The Buick Encore and its slightly larger doppelganger Encore GX have long been oddities as the automaker’s smallest, least luxurious SUVs. Buick finally discontinued the Encore following the 2022 model year, leaving the Encore GX as the brand’s entry-level model. Recently, Buick announced a refreshed 2024 Encore GX, presumably to serve as the brand’s entry-level model for years to come. Not so fast. Buick has now introduced an even more entry-level SUV, the Envista, that slots beneath the Encore GX. The new, small crossover SUV features a long wheelbase, Buick’s new design language first seen on the Wildcat concept vehicle, and a reasonable starting price.
Buick offers the new Envista in three trim levels: Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir. It’s only available with a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. The SUV features a sleek coupe-like body shape that cuts into headroom and cargo space. Still, its longer wheelbase should enable more stable ride quality and a reasonable amount of legroom. The Envista starts at $23,495 and will go on sale in the summer of 2023.
The Envista’s styling is a radical departure from the frumpy, awkward appearance of the Encore GX. It’s the first Buick to fully use the brand’s new design language that debuted with the Wildcat concept car in 2022. The front end features a sharp look with a forward-leaning nose and Buick’s new emblem. Looking at the side profile, one could almost mistake the SUV for a high-riding sedan, as its coupe body style gives it a unique car-like look.
Buick offers 18- and 19-inch wheel choices and the SUV gets a new headlight design with standard LED checkmark daytime running lights. Exterior accents differ between trims, with the Sport Touring getting a dark exterior look and the upscale Avenir offering body-color accents.
Buick says owners will be “surprised by the spaciousness and sense of lightness that flows throughout.” Though the back side windows taper and appear to get smaller toward the back of the vehicle, the long window openings let in good light. Buick notes that the long wheelbase affords more legroom than its other small SUVs.
The Envista has a sporty flat-bottom steering wheel, and cloth upholstery with leatherette accents is standard. Sport Touring and Avenir trims get unique stitching in the headrest, and heated power-adjustable seats are available. Folding rear seats come standard, and the SUV can hold items up to 7.5 feet long. With the rear seats up, the Envista offers 20.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which expands to 42 cubic feet with the seats down.
The Envista gets the same turbocharged 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine that powers the base Encore GX. It makes 136 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque and sends it exclusively to the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission. Buick says the engine is lighter and less complex than before, using fewer parts. In terms of fuel economy, the automaker expects the new Envista to reach 30 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
The Envista’s wheelbase is longer than the Encore GX’s, which Buick says gives it a more stable, comfortable ride and confident handling. A Watts Link suspension system, which Buick says stabilizes vehicle movement and improves handling and comfort, comes standard on the Avenir and is available for the mid-range ST trim.
The Buick Driver Confidence package of advanced driver assistance systems comes standard on the Envista. It brings automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rearview camera mirror. Buyers can add blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Envista is too new for crash-test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Buick equips an 11-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 8-inch digital gauge cluster in the new Envista. According to Buick, the display is the largest in the segment and brings voice controls, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and some vehicle controls. Buick includes separate physical controls for the climate system, and the steering wheel retains tactile physical controls.
The 2024 Envista faces many fantastic small crossovers, including the top-selling Honda HR-V. The Chevrolet Trax is all-new for 2024, featuring sharp styling and a surprisingly nice-looking interior. The Hyundai Venue may also be on shoppers’ lists, but it’s less expensive and is predictably less premium. The Envista will also likely face direct competition from within the same brand as it shares dealership floorspace with Buick’s own Encore GX. Other possible Envista competitors include the Mazda CX-30 and Volkswagen Taos, though they offer better performance.
Buick is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of April 17, 2023, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Chris Teague is an experienced writer in the automotive and technology fields. In addition to JDPower.com, his work appears at Forbes, The Drive, Your Test Driver, and others.
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