Buick should be having an identity crisis. Instead, it’s having a great time.
GM once saw the brand (you thought we were gonna say “envisioned”) as an entry-level luxury marque. But, in recent years, it has trimmed prices so low that the average Buick now sells for less than the average Chevrolet.
But, rather than panic and try to resell itself as an American Lexus again, Buick is just quietly crafting charming vehicles. The latest is the (now we’ll say it) 2024 Buick Envision. Buick has refreshed the look of its compact SUV inside and out.
Buick gave the world a look at the exterior last summer but kept the cabin and details like pricing for this week.
Now that we’ve seen it, we understand the impulse of the Buick team to enjoy it themselves a little longer before releasing it to the world. The 2024 Envision is nothing special from a mechanical standpoint. It wears a balanced, subtly attractive look outside. But it’s surprisingly stylish and well-crafted inside, where you’ll spend time.
Tiger Look on a Family Hauler
Buick has never gone for sporty. But the brand revealed a sporty concept car in 2022 meant to explore future design directions, called the Wildcat. Ever since, more pedestrian Buick products have been taking styling tips from the ‘Cat, Envision included.
The new car has slits for headlights that actually do give it a cat-like mien. They surround a large grille mounted low, lending the whole car a sleeker look. From the front fascia back, little has changed. But the new face makes the Lexus-RX-like lines of the car seem more poised.
All but the entry-level Preferred trim get new 20-inch wheels that balance the look better than the 18s on the base model.
Inside, Not a Hard Line In Sight
But designers have done their best work inside.
There’s a trend in automotive design this year. Most new cars have two screens – one taking over the old driver’s instrument cluster and a second in the center for entertainment and navigation functions. But many automakers mount them together as if they are one very wide screen.
Buick borrows this trick for the Envision – 30 total inches of screen. But designers mounted them in a sort of inverted trapezoid shape that feels fresh and futuristic. The screens sit on a dashboard full of soft shapes and soft surfaces, with leather and suede-look material everywhere.
It doesn’t hurt that designers had fun with color. Buick says, “The interior technologies are complemented by a sweeping new interior design theme, with bold interior color options such as Garnet with Ebony accents and Cool Gray with Slate Blue accents.”
A column shifter frees up space in the center console. Many functions run through the touchscreen, but a few important functions still have physical buttons beneath.
Buick says, “The front and rear seats have been updated and upgraded to provide a stylized yet comfortable experience.
All-Wheel Drive Now Standard
For all the work Buick has done on style, the 2024 Envision remains pretty much the 2023 Envision under the skin. There’s just one change, but it’s major: Every Envision is now all-wheel drive (AWD).
The same 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine sits under the hood, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. It’s good for a respectable 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
Last year Buick had teased that GM’s hands-free Super Cruise tech would come to the Envision with this update. It didn’t. There are plenty of driver assistance systems here, from adaptive cruise control to intersection Automatic Emergency Braking. But Super Cruise is nowhere to be found.
2024 Buick Envision Pricing and Availability
The 2024 Buick Envision is set to hit dealerships this summer. Buick also charges a mandatory $1,395 destination fee on all Envision models.
| Trim Level | MSRP | MSRP + $1,395 Destination Charge |
| Preferred | $37,295 | $38,690 |
| ST | $39,795 | $41,190 |
| Avenir | $48,395 | $44,790 |
