2024 Buick Envista

The all-new 2024 Buick Envista is a subcompact SUV with a sleek profile aimed at young city dwellers. It’s also the cheapest new Buick. Pricing starts at $22,400.

Having carved out a niche for itself somewhere between the mainstream and luxury vehicle sectors, Buick has veered more toward the former with this new Envista, even if it does look incredibly premium. It’s one of the first subcompact SUVs to come with a sleeker roofline, appealing to buyers who are happy to forgo a little practicality in the pursuit of higher style. The Envista also has a smooth ride quality and an exceptionally quiet cabin, so it’s going to feel a little upmarket in these respects.

The Envista is entirely new and something of a departure for Buick. The company’s older products were pitched a little above the mainstream and were more conservative in their appeal. This model skews younger and more accessible.

At these decidedly mainstream prices, possible rivals include the Hyundai Kona (starting in the low 20s), Mazda CX-30, Honda HR-V and Kia Seltos (all starting in the mid-20s) — none of which are quite as sleek-looking as the Envista, but each have their particular attractions. If anyone wanted something similar, but with a more conventional SUV body, the Buick Encore GX is priced from around $27K.

Before buying a new Envista subcompact SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. We’re anticipating a mid-pack performance in regard to resale values.

The Envista employs a turbocharged 3-cylinder engine making 137 horsepower (a bit lower than the segment average) and 162 lb-ft of torque (a bit higher). The 3-cylinder configuration renders it a bit coarser than the 4-cylinder units more common in the segment, and power delivery can be just a tad uneven in some situations, but overall we’ve found the Envista responsive and quick enough for its real-world applications. Combined with crisp steering and braking — and its subcompact footprint — the Envista is a pleasantly nimble way to navigate the city. It’s also smooth enough on the highway — on par with most subcompact SUVs — while Buick’s Quiet Tuning with active noise cancellation makes it among the quietest.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of subcompact SUVs, including the Buick Envista.

Fuel Economy

Buick reckons the new Envista will achieve 30 mpg combined (28 city, 32 highway). That’s about on par with others in the class

The high-style exterior can make it easy to forget the Envista is among the lowest-priced vehicles on the market. The interior offers a dose of reality. We like the big screens, interesting textures and overall design, but some of the plastics still suffer from a general cheapness. The Honda HR-V, for instance, feels a bit richer than this Buick.

On the plus side, 38.7 inches of rear legroom is great for the subcompact SUV class. Unsurprisingly, 37.3 inches of rear headroom is less competitive, thanks to that sloping roof.

Cargo space of 20.7 cubic feet behind the rear (60:40 split/folding) seats compares quite well to some contenders, even the 42 cubic feet when those seats are down. If this is a major consideration, though, consider that the Kia Seltos with its 26.6 and 62.8 cubic feet.

A new design philosophy is applied to the 2024 Envista, with a front end inspired by the Buick Wildcat electric vehicle concept. To our eyes, this is a successful look — much snazzier than anything the company has come up with for a long time.

The rest of the body seems very much inspired by the BMW X4, Sportback versions of Audi SUVs, or any other SUV with a sloping roof — as opposed to the conventional squared-off method.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
We always like to see cable-free phone integration, simply for the convenience. It’s standard in the new Envista.

Wireless charging
Standard in the top Avenir, optional in the other two trims. Another handy feature that also helps keep the cabin tidy.

Powered tailgate
So handy when your hands are full. Standard in the Avenir, optional elsewhere.

Wi-Fi
This comes as standard in the Avenir, though it’s not available in any other trim.

Moonroof
Optional in the top two trims, it adds an airiness to the cabin.

Heated steering wheel
Another Avenir-only feature, we’ve enjoyed having it on cooler California nights, so imagine how great it would be on cold Michigan mornings.

A turbocharged 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine is the sole method of propulsion for the 2024 Envista. Output is 136 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, which goes to just the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission. There’s no option for all-wheel drive.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Buick’s new-vehicle warranty lasts for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This is all typical among mainstream manufacturers, but Kia and Hyundai have better terms. Roadside assistance is also provided for five years or 60K miles, and the first service is free.

Safety Ratings

Too new to be crash-tested by any independent agencies in the United States, the Envista’s standard safety equipment does include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, plus lane-keeping assistance. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is available higher up the trim level ladder.