2021 Buick Envision

Completely redesigned for the 2021 model year and available in three different trims, the car is set to take on a whole new challenge. It gets in your 2 L turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine across all the trim levels. It competes against the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Lincoln Corsair.

There are three trim levels offered with the latest generation of Buick’s crossover SUV and these are called Preferred, Essence, and Avenir. Price starts at MSRP $32,995 for the front-wheel-drive version and all-wheel-drive is available in every single trim level for an extra $1800. It has great features right from the base trim as standard and is very well loaded in the higher trim levels.

Which trim should you buy?

 The midrange Essence trim seems to be the pick of the lot as it is only a $4000 upgrade from the base version but gets features like a power-operated rear lift-gate, heated front seats, a larger information display as well as 18-inch wheels. Great optional packages are also available such as the Sport Touring Package.

Powering the Buick Envision is a 2 L in-line turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is much more powerful than before. This engine is good for 230 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. The transmission is a nine-speed automatic while front-wheel-drive is the powertrain option as standard. All-wheel-drive is a relatively inexpensive addition at $1800.

The new engine is capable of delivering a 0 to 60 mph time of just 7.3 seconds which is not the most exciting thing you have seen. However, in this car, it feels definitely adequate. One does feel that even then your engine does not quite cut it as a performance bargain.

The Buick is significantly cheaper than its German rivals and hence a direct comparison would be unjust. However, the rivals also offer better performance which is very much evident from the acceleration times. The BMW and Audi around the league of their own while the Buick and the Lincoln are left to pick up scraps left behind.

How well does the 2021 Buick Envision SUV handle?

One of the biggest weaknesses of the Buick is that it does not feel very quick and its handling does not exactly help this cause either. There is a considerable amount of body roll that can be felt in every corner but it does retain some sense of composure wherever it goes. What upsets us is that the previous generation actually had much better handling.

However, the Buick has an excellent ride quality that is very smooth over imperfections on the road. The steering is quite decent as well. It doesn’t give the best feedback but is very direct and is very easy to operate. Overall, the handling of the car would leave a bit to be desired but compensates with its ride quality.

2021 Buick Envision SUV Braking Performance

Being the lightest car in its category at 3755 pounds, braking performance is expected to be good in the Buick Envision. The 12.6-inch front rotors and 12.4 inch rear rotors are enough to bring the car to a halt from 60 mph in 126 feet which is not at all impressive. The car desperately needs better brakes to stay relevant in terms of performance.

As we have observed before, the German rivals are simply that much more effective as performance machines despite costing extra. The Audi and BMW have 60 to 0 stopping distances around 113 feet, the Buick and Lincoln only managed to stop at 126 feet which is a huge difference. What’s surprising is that the American cars are actually much lighter and yet the other two managed to have better braking performance.

The 2 L engine from Buick returns a notable 24 MPG in the city, 31 MPG on the highway, and 26 MPG in the combined cycle which makes good sense considering the car can produce 230 hp. The fuel tank capacity is 15.9 gallons which are small but that is enough to have a range of up to 493 miles on the highway and 382 miles inside the city.

So far the Buick powertrain was quite impressive but it has truly started to shine once we have started discussing fuel efficiency. It is not only quite economical but also the most fuel-efficient car in its category. The next best car remains the BMW X3 which is surprising because it has good performance as well. Then comes the Audi and then the Lincoln which is almost the three MPG deficit.

The Buick Envision benefits a lot from having a redesign this year because the interiors are as modern as they come. There are a lot of standard features as well, especially things like quilted leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and massaging driver seats in the highest trim level. There is a 10.3-inch digital device that conveys all the necessary information. However, one gripe we have against the car is that the material quality can definitely be much better.

 Another surprise is that the interior is pretty roomy even though the car looks small from the outside. The cargo capacity suffers a bit with the current redesign, dropping down to just 25.7 ft.³. However, we are happy to report that the lack of space does not apply to the passenger compartment.

All the cars in this category offer seating for five passengers and are nearly similarly spacious in both rows. When it comes to cargo capacity, the BMW seems to be the clear winner again with up to 62.7 ft.³ when the seats are folded. The Buick has the least cargo capacity of the bunch. Some standard features include:

• Ambient interior lighting
• Heated front passenger seats
• Panoramic power mono-roof
• Heated steering wheel
• Optional heated rear outboard seats
• Perforated leather seats

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Buick offers two different touchscreen infotainment systems – an 8-inch system in the base trim and a 10.2-inch system in the higher trim levels. The 2021 redesign also allows wireless integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which feels like a blessing. Other features include built-in navigation, wireless charging, satellite radio, Wi-Fi hotspot, and so on. 

There is a six-speaker audio system available as standard which is upgraded to a seven-speaker audio system in the higher trim level. One can also equip a nine-speaker Bose system by equipping the Technology Package which also adds in-dash navigation. Some features of the infotainment system include: 

• Heads Up Display
• Sirius XM
• 10-inch Infotainment Screen
• Onboard Navigation
• Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• Amazon Alexa Connectivity
• Spotify Music
• Optional 9-Speaker Bose Audio System

In terms of looks, the car has definitely come a long way from the previous generation. It looks much more modern and well-integrated all the way around. In fact, it is now that the car has the looks needed to compete in a category with rivals like the BMW X3 and the Audi Q5. Whatever Buick’s new design direction is, we are pretty much confident about it.

The Buick is the lightest car in the segment while the Audi Q5 is the heaviest. Despite the shortened length, it is not the shortest car in the segment. In terms of ground clearance too, the Buick has the advantage of having nearly 7.9 inches of it which makes it quite capable of the road when equipped with an all-wheel-drive. Some standout features include:

• 18" Silver Aluminum Wheels
• Fully adaptive LED headlamps
• Panoramic Moonroof
• Spoiler-mounted solar panel
• Hands-free liftgate

Buick has scored an excellent five stars overall safety rating from the NHTSA which is very significant. But this is hardly surprising since it offers even active safety features like automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with a lane-keeping assist as standard. Available safety features even include adaptive cruise control. Some of the standout safety features include:

• Haptic Safety Alert Systems
• Electronic stability control
• Lane Departure Warning
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Blind Spot Monitor
• Forward collision prevention system
• Occupant sensing airbags
• Traction control
• Driver and passenger side airbag

2021 Buick Envision SUV Vs. 2021 BMW X3

The BMW X3 is a more expensive counterpart but is better in nearly every single parameter. The car is a much better performing vehicle that also has excellent interiors that are in no way comparable to that of the Buick. The BMW is definitely to pick if you have extra money. The interiors have much better materials and overall fit and finish as well.

2021 Buick Envision SUV Vs. 2021 Audi Q5

 The Audi Q5 has the advantage of having its all-wheel-drive powertrain but now since the Buick offers that too, it is hard to pick a winner between these two cars. Due to the fact that the Audi does not have any specific advantage of its own other than the powertrain, we would go with the Buick because it is significantly less expensive. However, the infotainment features of the Audi are much better.

2021 Buick Envision SUV vs. 2021 Lincoln Corsair

The Lincoln Corsair is the one competitor that the Buick defeats without a doubt. Nearly offered at the same price, the Lincoln promises better performance but fails to deliver. However, the Buick is much more well loaded in terms of features and safety and hence feels like the better pick. The Lincoln also feels to be a completely uninspiring product in terms of luxury despite its tall claims.

 The 2021 Buick Envision SUV is a very excellent option from the American manufacturer. It is not the most powerful of the most exciting car segments due to its recent redesign, it is very modern and safe. If one has the means to, the BMW X3 is a better car in nearly every aspect but the Buick does offer a very compelling alternative at a much lower price.