2024 Buick Envista Reviews, Pricing & Specs

While based on the same platform as the Chevy Trax, the Envista goes in a different styling direction. A sloping roofline gives it the "crossover coupe" look previously only on larger, more expensive vehicles like the BMW X2, X4 and X6. A more traditional roofline would have probably improved rear visibility, but it's acceptable here.

The coupe-like profile is combined with new front-end styling that's rolling out across Buick's lineup. Inspired by the Buick Wildcat EV concept first shown in 2022, it incorporates a split lighting design with thin elements up top that look like headlights, but are actually daytime running lights. The real headlights are in vertical elements flanking the grille, and look like oversized fog lights.

Other crossovers like the Hyundai Kona and Jeep Cherokee have used this arrangement for some time, but Buick's version, which incorporates the lighting elements into a pointed, shark-nose prow, is a bit sleeker. Being the first Buick model designed for this front-end treatment from the outset, the Envista also wears it a bit better than the Buick Envision and Encore GX, which get it as part of mid-cycle refreshes for 2024. Expect some of the same styling elements to carry over to Buick's future electric models, the first of which should appear in the 2024 calendar year.

The ST grade is distinguished by black exterior trim and 18-inch wheels (19-inch wheels are optional). The top Buick Envista Avenir gets bright exterior trim, including standard 19-inch wheels with a Pearl Nickel finish. The two higher trim levels also get interior contrast stitching in blue (ST) and off white (Avenir).

The interior itself is similar to the Trax cabin, with a few detail changes. The Chevy's large round air vents and upturned surfaces are gone, in favour of a smoother, more streamlined look. Buick also added some softer materials to the dashboard and door armrests, but with a grained texture that looked and felt cheap and artificial. That's in keeping with the price point though, as is the cloth-and-leatherette upholstery on the base Envista Preferred (leather seats are standard on the Avenir). All trim levels get a flat-bottom steering wheel, with an eight-way power driver's seat standard on all trim levels in Canada.

Overall, the Envista cabin is a bit of a step up from the Trax, but it doesn't exceed expectations for what is still an entry-level vehicle.

The sole available powertrain is lifted straight from the Trax. A 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD). The three-cylinder's 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque are identical to the Trax's output. The combination of the turbo-three engine and six-speed transmission is more refined than the specs suggest, laying out power with the smoothness of a larger engine connected to a greater spread of gears.

While the Envista's predecessor, the Buick Encore, was available with both FWD and all-wheel drive (AWD), Buick does not plan to offer an AWD option on the new model. This helps differentiate the Envista from the Encore GX, which is close in size and price to the Envista. The Encore GX will continue as the cheapest Buick with AWD, a position it inherited after the Encore was discontinued following the 2022 model year.

Base models get a torsion-beam rear suspension similar to the Trax, but models with 19-inch wheels (meaning the Avenir and some ST models) get a Buick-exclusive Watts Link rear suspension that the automaker claims improves ride quality. Regardless of wheel size or trim level, the front suspension is a MacPherson strut setup similar to the Trax. However, all Envista models also get Buick-specific bushings and damper tuning. In keeping with Buick's brand image, engineers even tuned the suspension to quiet the sound of the wheels impacting road imperfections.

Buick sent us on a route that includes some of the roads used for this suspension tuning—and we could see why they were chosen. The weathered Michigan pavement, which is in similar condition to its Canadian equivalent, doesn't do cars any favours. Our Watts Link-equipped Envista ST test car coped with the bumps admirably, and it took a set of corners nicely, but it seemed nervous on straightaways with less-than-perfect pavement. The rear end never quite seemed to settle down, squirming constantly unless the road was perfectly smooth.

That small issue aside, the Envista is a textbook example of how to upgrade a platform from a mainstream brand for a more premium feel. The Envista accelerated with the same urgency as the Trax—you need not fear highway merges, despite the engine's small size—but was appreciably quieter and had a more laid-back feel. The Buick didn't feel as rambunctious in corners as its Chevy cousin, but felt more comfortable overall—exactly what you'd expect from the brand.

The Envista is 36 centimetres longer than the outgoing Buick Encore, with a 14.5-centimetre wheelbase stretch. The new model is a bit wider than the Encore, but thanks to its coupe-like design, it doesn't stand as tall. These proportions were key to the Envista's more fashion-forward design, but they pay dividends in interior space as well.

