2024 Buick Envista crossover is stunningly gorgeous for a disgustingly affordable price
CASEY WILLIAMS | Auto Reviewer
AutoCasey@AOL.com
It’s a crossover world in which the beautiful among us trade wagon backs for fastbacks and an athletic stance. These “crossover coupes” stand high and proud, like their traditional brethren, but have an air of exclusivity. Of course, they usually wear luxury brands like Audi, Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz with prices to match.
Unless …
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2024 Buick Envista Avenir
Five-passenger, FWD Crossover
Powertrain: 1.2-liter T3, 6-spd trans
Output: 137hp/162 lb.-ft. torque
Suspension f/r: Ind/Watts link
Wheels f/r: 19-inch/19-inch alloy
Brakes f/r: disc/disc
Fuel economy: 28/32 mpg city/hwy
Assembly: Bupyeong, Korea
Base/As-tested price: $22,400/30,490
Likes
• Suave styling
• Artful interior
• Turbo engine
Dislikes
• 6-speed transmission
• No AWD
• Single-zone climate
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Unless we’re talking about the 2024 Buick Envista that’s not only the most beautiful Buick, but also the most affordable — even in our top Avenir luxury trim.
With my hand over the badge, you’d never guess it’s a Buick. Front styling is lifted straight from the recent Wildcat EV concept’s wide front grille, with LED headlamps and angry driving lamps above. Avenir trim adds nickel finishes and 19-inch wheels.
Seeing it from the side, it’s vision of beauty as the roofline sweeps down the liftgate to a subtle spoiler and thin wrap-around tail lamps.
Sculptural body forms lend sophistication. Check the textured chrome inserts on the rear sail panels and reinterpreted tri-shield logos on both ends.
Attention to small details carries to the interior, and designers will likely receive awards for what they created. The twin-screen dash is a work of art, as are the textured stitched dash coverings, seats with contrasting piping, aluminum look around the gear selector, heated flat-bottom steering wheel and nickel trim.
I can imagine a couture seamstress stitching the seat backrests.
Heated front seats are faux leather, and there’s a lot of plastic, too. But it is all beautifully executed and easy to clean.
Icons on the touchscreen are easy to understand, and you control devices wirelessly connected through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Charge wirelessly in the console.
The automatic climate control is single-zone but kept the car ice cold in 90-degree heat. Remote starting and rain-sensing wipers add convenience.
Safety is amped by adaptive cruise, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist and rear cross traffic alert.
But it’s also very practical for passengers and cargo. After adjusting the driver’s seat, I slid into the rear seat behind to check it out, and I’d gladly ride cross-country back there — plenty of leg room, perfect armrest and USB ports for charging.
Power open the rear hatch and flip down the rear seats for a cavern of space. It’s a sporty compact car, but practical enough for an actual family.
Let’s get on the road: You wouldn’t think a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine would elicit excitement, but it produces a healthy 137 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque — routed to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed transmission is good enough, but adding GM’s 9-speed transmission would maximize power fuel economy.
All-wheel-drive is not available, but fuel economy rates a frugal 28/32-MPG city/highway.
I recently drove a similar Buick Encore with the same engine from Indianapolis to Memphis and back, high-tailing it through Kentucky and
Buick Wildcat EV concept
Tennessee hills —nearly a thousand miles round-trip. Even sweeping through rising hills, it rarely feels underpowered. Turbo torque carries it through.
Our Envista skips an independent rear suspension, but it was firm and composed even over rough city pavement. On the highway, it rode as comfortably as an Audi while active noise cancellation kept it quiet.
Since Buick has long offered refined style and luxury car attributes at disgustingly affordable prices, it should be no surprise the stunningly gorgeous Envista Avenir does it all so well. Base models start at just $22,400, rising only to $30,490 all-in, making it tough competition for the Hyundai Kona, Nissan Kicks, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30 and similar Chevy Trax.
Storm Forward!
Send comments to Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.