2024 Buick Envista

Let’s start off with one of my irritators during my time with the Envista - the turbo lag. It got to the point that I would get on the accelerator a good two seconds before I wanted the vehicle to start accelerating, like as I start going over a speed bump rather than while coming off the other side of it. A minor inconvenience, I suppose, and something that many drivers might not be annoyed by at all, but if you are used to getting going asap when you hit the accelerator it will take some time to adjust your driving…

Interior

Our test vehicle is fitted with black leather seats that included a stylish blue stitching - a good-looking detail that really heightens the overall look and feel of the interior. This Buick may be an entry-level auto, but it does have a good solid look to it.

As an entry level car, there’s not a whole bunch of bells and whistles, but that’s fine - there’s not supposed to be. Even so, one can rest assured that - being a GM - you’ll have OnStar onboard and your mobile phone(s) will hook up to the car wirelessly, GM’s infotainment system is keeping with the times, regardless of what model you choose.

The front seats are comfortable and the dashboard is laid out in a classic “entry level” vehicle way. There’s plenty of space for driver and passenger, and I like how the interior engineers have stuck the sport pedals in this car - it is definitely not a sports car…

The backseat actually has a surprising amount of legroom - I’m 6 foot tall and really have no restraints for my legs. However, 6 foot tall is probably the max height you want anybody in the backseat to be because I’m very close to hitting my head. Thankfully I’m bald - had I had big fluffy hair it would get squished.

The middle seat in the back does not have a headrest. Does that mean this is not a five seater? In my mind it does, but on paper it doesn’t seem to matter (there are five seat belts). A younger kid - whose head does not come up high enough - will not have a problem at all sitting in the middle, but I would never put an adult in the middle back there - that’s a whiplash waiting to happen.

Technology

The adaptive cruise control is a standard adaptive cruise control - it’s nowhere near the "self driving” or “driving assist” programs available in many other cars, including GM automobiles. This cruise will make sure you stay at a safe distance form the car in front of you, which is absolutely awesome, and I’m loving the fact that it’s in this entry-level GM vehicle.

The Buick Envista has a warning feature that will project a warning on to the windshield in front of you if you’re closing in and/or coming in too hot on the car in front of you. It’s not a heads up display unfortunately (I really do like those!), but it does show the warning lights in front of you in the same place as a heads up display would, which is nice.

Driving Characteristics

The Buick Envista is an all-around good car. Is it an absolute joy to drive? No, but it’s not supposed to be either. This is supposed to be a car that moves people from place A to place B - and it does that well. Solid.

Writing about the driving characteristics of a Buick Envista is hard, not because it’s bad, but because there isn’t much too exciting to say. Steering is normal. Ride comfort if normal. If you whip around a corner too quick you’ll get a bit of understeer (especially when the turbo kicks in), but that is also to be expected.

Entering the freeway is where the lack of immediate power becomes apparent. You do not have a bunch of horses to rely on to get up and going, so you’ll need to plan your driving a bit better and keep in mind that you can’t “jump into holes” in the passing lanes. If that’s your driving style, please stop it, but also: this might be the wrong car for you. But if you’re a normal person driving normal people to normal things in a normal fashion, this the Buick Envista should definitely be a car to consider - it’ll do that job just fine.

And yes, you’ll get used to the turbo lag.

Exterior

The Buick Envista exterior definitely keeps with the times. The thin headlights and very swooping rear give it a somewhat aggressive stance, but without sacrificing on the premium feeling and elegance that Buick stands for. Does the Envista stick out from the crowd? No, not really - again the Envista stays in the “normal” (looking) segment. It’s not going to get a bunch of looks (although I doubt a Buick driver is one to fancy that anyway) from pedestrians, but it is still a nice-looking car.

Summary

To quote directly from Buick’s press release: “The Envista will be one of the most affordable SUVs in the segment, yet it will still come standard with high-quality materials, design and technologies. Starting at $23,495, it is a premium crossover designed to attract migrating sedan owners, young professionals and small families to the Buick portfolio.” I like how we’re ok with using the word “premium” for a $23k crossover and then using the same word to describe the $100k vehicle as well. Anyway, I guess premium is assumed to be in relation to the price..? And as long as that’s the case, then yeah, I’ll go with “premium”.