2021 Buick Envision Road Test and Review

2021 Buick Envision Front Quarter ・ Photo by Nicole Wakelin

The 2021 Buick Envision is all-new with a fresh look, upgraded features, and a new powertrain. This five-person crossover sits in the middle of Buick’s SUV lineup above the smaller Encore GX and below the larger Enclave. This gives it just-right sizing and just-right pricing within reach of more buyers. It’s available in three trim levels, including the Avenir, which is a badge reserved only for the most premium Buicks.

Crossovers are a competitive segment with lots of choices from affordable and utilitarian to those with luxury car pedigrees. The Envision aims toward the luxury end of the spectrum with rich trims, sleek styling, and a quiet, plush interior. There’s also a long list of standard features to add to its luxury appeal. Let’s take a closer look at the 2021 Buick Envision to see if this luxury crossover is the right one for your needs.

Three Elegant Trim Levels

There’s a choice of three Envision trims with front-wheel or all-wheel drive across the lineup. The base Preferred starts at $32,995 with standard features including six-speaker audio with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight-way power driver’s seat. It also has standard automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, and lane-keeping assist. As a luxury brand, even the base trim of the Envision is well-equipped.

Priced at $36,995, the Essence adds a hands-free power liftgate, a 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, seven-speaker audio, and an eight-way power front passenger seat. The Avenir trim is priced from $41,395 and adds a nine-speaker Bose premium audio system, navigation, front and rear parking sensors, HD surround-vision camera, and heated rear outboard seats. The three-model lineup has luxury touches and a wide range of features at every level.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

All About Avenir

Buick is introducing the Avenir trim level gradually across its lineup and this is the first time it has appeared on the Envision. Rather than simply a top trim, Buick treats the Avenir as something of a sub-brand. It has not just the largest number of features of any given model, but it also aims for true exclusivity with colors and materials that are not available on lower trim levels.

The Envision Avenir has 20-inch aluminum wheels with Avenir Pearl Nickel finish, a massaging driver’s seat, premium floor mats, and ventilated front seats. There are also metal door sills featuring the Avenir script, unique Avenir badging on the exterior, an exclusive mesh grille design, and tinted chrome trims. The Avenir is also the only trim available with Red Garnet Metallic paint. While the full lineup exudes luxury, the Avenir stands above the rest with its styling elements and exclusive features.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

New Turbocharged Powertrain

Power for the 2021 Buick Envision comes from a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This isn’t a large SUV, so that engine does a fine job of getting the Envision up to speed. Merging into highway traffic is easy and there’s still power left over for passing slower vehicles.

The nine-speed transmission delivers smooth, quiet shifts that passengers will neither hear nor feel. That’s as it should be, especially in a luxury crossover where the focus is on passenger comfort. While it’s a powerful engine that does a good job, don’t expect sporty performance from the Envision. It’s responsive, but it’s not aggressive. It also gets good fuel economy with an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 26 combined with front-wheel drive and 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, 25 mpg combined with all-wheel drive.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Enjoy a Smooth Luxury-Car Ride

There are lots of reasons why people buy a crossover, chief among them are room for passengers with the flexibility to carry cargo. The capability to handle poor weather with good ground clearance is also a big factor. Buick is for the crossover shopper who wants all those things and also demands luxury. That’s evident in the Envision’s smooth ride that easily manages bumps and dips in the road. It maintains its composure even on rutted, snow-covered roads, so passengers are blissfully unaware of what’s beneath the tires.

It’s also quiet, with a minimum of road and wind noise. While the thought of a luxury car conjures images of plush seats and rich leather trims, the other part of the luxury equation is a serene interior. The Buick Envision delivers that serene, luxury car experience with both its smooth ride and its quiet interior.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Attractive, Comfortable Interior

This is a crossover, not a full-size SUV, so its interior dimensions are not cavernous. That’s OK because the Envision has an open, airy design that makes it feel spacious. There’s plenty of room for even larger adults up front, and those who are tall have enough room to stretch out their legs. Interior trims are attractive and soft to the touch with a minimum of hard plastics to be found, and there’s ample storage for personal belongings in the center console.

There’s room for three in the rear seats, but it can be a bit of a squeeze when it comes to shoulder room. It works for short trips, but for longer journeys, it’s best for two. Kids, on the other hand, will find it wonderful. The available panoramic moonroof brightens the inside while perforated leather seat upholstery and ambient lighting enhance the luxury aesthetic.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

All the Right Infotainment Features

The 2021 Buick Envision marks the first time the brand has offered a 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen. This large screen is angled toward the driver for easier viewing at a glance and helps keep your attention on the road. The base Preferred has only an 8-inch touchscreen, but the larger screen is standard on both the Essence and Avenir.

The standard system features a six-speaker audio system with AM/FM, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and two charging USB ports. A nine-speaker premium Bose audio system is available on the Preferred and standard on the Avenir, which also gets standard navigation. The system is easy to use with a responsive touchscreen and intuitive menus. OnStar connected services is also standard with varying subscription levels to provide added peace of mind in an emergency and to easily request directions and have them downloaded directly to your vehicle.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Plenty of Room for Cargo

The Envision puts a priority on passenger comfort, as a luxury car should, but this is also a crossover. It needs to be able to handle cargo, and the Envision is up for the task. There’s 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats or 52.7 cubic feet behind the front seats with the rear seats folded. Even with a full complement of passengers, the Envision has enough room to handle everyone’s luggage.

Flip down the 60/40 split-folding rear seats and the Envision is ready to handle supplies for weekend projects. It has a low load floor and a wide tailgate opening to accommodate larger items more easily. If that’s still not enough room, the Buick Envision can tow up to 1,500 pounds when properly equipped. There’s also a hands-free programmable power liftgate that’s available on the base Preferred and standard on the Essence and Avenir trims.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Advanced Safety Comes Standard

Although the 2021 Buick Envision has not yet been rated by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, every Envision has standard Buick Driver Confidence Plus with nine active safety features. It includes automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist with a lane-departure warning, a lane-change alert with side blind-zone alert, a forward-collision alert, a following-distance indicator, automatic high beams, a rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors.

Additional available features include an HD surround-vision camera that shows an overhead view to help avoid obstacles while parking, automatic parking assist, hill-descent control, and front parking sensors. The list of standard features is long, and while you do have to move up to higher trims to get wider feature availability, every Envision offers a strong safety proposition.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Final Thoughts

The 2021 Buick Envision brings a fresh new look and new features to Buick’s mid-size crossover. There’s a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive and a responsive turbocharged engine that makes it an enjoyable car to drive. It also has a smooth and quiet ride that encourages passengers to relax. luxury cars should coddle their passengers, and the Envision delivers a true upscale experience, especially in the exclusive Avenir trim. It’s roomy enough for everyone to get comfortable and still has space left over to handle cargo.

The fully featured infotainment system has standard smartphone connectivity and logical menus that are easy to learn and quick to navigate. The available 10.2-inch touchscreen is large enough to see at a glance and is especially helpful when you are trying to follow complicated navigation routes. The 2021 Buick Envision delivers the style, ride, and features to make it an attractive crossover option.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin