My Week with the 2024 Buick Envista 

I bought an Envista Avenir in Moonstone Gray, loaded, and also got my GM Employee discount to boot. I know GM wants to attract younger buyers with this vehicle, but as a guy who will retire at the end of 2024, it will also be a choice of retirees on a fixed income as well.

I'm picking mine up on Sat. I went w/ the red. 👍

Nice review Matt! Yes, the fuel economy on this vehicle is not what you might expect relative to the size of the engine. However, a tiny engine isn't always for fuel economy. In some key markets where this is sold, people pay annual tax on their cars based on the engine displacement. So a tiny engine is advantageous.

Nice, honest review Matt. Seems like more par for the course with gm crossover suv segment. Sharp styling and wow factor stuff on the surface with out much substance beneath it. Time will tell the story on the rest of it.

I wish they would put the 1.5t from the equinox in the encore gx and put the 1.3 with 155hp in this to give the vehicle a little up market from the chevy counterparts

love your videos as always the trax and the envista great price for both not good suv

Great overview! I think this is really good if you love Buick and are on a budget. I wonder if we're going to get to the point where a larger NA motor on 87 octane is more practical than a maxed out tiny turbo'ed engine having to run 91.

I recently purchased a 2014 KIA Optima SX that I'm digging so far, was hoping you might review one or newer (although mine has 200HP) & the new version K-5.

I love the exterior style of this. Particularly the rear. I know GM has their other SUV's for all wheel, but I do prefer the styling of this vs an Encore GX and awd would be a great addition.

Great review.

Just dove on my second tank off gas and did a long drive on the freeways and just got 37 mpg I am very happy I drive about 2 k miles a month

One thing I have not seen is any reviews on this car (or the Trax) doing a long distance Interstate trip. West of the Mississippi River, just about every Interstate - and many secondary roads - have long stretches where you can legally drive 75 to 85 MPH for hundreds of miles. I can picture running on Interstate 80 heading east out of Laramie, Wyoming, and having that TINY motor fragging itself trying to get to the Lincoln Monument at the summit. (Yes, I have driven that road many times - in both directions.)

Love the looks needs the full screen infotainment and a better engine and it’s perfect but I get it for the cost there are some concessions.

Man if only they made these available with all wheel drive

Ordered a black Envista ST at the end of September 23...Wont arrive at my dealership in AZ until mid April...Is a 6 months plus wait normal?

Great looking car.

I wonder if the winter blend of gas is taking a hit on the fuel economy

This looks pretty cool

Really good review. The mention of throttle pause that could be turbo lag or transmission issue was spot on.Agree on fuel economy with small turbos. Only on highway do they make sense. If we punch the throttle (NOPE) that 1.2L Turbo will suck gas like a 4bl carb on a Buick V8. Its still a cool car but don't buy/lease for fuel savings. Get a hybrid. Cheers.

How do you think this would do as a highway cruiser/going to the mountains car?

I'm sure that car can do better than the 23 Matt got in mixed driving. Window stickers always have the disclaimer on them saying your mileage will vary. I have a car with the 1.3L turbo 3 cylinder, and it gets reasonably close to its ratings. I've even beat the highway estimates on road trips. However, if you drive fast or aggressively, that'll lower your fuel economy in a heartbeat.

I’m supposed to pick mines up today!!

Do you contact the manufacturer reps about problems like this poor fuel economy to see if you've just got a dud or to get their feedback prior to posting?

Sat in one (avenir) last weekend. I'm 6 foot, and did NOT feel cramped at all, which i have in other cars. Comfortable, very good looking leather seats, like in my beloved Azera. The whole interior, plus exterior styling, are heads and shoulders above every other small SUV's at the auto show. That said, I am Astonished that Buick is not offering at least the 1.3 liter engine in this vehicle. Reviewer did not complain, but one commenter on another Envista video said it took forever to feel warm on a cold day. Passenger complained of being cold for a long time. I think this is due to tiny motor not generating enough heat in itself. Buick, put a 2.5L 4 in this thing, and your sales will double--this will be the best small SUV in every single way. These two things, plus abysmal real world fuel economy due to the turbo, have turned me completely away from this vehicle. I was in love when I sat in it, now walking away because I've learned about it.

But will it last?

solid car for the price

5:24 I'd always advocate for a higher compression N/A engines over turbos. Seems like its a much better recipe for MPGs. Mazda's got that idea down.

My FWD 2023 Hyundai Tucson Limited with the naturally aspirated 2.5 four and 8 speed auto gets 28 to 30 MPG in city driving. That's pretty poor fuel economy for the Envista by comparison considering it's smaller and lighter.

