2018 Buick Envision

As a midsize crossover SUV, the 2018 Buick Envision seats five and is available in five trims. The base Envision is mated to 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and comes standard with only front wheel drive. Meanwhile, you can add all-wheel drive to Preferred and Essence trim. The Premium and Premium II trims have standard all-wheel drive which is mated to the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. Buick offers a six-speed automatic transmission on all Envisions.

Trims	Envision 1SV	Preferred	Essence	Premium	Premium II
MSRP(2WD)	$34,015	$36,865	$38,715	N/A	N/A
MSRP(AWD)	N/A	$38,715	$40,565	$43,315	$45,955
Features	2.5L 4-cylinder Front Wheel Drive	2.5L 4-cylinder engine with	Includes or replaces features on Preferred, plus:	Includes or replaces features on Essence, plus:	Includes or replaces features on Premium, plus:
	Premium cloth seating and Heated Seats	Premium cloth seating and heated front seats
	Hands-free power lift	Hands-free power liftgate	Leather-appointed seating with heated front seats and outboard rear seats	2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine	Head-Up Display
	Buick Infotainment System with Apple Car Play and Android Auto	Buick Infotainment System with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility	Chrome roof rack side rails	Intelligent all-wheel drive with Active Twin Clutch	GPS navigation system
			18-inch 10-spoke polished aluminum wheels	19-inch aluminum Manoogian Silver finish wheels	Cooled front seats
			Rear Cross Traffic Alert	HiPer Strut front suspension	Automatic Parking Assist

Confused? We will help you find the best trim

Go with the Premium or Premium II as they come mated to a zesty turbocharged engine rather than the sluggish 2.5-liter base engine. These trims also offer plenty of advanced safety techs along with luxurious interior. The base trim although offers a lot of features and is a good choice to go for if engine power is not that important to you.

"Power is sufficient with the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, but you may want more if you plan to pile in the kids and load the SUV down with a week’s worth of camping equipment. The standard 6-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly, but it’s antiquated compared to the 7- and 8-speed units in the Audi Q5. The 252-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which is standard on the top Premium models, is more satisfying". -Kelley Blue Book

Engine and Transmission

Buick has offered the 2018 Envision with two engine specifications. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that churns out 197 horsepower and 192-pound-feet of torque sends power to front wheel drive and is standard on the base, Preferred and Essence. Top trims Premium and Premium II gets a zestier turbocharged 2.0-liter engine (252 hp, 260-pound-feet of torque) that sends power to the four wheels. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard on the 2018 Buick Envision which delivers smooth performance but feels antiquated.

Models	Buick Envision 1SV	Acura RDX	Chevrolet Equinox	Ford Edge
MSRP	$34,015	$36,000	$24,575	$29,220
Engine	2.5-liter DOHC Inline 4 engine	3.5-liter port injection V-6 engine	1.5-liter turbo Inline 4 engine	2.0-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine
Transmission	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic
Power	197 hp	279 hp	170 hp	245 hp
Torque	192 lb-ft	252 lb-ft	203 lb-ft	275 ft-lbs.

Acceleration

There is enough power with the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine to merge into highway traffic. The base engine is however uninspiring and feels sluggish. It takes 7.0 seconds to go form 0-60 which is average for the class. In terms of quarter mile also the 2018 Buick Envision is not fastest of the lot as it gets strong competition form the Acura RDX which is the fastest in the segment.

Models	Buick Envision 1SV	Acura RDX	Chevrolet Equinox	Ford Edge
0-60 MPH	7.0 sec	6.2 sec	8.5 sec	7.3 sec
Quarter mile	15.4 sec @ 88.5 mph	14.8 sec @ 93.8 mph	16.9 sec @ 91.2 mph	15.7 sec @ 85 mph
Engine	2.5L	3.5L	1.5L	2.0L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.0	7.7	6.3	7.4

Braking and Handling

The 2018 Buick Envision offers a cushioned and laid-back cruising. The steering feels light making maneuvering in a tight spot easy. The Envision rides well over smooth and rough surfaces as the suspension soaks up most bumps in the road. You can also hustle it down a winding road with confidence. Still, if you want more adventure behind the wheels, consider buying the 2018 Acura RDX that offers a sportier handling.

