2024 Buick Envista

As crossovers and SUVs continue to overtake sedans and small cars in popularity, sedan-coupe-SUV chimeras are becoming a dime a dozen, and now, Buick is in on the action with a new subcompact crossover called the Envista. The 2024 Buick Envista is aimed at a more youthful demographic and will showcase the design language introduced by the Wildcat EV Concept. From what we've seen so far, the Envista will take Buick to a whole new level from where it started as the small-SUV segment pioneer a decade ago. And, with its low starting price, the automaker's confidence that this will be a hard package to beat seems more and more likely.

See all Trims and Specs

The new Buick Envista crossover SUV enters production in May 2023; the release date for the Buick Envista is set for the summer of 2023.

One of GM's main aims for the Envista was to make the most affordable crossover in this segment while still offering a high-quality product laden with cutting-edge technology. To this end, the price of the 2024 Buick Envista seems to tick that box: The base Preferred model has an MSRP of $23,495, while the Sport Touring (ST) trim will cost $25,195. The top-spec Avenir goes on sale for $29,695, meaning you can get a fully-loaded premium subcompact SUV for under $30k before options and destination fees are added.

As far as rivals go, the 2024 Envista might be playing in the sandbox alone; luxury automakers don't really sell anything this small, and the Volvo XC40, Audi Q3, and Mini Countryman are all too pricey. Instead, the Mazda CX-30 is perhaps the closest rival to the new Envista, with a little bit of cannibalization from the Buick Encore GX.

The Envista is an important addition to the Buick stable because it's the first product to fully showcase the new, modern design language we saw on the Wildcat concept. This is the most stylish and sexy Buick to date, with the Envista exterior characterized by a low-profile, coupe-like roofline and sleek new nose design - totally different from the traditionally boxy shape we're used to from the brand. The new Buick emblem is mounted above an all-new grille, flanked by signature wing lighting that echoes through to the theme at the rear end. The lighting setup features LED checkmark lamps.

Along the side, fluid-motion lines draw the eye along the fender forms and towards the rear, where the roofline tapers into a coupe-like tailgate. There is loads of brightware to accentuate the flowing lines and features heavily around the glass, giving it a crisp yet elegant overall look. These - together with the exterior mirrors - are blacked out on ST models.

While we assume base models will get 17- or 18-inch wheels as standard, the sporty ST trim comes with standard all-black 18-inch wheels with upgrades to 19-inch items available. The top-end Avenir is blessed with bespoke Pearl Nickel 19-inch wheels.

We don't have details on what colors the Buick Envista will have access to, but we recognize Buick's Sapphire Metallic from the pictures, although the red pictured here has a unique hue that doesn't quite reflect the deep Cinnabar we're familiar with. A new color that is unique to the ST trim is quite possible.

The Envista sits between the Encore GX and the Envision in the lineup and shares a platform with the Chevrolet Trax, the corporate cousin to the GX. Dimensions for the Buick Envista, taken from the Chinese variant, include a wheelbase of 106.3 inches, a total length of 182.6 inches, a width spanning 71.5 inches, and a height of 61.6 inches.

We're unsure exactly how much the Envista will weigh, as the Chinese market model has a curb weight of 3,163 pounds. We expect the US-bound model to weigh in at around the same, give or take a few pounds, considering it comes with a different powertrain and alternate features list.

Whereas the pioneering model launched in China has a 1.5-liter engine powering it, the one we'll get stateside comes with a high-performance 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic. Its specs are 136 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. The Buick Envista's engine is tuned to get up to peak torque quicker and to hold on to it for longer, but our experience with this particular engine has been mixed, as at altitude it suffers from lag and struggled with pulling away on uphills.

The mill itself is lighter than in other applications, and it uses fewer parts to reduce weight and increase efficiency; the aim here isn't top speed or blistering 0-60 mph times.

With its compact size, the Envista will hopefully be a hoot to thread through traffic. It should still provide a comfortable ride, though, and the Watts Link suspension setup on the top two trims will ensure a quiet, isolated ride. We assume a front-wheel drive setup is standard with AWD as an available option.

The Encore GX uses a similar base power plant with similar hp and torque figures, and it achieves gas mileage figures of 29/31/30 mpg with FWD. This seems in line with our expectations of the Envista's mpg figures, which the automaker claims to be at 30 mpg on the combined cycle. Considering the brief is to be economical as a whole, the Envista will likely be lighter on fuel than its siblings.

Being different on the outside wasn't good enough for designers, and the Buick Envista's interior needed to set it apart from the rest of the lineup, too. The interior is characterized by space and a sense of airiness and light. There are long windows to enable this. Cabin space has been optimized by an ergonomic layout over a long wheelbase to ensure there is more legroom than in any small SUV from the brand that's gone before.

Stepping inside, buyers are treated to a neat design with a modern and upscale feel. The dashboard is covered in soft-touch materials and hosts 19 inches of screen real estate for the driver's information cluster and the infotainment setup. The layout is uncluttered and provides easy access to the controls. Eleven inches of this is reserved for the infotainment alone, which - like on the upcoming 2024 Buick Encore GX - is the best in the class in terms of size. Envista cars will have an enhanced user interface design with voice recognition to make driver interactions more intuitive, so less time is spent with eyes off the road.

All models in the range feature a premium flat-bottom steering wheel and the brand's signature QuietTuning system to keep the cabin serene on the go. We're not sure yet exactly what materials will be on offer - cloth and leatherette on the base are likely - but the ST models show off colorful contrast stitching and embossed logos in the headrests with faux leather upholstery. The Avenir gets perforated seat inserts and detailed stitching - heating and ventilation are likely inclusions at this point.

As for interior features on the Buick Envista, we know that the Driver Confidence Package will be standard on all models, which includes six active safety and driver assists such as auto emergency braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and more. A high-definition rearview camera is standard, and the options list avails lane change alert with side blind zone alert, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Despite being a little bigger than the Encore GX, cargo space in the Buick Envista is a little less, courtesy of that gorgeous sloping roofline. Behind the back row, there are 20.7 cubic feet of space available. Fold the Buick Envista's seats down, and you get 42 cubes. It'll be sufficient for daily use, and many will take the trunk space compromise for the improved looks. A power liftgate will be available.