There's something alluring about a car that is so well-positioned in the marketplace from a distance that it gains instant credibility with auto industry enthusiasts and analysts. This is the case with the 2024 Buick Envista, which replaces the well-selling Buick Encore at the base of the company's U.S. lineup.
On the outside, it has unique looks that make it instantly recognizable and is available in bold colors like Sunrise Red Metallic, which comes across more like a Sunkist orange drink with a twinkle of sparkle in sunlight. Envista carries Buick's ugly new logo on the hood, where its three-line design looks like something from a Chinese manufacturer rather than an American brand.
Its proportions are vastly improved from the Encore it replaced, giving more room for passengers and their stuff, without the overwhelming sense of being trapped within a roller skate.
Underneath, the Envista is little more than a gussied up Chevrolet Trax, which has been redesigned for the 2024 model year. That means it handles well, rides compliantly and delivers a far more connected driving experience than one would assume.
That also means that it is powered by the same turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine as the Trax. The power plant makes 137 horsepower with 162 pound-feet of torque. This is a new-generation engine that does what it needs to, but little more. There's less turbo lag in this generation, and for that we can all be thankful.
The engine is paired with an unremarkable but otherwise smooth six-speed automatic transmission.
General Motors is infamous for its parts bin use, and that extends to the interior of the Envista. Here the Envista wins over the Trax, and the Encore. Still, Buick makes good use of its resources for Envista. Twin-panel driver information and infotainment screens match what Hyundai and Kia have in their vehicles while physical controls are more elegant than in the Chevy or Hyundai Motor Group models.
The roster of automakers including a long list of standard safety and driver assistance technology in even their entry-level models has expanded in recent years and Buick is no exception. Envista comes standard with the Buick Driver Confidence package which includes automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert technologies are all available.
The Envista is a good effort from Buick. It's a smart effort from General Motors. It's just not particularly exciting. But, it doesn't need to be. Still, there's an intangible that comes with buying a vehicle. If you like it and it fits your budget, then you probably can't go wrong with getting one.
If you are okay spending a few dollars more, opt for the Kia Seltos, which gives you nearly 60 more horsepower and 35 pound-feet more torque in higher trim levels. It also is available with all-wheel drive and its interior is just as nice as the Envista's.
The entry-level Buick Envista starts at $22,400. That's downright cheap. The Chevrolet Trax starts $4,400 cheaper and doesn't come with the ugly badge. If it comes down to the money, just get the Trax.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull leads the Autos team at Newsweek. She has written extensively about the auto industry for U.S. News & ... Read more
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