Model	Buick Envision 1SV	Acura RDX	Chevrolet Equinox	Ford Edge
Brake Front(in)	12.6	12.3	11.8	13.6
Brake Rear(in)	12.4	12.0	11.3	12.4
Curb Weight(lbs)	3755	3737	3274	3927
60-0 MPH (ft.)	127	122	119	125

Brakes meanwhile are one of the biggest negative as the midsize SUV takes 127 feet to come to a halt from 60 mph. These numbers are uninspiring as the Buick Envision is one of the priciest SUV in the segment. The Acura RDX with a low base price offers better braking distance.

Towing Capacity

Towing capacity is at par with the rivals as most in the class haul not more than 1,500 pounds that’s enough to take care of smaller chores. If your need requires towing small boats or ATVs then go with the BMW X3 that is rated to tow 4,409-pounds. The X3 price matches the Envision’s Premium trim and offers a lot more than the Buick in every aspect.

Model	Buick Envision 1SV	Acura RDX	Chevrolet Equinox	Ford Edge
Drive Train	2WD	2WD	2WD	2WD
Power Train	2.5L	3.5L	1.5L	2.0L
Capacity(lbs)	1500	1500	1500	1500

With the base engine the 2018 Buick Envision checks in at 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined. These numbers are good considering rivals like the Acura and the Ford. The Chevy Equinox meanwhile offers best in class fuel economy and is also priced very low. So, if you are looking for an SUV that does most of your job without making more stops at the gas station then the Chevrolet Equinox makes for a good choice but then you will have to compromise on other things. The turbocharged engine meanwhile on the Premium and Premium II trims offers 20/26/22 mpg.

Model	Buick Envision 1SV	Acura RDX	Chevrolet Equinox	Ford Edge
MPG (city)	22	20	26	20
MPG (highway)	29	28	32	29
MPG (combined)	25	23	28	24

"The 2018 Buick Envision’s cabin has handsome, modern styling, and mostly high-quality materials. Still, you may find some cheap plastics that don’t match the level of opulence found in many luxury-badged competitors. The seats in both rows are comfortable and spacious, and the numerous tech features are easy to use. The Envision has less overall cargo space than many other luxury compact SUVs". -Cars.usnews.com

Interior Seating and Comfort

There is plenty of legroom in the front seat, and there is ample thigh support to keep you comfortable on a long trip. The rear seats meanwhile slide and recline to match the need of the passenger. The noise cancellation system cuts most of the noise coming from outside and the drivers get a good view of the road. There is also a full set of LATCH in the rear seat for attaching child car seat. Standard seating feature includes:

• Cloth upholstery
• Heated and power adjustable front seats
• Leather upholstery (Optional)
• Heated steering wheel (Optional)
• Ventilated front seats (Optional)
• Heated rear seat(Optional)

Model	Buick Envision 1SV	Acura RDX	Chevrolet Equinox	Ford Edge
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Passenger Volume(ft cube)	100.6	103.5	103.2	113.9
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg)(In.)	40/57/40.9	38.7/58.7/42.0	40/57.2/40.9	40.2/60.3/42.6
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg)(In.)	38.5/55.8/37.5	38.1/57.2/38.3	38.5/55.5/39.7	40.3/60.5/40.6

Infotainment

The 2018 Buick Envision comes loaded with a plethora of high tech feature and the IntelliLink infotainment system is easy to use. The on-screen menus are easily navigable and intuitive. There is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, that lets you use some of your phone’s app directly on the touchscreen. Standard infotainment feature includes:

• Wi-Fi hotspot
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Two USB ports
• Bluetooth
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Cargo Space

The 2018 Buick Envision offers 26.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats, and 57.3 cubic feet with them folded. These numbers present a dismal show as rivals offer better cargo capacity. Still, the rear seat slide and fold so that you can customize the cargo space according to your need. The low cargo floor also makes for easy loading and unloading of items. A hands-free power liftgate comes standard.

Model	Buick Envision 1SV	Acura RDX	Chevrolet Equinox	Ford Edge
Volume behind 2nd row (cube ft.)	26.9	26.1	29.9	39.2
2nd row folded (cube ft.)	57.3	61.3	63.5	73.4

"Buick’s designers have created a shape that is handsome, well-proportioned and subtle in its detailing. At first the Envision comes off as overly conservative, maybe even a little plain, but look closer and you’ll find its sculpted sides, wide stance and the intricate curve of its C-pillar. Buick has also kept the chrome to a minimum, limiting the brightwork to the Envision’s shapely grille and a delicate stripe that artfully dissects its clean taillights."- Kelley Blue Book

Dimension and Weight

The 2018 Buick Envision gets a waterfall grille along with swoopy lines in the front fascia that gives it an understated elegance making it look handsome and well proportioned. At 74.4 inches from side to side, the Envision is relatively narrow against some of its competitors but it does not reveal that from outside.

