Test Drive
Buick Envision gets a facelift and slick new transmission
With a budget of about $50,000, you’d expect a fivepassenger crossover to have several layers of luxury — a blingy exterior, extra safetytech features and a smooth and powerful engine.
Sure, you could get your brood from point A to point B in a basic family sedan for about half that price. But for $50K you expect more.
Buyers of the top-of-the-line Envision, Buick’s middle-sized SUV, do indeed get a pampering level of creature comforts and performance. Only around since the 2016 model year, the Envision has been tweaked for 2019 with an elegant new grille design and a revamped nine-speed transmission.
Smart use of exterior chrome accents and Cadillac levels of interior materials mean the Envision will look at home at the country club or in a Whole Foods parking lot. Tri-shield emblems are the only Buick markings on the crossover, which is engineered in the United States and assembled in China.
Locally, Integrity Buick GMC at 6025 International Drive had about a dozen 2019 Envisions in digital inventory late this week. The crossover is one of Buick’s top-three sellers.
WHAT IS IT?
The Buick Envision is a tworow, five-passenger SUV that slots between the smaller Encore and the larger Enclave — notice all that crafty “E”-literation. Our tester, in Premium II trim, comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that packs 252 horsepower and propels the Envision from zero-to-60 mph in about 6.5 seconds. It competes with such models as the Lincoln MKC and Cadillac XT4.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Our tester, which was provided by the manufacturer, lists for $48,235 before discounts and includes about $3,640 in options. It’s hard to spend much more on an Envision. Meanwhile, a base version starts at $32,990.
WORTHWHILE OPTIONS?
The Drivers Confidence Package ($1,545) bundles adaptive cruise control, forward automatic braking and a surroundvision camera. All of these features could help you avoid an accident, so we recommend this grouping. The panoramic moonroof ($1,495) and special paint ($395), on the other hand, are more matters of personal taste.
DESIGN AND COMFORT
The egg-shaped Envision has many visual flourishes, including faux air inlets on the hood and chrome skid plates front and aft. Nineteen-inch aluminum wheels contribute to an aggressive stance. Generous use of imitation wood veneers give the interior an upscale vibe, and the heated and cooled seats provide a measure of luxury.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
Base-model Envisions come with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine, but the turbo 2.0-liter is a significant upgrade. The new transmission improves fuel economy and shifts imperceptibly.
BOTTOM LINE
A hit in China, Buicks are considered a mature-person’s brand in the United States. That’s OK because they are the customers who can write big checks. Customers looking for a near-luxury level of amenities will find comfort and value in the Envision.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook. com/mkennedycolumnist.