base prices for the 2024 Envista range from $22,400 for the Preferred trim to $28,600 for the Avenir trim. To that, you must add the $1,095 destination charge.
In the JD Power 2023 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Buick Encore GX ranks highest in the Small SUV segment. The Kia Soul and the Ford Bronco Sport are the next highest-ranked models.
In the 2023 APEAL Study, the Mini Countryman ranks highest in the Small SUV segment. The Chevrolet Trailblazer and the Ford Bronco Sport are the next highest-ranked models.
Other competitors to the Buick Envista include the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, and Volkswagen Taos.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Overall, I think the 2024 Buick Envista is an impressive little SUV. It looks terrific, is surprisingly roomy inside, and the interior has a distinctive style combined with impressive standard technology. With a few exceptions, it seems worth more than the sticker price, and perceived value is always a surefire way to put a smile on a car owner’s face.
Christian Wardlaw is a veteran digital automotive journalist with nearly 30 years of experience in test-driving vehicles. In addition to JDPower.com, his work has appeared in numerous new- and used-car buying guides, newspapers, and automotive industry trade journals.