Model	Buick Envision 1SV	Chevrolet Equinox	Ford Edge	Acura RDX
Curb weight(lbs)	3755	3737	3274	3927
Length(in)	183.7	184.4	183.1	188.1
Width(in)	74.4	73.7	72.6	75.9
Height(in)	66.8	65.0	65.4	68.6
Ground clearance(in)	6.8	8.1	6.9	7.9
Wheelbase(in)	108.3	105.7	107.3	112.2
Track width(in) F/R	62/62	63.1/63.4	62.2/62.2	64.8/64.7

Exterior Feature

• 18″ 10-spoke polished aluminum wheels
• Chrome roof rail
• Automatic delay headlamps-When you park and exit the vehicle, the automatic delay feature allows the headlamps to remain on to light your way
• Halogen composite headlamps
• Front fog lamps

Both the federal and private agency have banged tested the 2018 Buick Envision and it has performed well in the crash test. The NHSTA gave the Envision a five star overall but a four star for rollover and frontal crash protection. The IIHS meanwhile awarded it with a Top Safety Pick.

In terms of reliability, the Buick has covered the 2018 Envision with a 4 -year / 50,000-mile warranty and a 6 -year/ 70,000-mile powertrain warranty.

NHTSA Ratings
Overall Rating	5 star
Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating	4 star
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver	4 star
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger	4 star
Overall Side Crash Rating	5 star
Overall Side Barrier Rating	5 star
Side Barrier Rating Driver	5 star
Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat	5 star
Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat	5 star
Combined Side Rating Front Seat	5 star
Rollover Rating	4 star

The Car has done well in the IIHS ratings and the Ratings are a testimony of the same fact.

IIHS Ratings
Small overlap front driver side	Good
Small overlap front passenger side	N/A
Moderate overlap front	Good
Side	Good
Roof strength	Good
Head restraints & seats	Good

Crash Avoidance and Mitigation
Front crash prevention	Advanced
Headlights	Acceptable
Child seat anchors (LATCH) ease of use	Marginal

Safety Features

There is a reason that the Envision has not earned top safety score as it has restricted most advanced safety tech like the automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and surround view camera to only top trims bundled in costly Driver Confidence Package. That’s a disgrace for the company as most of the rivals have made these features optional at much lower cost.

Rear View Camera

Dual-Stage Front Airbags

Front Seat-Mounted side impact airbags

Safety Canopy System with Side Curtain Airbags

Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children)

SOS Post-Crash Alert System

Belt-Minder front safety belt reminder

Illuminated entry

Remote Keyless Entry System

SecuriLock passive anti-theft system

Child-safety rear door locks

SecuriCode keyless entry keypad

Perimeter alarm

Buick Envision Vs Chevrolet Equinox

The Chevrolet Equinox has gone under the blade for the 2018 model year and it is better value for money than the 2018 Buick Envision. There are some plastics cladding inside the SUV but they are well placed. Higher trims feel plush and roomy inside. Some of the features like the Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi hotspot are also available in the Equinox but the Envision cost $10,000 less. Equinox also has better fuel economy and offer more cargo capacity.

Buick Envision Vs Ford Edge

Ford Edge is a nice alternative over Buick Envision if you want a sportier ride. The Edge offers a zesty 4-cylinder engine an also a twin turbo V6. It also offers a cushioned ride and feels nimble around corners, especially in the Sports trim. The Buick, on the other hand, has a plush interior and earns more safety rating than its Ford rivals.

2018 Buick Envision Vs Acura RDX

The Acura RDX is one of the best midsize SUV at the price tag. It offers better cargo capacity and more interior space than its Buick rival. It is also more athletic on wheels and offers better driving dynamics. The RDX also has more ground clearance than the Buick and is a better off-roader. It is, however, $1,600 pricier than the Buick Envision but it makes those extra bucks worth.

The 2018 Buick Envision is a decent SUV and is worth a look with its plush interior, comfy ride and a long list of standard and optional feature. However, the Envision loses some points because of its cheap material quality which does not feel luxury and some rivals like the Acura RDX offer better interior at almost the same price. Driving dynamics are also poor and it also scores low in crash tests.