The Buick Envision is the first mainstream car sold in the United States that's built in China
Buick Envision: Is This Domestic Crossover a Worthy Chinese Import?
The Buick Envision walks the tricky near-luxury tightrope. But like the recently announced Buick Regal wagon and hatchback, it’s is filling big gaps in Buick’s vehicle offerings.
There are some great points about this mid-size crossover SUV, and there are also some questionable attributes. Let’s have a look at the 2017 Buick Envision.
Chinese Roots
Most of the controversy associated with the Buick Envision, which launched last year, is that it’s one of the first mainstream cars sold in the United States that’s built in China. It can be a touchy subject with some people, especially these days.
About the closest thing in the whole GM portfolio when it comes to weird origins is the Chevrolet SS Sedan. That wears a Chevy bowtie badge, but is made by Holden in Australia. And the car is sadly going the way of the dodo.
Can the Buick Envision win over critics? Some shoppers might not even look at it, based on the fact it hails from China. Millennials, on the other hand, are more likely to give it a try.
The thing is, with a base price that starts at $34,065 and climbs steeply from there, most first-time car buyers can’t even begin to afford the thing. It’s on par with true luxury compact SUVs from more alluring brands.
On Paper
You can get the Buick Envision in five trims: the base Envision, Preferred, Essence, Premium I and Premium II. When you look at just the Envision’s specs, it’s apparent this vehicle is a mixed bag. For starters, Buick offers two engines.
The base 2.5-liter four-banger squeezes out 197 horsepower and 192 lb.-ft. of torque. Ten years ago, that would’ve been impressive. Today, with the beefing up of vehicles, that’s nothing to get excited about.
The better option is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Thanks to the forced induction, the smaller block throttles out a much healthier 252 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque.
Both engines work with a six-speed automatic transmission. While front-wheel drive is standard with the first engine and all-wheel drive is optional, you can only get all-wheel drive with the turbocharged engine. Some people have actually complained about that, but I view all-wheel drive as the most logical layout for a vehicle like this.
Other details include a MacPherson strut front suspension, if you opt for the naturally aspirated engine. For the turbo version, Buick uses a HiPer Strut. A four-link independent rear suspension is standard throughout the lineup.
This SUV tips the scale at 3,755 pounds dry, if you don’t get all-wheel drive, which porks it up to a stout 3,929 pounds. With the right equipment, you can tow a measly 1,500 pounds.
Since this is a utility vehicle, at least in theory, it should feature good cargo. Behind the rear seats is 26.9 cubic feet of space, or 57.3 cubic feet if you fold down the seats, which is about average. Front and rear headroom/legroom is actually pretty decent compared to the best vehicles for tall drivers.
Enough numbers. Vehicles are more than the sum of their parts.
First Impressions
When you get close enough to the Envision, it’s obvious this thing isn’t your father’s Buick. It definitely fits with the new brand design language, featuring just a hint of European flavoring.
The interior is modern, with a few avant-garde designs you probably wouldn’t expect from Buick. The grouped controls, while they might look interesting, actually make finding what you need easier. I’m a big fan of symmetry in center stacks, so the panel surrounding the infotainment screen bothers me, but that’s purely preference.
I’m surprised Buick uses an all-analog gauge cluster. Most cars, especially those that are luxury or near-luxury models, have at least a small digital screen in the center. The traditional gear selector is appreciated, because I’m not a fan of the push-button setups, like what Lincoln keeps pushing.
Overall, interior materials are nice, but I’m not sure they justify the high price. The seats are fairly comfortable, which seems to be the theme with this vehicle – so much is middle-of-the-road.
I love the split lid in the front center console, something you get with other Buicks. It allows me to keep my elbow propped on the armrest while driving, but the front passenger can still get in the other side for essential items without making me move.
Behind the Wheel
I took a turbo Envision for a spin, because I already knew the naturally aspirated model would be wheezy at best. It felt a little high-strung, like a caffeinated jack rabbit, but at least I wasn’t wondering when the engine would respond after I pushed on the accelerator.
While it felt strong in low RPMs, pushing it on the freeway quickly exposed the engine’s limits. Making a pass on a two-lane road would require plenty of space. I’ll admit the transmission was quite smooth, and the all-wheel drive seemed to hold up under quick maneuvers.
Handling was about what I expected from a small SUV: mushy. The body leaned through turns, warning me to back off. You can’t really carve up the roads in this thing, but you can’t do that with competitors. At least the suspension soaks up all but big potholes, and the interior stays quiet at freeway speeds.
Too Much Middle of the Road
Overall, the Buick Envision isn’t a bad vehicle, but I wouldn’t say it’s a good one, either. It has some highs, some lows, and a whole lot of mediocrity.
In other words, it’s the perfect option for a very specific portion of the population: people who don’t care too much about performance, value comfort above all, have too much money, and don’t care it’s made in China.