Certainly a much different Buick than the '97 LeSabre I drove in college.

6 months with mine, 30.2 mpg, half city half highway miles

my 2014 Accord with a 2.4 liter non turbo gets 32 mpg combined. These tiny turbo engines are obviously maxed out with everyday driving and don't get good fuel economy relative to engine size

32 mpg highway seems disappointing considering my 2018 Accord 2.0 is getting 34 mpg highway and 252 hp.

Cold weather can affect mileage

Buick dares to put the Avenir name on a vehicle that has no dual-zone climate, no power passenger seat ( or cooled seats), no rear vents, soft rear doors, or homelink? Forget entry-level when "Avenir" is applied. The Asia market gets most of these features, and more!

Testing fuel economy in the dead of winter is problematic. Have to do it if you’re a car reviewer. But Always less efficient and have the additional factor, often forgotten, of remote starting the car and letting it idol. 0 mpg for those minutes

Something is wrong if you’re getting 23. Are you using the remote start often?

My 2012 Mazda 3 2.0 gets 34 MPGs

With the low price point and how much stress they're putting on that tiny motor I forsee these things blowing up by the thousands from people beating on them and not maintaining them

That little 3 banger is being over worked

Nice review. A lot of people will be surprised with the low fuel economy for a 1.2L 3-cylinder engine. I'm not surprised as you "spool-up" the turbo to keep up with traffic and turbos can really cause the engine to suck in the gas. I wonder about the durability of the 3-cylinder engine as GM is not the best at building "tough cars". Maybe GM would offer an extended warranty on the motor and electronics to sway customers to their dealer showrooms?

Poor mpg, kinda defeats the purpose on this car. Maybe, it's winter fuel blend etc.

I'd hate to own that overworked engine once that warranty expires.

This car perfectly illustrates the advantages of hybrid powertrains. This has ridiculous fuel economy and doesn't make up for it in power. I don't get GM's powertrain choices for this vehicle.

It needs more power plain and simple.

1.3 liter= Renesis power

I work at a GMC/Buick Dealer. We can't keep these on the lot currently, even though we charge 2 grand mark up on them. Honestly not worth it in my book, and the engine is very weak and does not give great fuel economy for how small and slow it is. It is the only Buick that people want, lol. We can't give away the Envisions or Enclaves even though they are decent cars. Buick has a major image problem right now in America.

Meh. I'll take a Riviera Boattail with an inline 6 please. Honestly, this is a weird vehicle in my opinion. The Trax I can understand, that's basically the newest version of a Cavalier, Cobalt, or Cruze. To have a Buick version of that though, those types of badge engineered vehicles are what kills so called "premium" brands. It might sell in the short term, but I don't think it will help brand perception in the long run.

Very narrow front seats.

I test drove this last month. It’s too plasticy on the inside.

🙂👍

Incredible bargain.

Wow, the bots are strong with this upload

Buick did a fantastic job with the styling, but I'm not a fan of this tiny turbo engine trend. Regardless of manufacturer, a turbo engine adds expensive components to a small engine with the expectation it gets better fuel economy than a larger, naturally aspirated engine that makes similar power. Time is proving that they are not more fuel efficient. Look at the EPA numbers for the competing vehicles in the same segment as the Envista. The models from Honda and Toyota basically get the same mileage with their 2.0L 4cyl engines, and the models from Hyundai/Kia with a 2.0L engine actually get better mileage. I suspect GM designed the Envista and Trax to be cheap up front to make more money on them later down the road when expensive repairs are needed.

Idc what anyone says, that’s a Urus

Really good review and Great looking car but why in the world would anybody buy the upper trim of this or the Trax. Buy the lowest trim and keep around or under 25,000.00. The upper trim over 30 grand is insane. You can get a base trim Mazda CX 5 or 50 right around the 30 grand price which is 5 times the car!! 2.5 NA, with a 6 speed vs. a throw away 1.2 turbo. Better yet don’t buy this car at all! Be surprised if you get to 100,000 miles before at least replacing the ancient timing belt. Do your research and make an educated decision in this ridiculous car market. Actually Don’t buy anything until 2025

Insanely low tag price...please forget the hyperbole. It's not insanely low. As for fuel economy, it's not ecomical. Let's say it as it is. Thuis Envist has the looks, the torque and the comfort going for it.

That poor engine is struggling to get up to speed.

When your grandparents want a taller car

Buick.... Now there is a name I havent heard in about a decade. Hopefully I wont hear it again any time soon.

You say "you know" a lot.

Sounds like a terrible vehicle.