Buick’s North American lineup is expanding as the brand has taken the wraps off the 2024 Envista.
Billed as a premium white space vehicle, the Envista is sure to turn heads as it’s a stylish crossover coupe that will start at $23,495. That’s $2,405 less than the 2023 Encore GX and the Envista is far better looking.
Speaking of looks, the crossover is instantly recognizable as the Envista was originally introduced in China last summer. The US-spec model appears virtually identical and it wears the ‘new face of Buick.’ We’re still getting used to it, but the crossover features split lighting units and a large mesh grille.
More: 2024 Buick Encore GX Gets Wildcat-Inspired Facelift, Avenir Trim And High-Tech Interior
While the front end is slightly anonymous, the Envista has a rakish windscreen that flows into a sloping roof. We can also see a pronounced character line, slender taillights, and a liftgate-mounted spoiler.
Buick will offer Preferred, Sport Touring (ST) and Avenir trims, and each has unique styling. The Envista ST features black 18-inch wheels and black exterior trim, while the range-topping Avenir rides on 19-inch pearl nickel wheels and has a monochrome appearance.
Sharon Gauci, the executive director of Global Buick-GMC Design, remarked: “This is not your average small SUV. With its unique proportions, modern stance and sleek form, the Envista takes Buick’s sculptural beauty to the next level.”
A Basic, But Tech-Forward Interior
The interior is less flamboyant, but drivers will find an 8-inch digital instrument cluster and an 11-inch infotainment system. The latter has been “optimized to provide an enhanced user interface design, voice recognition and multimedia applications, making driver interaction easier and more intuitive.”
Buick didn’t say much else about the cabin, but the crossover will come standard with a flat-bottom steering wheel. We can also see the Envista ST will have gloss black trim, metallic accents, and contrast stitching. They’re joined by a push-button ignition and heated front seats.
The Envista will come standard with the Buick Driver Confidence package, which includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and IntelliBeam headlights. Additional driver assistance systems will be available including Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert.
A Turbocharged Three-Cylinder With 136 HP
The Envista sounds pretty compelling until you peek under the hood and discover a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, which is shared with the 2024 Chevrolet Trax. It’s slated to produce 136 hp (101 kW / 138 PS) and 162 lb-ft (219 Nm) of torque, ensuring sporty will only be used to describe the crossover’s styling.
The engine is paired to a six-speed automatic transmission and the model is expected to return approximately 30 mpg combined. Unfortunately, like the Trax, the Envista will be offered exclusively with front-wheel drive.
The lack of all-wheel drive is disappointing, but Buick confirmed a Watts Link rear suspension will come standard on the Envista Avenir to give drivers improved “sure-footedness” as well as a “more quiet and isolated ride experience.” The Watts Link will also be available on the ST.
The 2024 Envista will arrive at U.S. dealerships this summer and be built in South Korea. We’ll learn more details closer to launch, but Buick confirmed the ST trim will start at $25,195 while the Avenir will set you back $29,695.
