Our Rides: An Affordable (And Fun) Buick?!?

When you think of the word “Buick,” what comes to mind?

Demographically speaking, it used to be where older drivers would go for their vehicles. The average age for a Buick was so high, it fostered some bad ageist jokes.

Those jokes no longer exist at General Motors’ premium brand of SUVs and crossovers. Everyone at the Buick brand was told to find ways to lower its average consumer age and attract a younger buyer.

This is what they came up with — an affordable and practical Buick. They call it the Envista.

Before I get into the Buick Envista, a little context is in order.

It used to be that Buick was the “doctor’s car” or the “banker’s car.” A respectable, mid-priced automobile that showed everyone in town who’s an important person to know.

In the 1950s, Buick got caught up in a price war with the rest of the automotive industry. It came down to an advertising campaign that touted its lowest-priced Buick as just a few dollars more than the most expensive Chevrolet. In a thriving economy, that made sense. And, that helped Buick to become the fourth-best-selling brand in 1955.

Things have changed in 69 years. Buick went through a superiority complex as their vehicles were priced between Oldsmobile and Cadillac. They offered luxuries that were optional on every Chevrolet. Even as they downsized their models, they still offered an air of near-luxury that was still luxurious.

Did I mention they built one of the most desirable performance cars of the 1980s?

After losing most of its sales to other premium brands, Buick knew it had to do something. Their popularity in China was fine, but what about its home market where the brand’s image mattered most?

To take all of this and create something a lot of people would buy — including younger consumers new to the brand — the Buick Envista was introduced a year ago. The result was a spike in sales in the face of the slow supply of the vehicle. They saw their average age demographic lowered by almost a generation.

Which is where we pick up the story.

To be honest, the Envista is hard to describe. I was told not to call it a “hatchback.” It is a crossover … or, perhaps a small coupe SUV. Whichever you classify it, the Envista is a vehicle that will lure the younger consumers Buick wants.

The Envista’s design was fashioned into a sleek fastback-like exterior. The roofline is complemented with the newest Buick design cues that were just introduced in the recent Wildcat EV concept vehicle. The split front end is complimented by a large chromed lower grille, a pair of discreet LED headlamp units next to the grille, a slim set of LED turn signal/daytime running lights and the new Buick logo.

The tail end integrated a rear spoiler to the hatchback. A set of vertical LED tail lamps, along with the new logo and badging compliment a handsome rear end. On the Preferred tester, a set of 17-inch alloy wheels complemented the overall design. The Envista’s exterior keeps to its premium brand roots without any clues from its sticker price.

Stepping inside its most affordable trim, it simply looks premium. Nothing over the top, but just a cut above its price point. The fully digital instrumentation cluster is minimalist but customizable. The controls are tactile and easy to use, including the shifter on the center console. 

In the middle of the dashboard is an 11-inch infotainment touchscreen that hosts plenty of vehicle functions along with connectivity options. Wireless smartphone mirroring is included in the Preferred trim level. Playback is pretty good with only six speakers emitting sound throughout the cabin.

The Preferred’s cloth seats were comfortable. The front seats provided plenty of support for any type of driving. Rear seat space was not bad for average adults, but headroom was limited due to the sloping roofline. In terms of cargo space, you get 20.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. With the rear seats folded down, the space expands to 42.0 cubic feet.

Underneath the Envista’s hood is a 137-horsepower 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that puts down 162 pound-feet of torque. It is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels.

This is perhaps the right driveline for this vehicle. It gets up to speed without any issues, with its smooth-shifting transmission. It also cruises quite nicely on the highway. As for fuel economy, the Environmental Protection Agency recorded that the Envista can turn in an average of 30 MPG on a combined loop. 

The driving experience in the Envista was much better than you might expect in an affordable Buick. Ride quality is good, exhibiting a smooth experience on the highway. Through rougher road surfaces, the Envista did well in managing them. Cornering and maneuverability were well-managed and easy to deal with. Add Quiet Tuning to the mix, and you have a Buick. 

The steering system was also very good with a sharp turning radius using its shorter length to its advantage. On-center feel felt solid when keeping within the lane. Braking is also good with an overall solid pedal feel. We experienced solid stops in normal and panic situations. 

As far as pricing is concerned, this 2024 Buick Envista Preferred tester came with a sticker price of $26,475. You read that right: This was a well-equipped Buick priced under $30,000. If you’re looking ahead, pricing for the 2025 Envista starts at $23,700 and you have three trim levels to choose from. Even the luxurious Avenir starts below $30,000!

When I first encountered the Buick Envista, everyone I spoke to apologized for not having one around to even look at. GM slowly started delivering them through the first of this year. These days, you’ll be lucky to find one on the lot. In some places, they do not have anything “in transit” showing on their inventory.

If you are one of the lucky ones to get a Buick Envista — congratulations! If you’re trying to find one — when you do, covet it with your life! That is how hot this Buick is.