The 2021 Buick Envision inaugurates the second era of what GM’s premium division hopes will turn out to be the staple of its all-crossover lineup. The unique Envision, whereas moderately competent, suffered from ungainly styling and struggled to separate itself from its repute because the built-in-China Buick. Bundle that with a model that has (at finest) an on-again, off-again relationship with being attention-grabbing and you’ve got a recipe for “Who cares?”
Not, says Buick. Whereas it’s nonetheless assembled in China, the 2021 Envision will get a brand new platform, a brand new powertrain, and a whole styling overhaul. Feeling just a little déjà vu? That’s cheap. Buick gave us a promising first take a look at the brand new Envision final summer season, however due to, effectively, you understand, 2020, we’re solely now getting our arms on the ultimate product, and if we had been intrigued in June, we’re impressed in February.
Buick’s first try at a compact CUV was not significantly spectacular, particularly when it got here to design. The Equinox-in-a-dinner-jacket factor by no means actually labored and we’re completely happy to say that the second effort is a big enchancment. The brand new look is genuinely enticing. Just like the Enclave, the Envision borrows cues from the Avenir idea whose title Buick’s product planners appropriated to indicate the model’s top-trim variants. It really works.
Energy comes from a 2.0-liter, turbocharged inline-four producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque as its solely out there engine. Entrance-wheel drive is commonplace; a twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system is non-compulsory. Each setups make the most of a nine-speed computerized transmission. Your creator managed a median of 23 mpg over the course of a 60-mile take a look at loop in opposition to EPA estimates of twenty-two mpg metropolis, 29 mpg freeway and 25 mpg mixed. FWD fashions are rated at 24/31/26, respectively.
Dimension-wise, the Envision is a little bit of an odd duck. One may train an undergrad course on GM’s two-row crossover ecosystem, however suffice it to say that it’s a bit extra intently associated to the Chevrolet Blazer than it’s to the Equinox this time round, regardless of being nearer in measurement to the latter. Throughout the luxurious realm, its size and wheelbase are a couple of inches shorter than these of bigger compact fashions just like the Volvo XC60, Acura RDX and BMW X3, however its rear legroom is larger than all of them. It is really nearer in that measurement to the midsize Lincoln Nautilus. The truth that the Envision’s 25.2 cubic-feet of cargo area is lower than all of them may point out the place Buick discovered all that additional sprawl-out area within the again seat.
So, the Envision’s measurement is a bit uncommon and its engine is, effectively, not. Luckily, that conservative powertrain alternative and ‘tweener footprint assist maintain its curb weight underneath management. A base mannequin weighs simply 3,692 kilos. Even with all of the goodies and all-wheel drive thrown in, it stays under 4,000. We applaud the restraint. Buick says this alternative of platform additionally means the ’21 Envision is decrease and wider than the automotive it changed. We’re undecided whether or not that’s a great factor, strictly talking, however it’s true.
The up to date inside seems like a scaled-down tackle the Enclave’s, and that’s no unhealthy factor. The 8-inch infotainment system comes with commonplace Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wi-fi variations (and wi-fi system charging) out there on larger trims, which additionally function a ten.2-inch display to accommodate the additional goodies (and look higher doing it).
Normal security tech contains lane-keeping help, ahead collision warning with computerized emergency braking and pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, rear parking sensors and GM’s Security Alert seat that vibrates your butt to draw your consideration to all these security programs. You can even add a 360-degree digicam, entrance parking sensors, a head-up show and GM’s rearview digicam mirror.
With a couple of exceptions, GM’s current interiors have been purposeful and feature-rich, if a bit bland. That sample continues right here, the place the supplies seem like moderately high-quality and the design itself nice, however not precisely titillating. The push-/pull-button transmission controls appear awkward and cluttered, however they work. Our “Essence” take a look at car represents the Envision’s center grade, incorporating a heated steering wheel and heated entrance seats, an influence liftgate and a cabin air ionizer.
The Envision’s driving expertise is a mixture of previous and new. The turbocharged 2.0 supplies sufficient energy for assured merging and around-town acceleration. Our Essence lacked the Avenir’s fancy adaptive dampers, and we consequently discovered the experience a bit too plush for our tastes, however not sloppy. It’ll maintain its personal on a curvy again street and pulls straight and true on the freeway with out fixed corrections, which alone is a win. The Envision isn’t meant to carve corners; this can be a Buick, in spite of everything, not a BMW.
Certainly one of our greatest gripes right here is widespread to all of GM’s AWD crossovers. Relatively than the all-wheel-drive system always being on the able to ship energy rearward as circumstances demand (as nearly each different AWD crossover does), the GM system requires the motive force to activate this functionality each time they get within the automotive. That is completed by way of the drive mode selector. Sadly, the Envision will not keep in mind that you beforehand engaged one in all its all-wheel-drive modes and can default again to “Tour” (and due to this fact front-wheel-drive-only) the following time you get behind the wheel. We have now to marvel what number of house owners of Envisions (and different GM crossovers) are driving round considering their AWD crossover is powering all 4 wheels when it is in actual fact not — or, what number of know however will neglect to have interaction the system?
Since we received to pattern the Envision in late February, it was in our look after among the worst climate Michigan has seen to date this winter. The traction and stability management programs are fast to intervene when the floor will get sloppy and they are often considerably heavy-handed about it. We tried powering by a few snowy corners, solely to search out our valuable throttle management taken from us. With the nannies dialed again, we had a lot finer management within the slop, however that wasn’t actually the Envision’s completely happy place.
That might be on the freeway, at a gentle cruise, with the radio going at an inexpensive quantity, however even there, our expertise wasn’t flawless. Buick makes a giant deal about its “QuietTuning” strategy to inside noise management, however both as a result of it may well solely achieve this a lot (or possibly as a result of the cabin is simply that quiet), we famous a shocking quantity of wind noise intrusion from the motive force’s aspect A-pillar. We couldn’t pinpoint the supply or determine any complicating components (ice build-up, and so on.) which may clarify it. It’s simply there.
That exhausts our checklist of quibbles, and its brevity is refreshing. The last-generation Envision was a little bit of a multitude, made solely barely higher by a hasty refresh that solved most of its drivability issues however did nothing to enhance its frumpy exterior. The 2021 mannequin is the actual deal, incomes its place alongside the Enclave, which your creator would title as GM’s most interesting three-row crossover.
Attraction comes at a value, in fact. An AWD Essence mannequin like this one checks in at $38,795 (together with $1,195 for vacation spot) earlier than you add any choices. Throw within the Know-how bundle to get the upgraded infotainment and whatnot and also you’ve crossed the $40,000 barrier. The Avenir, even with simply two pushed wheels, begins at $41,395. Each are considerably costlier than the “equal” (a very beneficiant use of the time period) Chevy Equinox and a pair thousand cheaper than a equally outfitted Cadillac XT4 (the Envision’s platform-mate). Within the latter context, the Buick is a stable worth.
If nothing else, the 2021 Envision elevates the nameplate from being an also-ran to, at minimal, the second-best automotive Buick has to supply. Taking part in second fiddle to the Enclave is nothing to be ashamed of, and we’re taking this as an indication that GM stays dedicated to placing Buick again atop is earlier pedestal. Contemplating it was little greater than punchline a mere decade in the past, we’re inspired.