Thanks to that longer wheelbase, rear-seat legroom grows by 7.6 cm. Shoulder room in both rows is about 5 cm greater as well, creating a less claustrophobic feeling. However, headroom in both rows decreases slightly, with a bigger decrease for second-row passengers, likely a result of the Envista's plunging roofline. The seats themselves were also relatively comfortable, considering the price point, without feeling overstuffed and squishy. A power moonroof is optional on Sport Touring and standard on Avenir, and the same goes for a power liftgate.

That roofline also means the Envista has a bit less headroom than the Chevy Trax, which in turn has comparable passenger space to other entry-level crossovers like the Hyundai Venue and Nissan Kicks. All of these crossovers are basically small hatchbacks masquerading as SUVs, but GM is at least a bit more honest about that. Both the Envista and Trax have lower, more car-like driving positions, but they retain good outward visibility. Low side glass and a fairly short hood made it easy to see out of the Envista, which lets the driver take full advantage of its compact proportions when maneuvering in tight spaces.

A car-like design also means car-like cargo space, however. Buick's listed 586 litres with the rear seats in place is less than you get in a Honda Civic hatchback, in fact. Fold the 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat down and you get 1,189 litres of storage space, which is actually less than the old Encore (cargo space with the back seats up is greater than the Encore, however). The Trax offers more cargo space in either configuration, at 725 litres with the rear seats up and 1,532 litre with the seats folded.

The Envista skips the base infotainment system offered in the Trax, getting that model's 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital instrument cluster as standard equipment. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity are included as well.

The user experience is fairly similar to the Trax. Graphics differ slightly, but the overall theme and layout are the same. That's not a bad thing, as we found the interface generally easy to use, and we appreciated the retention of buttons and knobs for the climate control and audio volume. However, because the centre stack is tilted toward the driver, these controls can be a bit of a reach for the front-seat passenger. As in the Trax, the audio volume knob is located at the top left corner of the touchscreen, which is great if you're driving alone, or just don't want your passenger turning down your tunes.

As an entry-level vehicle, the Envista doesn't offer a long list of optional tech features. A head-up display isn't available, although there seemed to be plenty of space on the dashboard for one, and wireless phone charging is an optional extra on all but the top Avenir trim. Still, if the Chevy Trax wasn't on sale offering basically the same infotainment system, this would be an impressive amount of features for this price range. Other manufacturers don't offer a digital instrument cluster on their cheapest crossovers, for example.

Crash-test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) weren't available at the time of publication, due to the earliness of our test drive.

Standard driver assist tech includes automatic emergency braking (including front pedestrian braking), a following distance indicator, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. In Canada, adaptive cruise control, lane-change alert (with side blind-zone alert), blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist are also standard. This equipment list is typical for a vehicle in this price range.

The 2024 Buick Envista gets solid Natural Resources Canada fuel-economy ratings of 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres combined (8.4 city, 7.4 highway). That's an improvement over the retired Encore and nearly identical to the Envista's Chevy Trax platform-mate, which is rated at 8.3 L/100 km in city driving.

Warranty coverage is identical to what you get from Chevy as well. Both brands offer a three-year, 60,000-kilometre, bumper-to-bumper limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-kilometre, powertrain limited warranty.

New vehicle pricing starts at $29,830 (including a mandatory $2,000 destination charge and other fees) for the base Envista Preferred trim level. The Envista ST and Avenir start at a new car price of $31,130 and $34,730 with destination, respectively. That means the Envista's starting price is about $5,000 more than that of the Chevy Trax, and about almost identical to a base Encore GX with FWD.

For the price premium over a base Trax, you get a larger standard touchscreen, slightly more upscale interior, and a more comfortable ride. While styling is subjective, it's also fair to say the Envista is also distinctive. You won't confuse it for a Chevy or any other entry-level crossover.

While many shoppers are looking for AWD in a crossover, the Envista makes up for that with a lower base price than an AWD Encore GX, as well as the cheapest Honda HR-V. It’s less than $3,000 more than the 2023 Mazda CX-30, but that gets AWD as standard equipment. Mazda hadn't released updated 2024 pricing at the time of publication.

This adds up to something Buick hasn't had since the Encore debuted just over a decade ago—a unique offering. The Envista upgrades its donor platform to something a little bit more than basic without compromising value. It also stretches the crossover template further than any vehicle in its segment, creating a decent alternative to the small sedans and hatchbacks Buick and many other brands have abandoned. It's a small, sensible car that gives buyers something extra.

Note: Images show a US model.