2024 BUICK ENVISTA

 

ENVISTA PACKS PUNCH WITH AFFORDABLE PRICE AND PREMIUM QUALITY FEATURES  

Debuting in the U.S. last year, the 2024 Buick Invista serves as an entry level option for the company’s family of crossover SUV that all share the letter “e” in their model names (Envision, Encore GX, Enclave).

Actually introduced a year earlier in China, the 2024 Buick Envista is designed to attract mostly younger or first-time buyers into the Buick fold with the combination of an affordable starting price and upgraded premium-like features.

Its sleek coupe-like profile gives the 2024 Buick Envista a sporty appearance, and the interior is filled with the kind of tech features the modern-day buyer has come to expect in its automotive choices.

The 2024 Buick Envista is offered in three trim levels starting with the base Preferred and continuing with the Sport Touring up to the top of the line Avenir. The 2024 Buick Envista Avenir (reviewed here last December) flirts with the $30,000 mark but the other two comes in well under that with the base Preferred coming in at under $25,000 even including the freight charge.

The 2024 Buick Envista Sport Touring that serves as the basis for this review has a starting MSRP of $25,195 with the $1,095 freight charge included.

That price covers convenience features like Bluetooth and audio systems that operate off an 11-inch touchscreen, single-zone automatic climate control, wireless phone hookup, and keyless start.

Other standard interior features on the 2024 Buick Invista Sport Touring include express power down (but not up) windows, an air filtration system, and a wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel.

Standard exterior items include LED headlamps and taillights, LED daytime running lights, and heated outside mirrors.

Standard safety systems include forward collision alert, lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning, front pedestrian braking, and automatic emergency braking.

My test 2024 Buick Envista Sport Touring included several extras that still kept the final bottom line under $30,000 while enhancing the overall experience. 

Fuel mileage is outstanding but power from the 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine is only an unimpressive 137 ponies and torque at 162 pound-feet. This is about fuel mileage (28 mpg city, 32 highway, 30 combined), not drag racing.

These included a Convenience Package (heated steering wheel, heated front seats, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat with 2-way power adjustable lumbar support), and remote start), an Experience Buick package (power moonroof with manual sunshade and 19-inch black painted aluminum wheels), an Advanced Safety package (adaptive cruise control, blind-spot alert, and rear cross traffic alert), and a Convenience II package (power rear liftgate, wireless charging, and intermittent front wipers) to run the final bottom line to $27,975 including the $1,095 destination charge.

What I liked about the 2024 Buick Invista Sport Touring: It’s a good size especially for those who desire a little more storage area than the typical sedan offers but doesn’t like the inconvenience of maneuvering  bigger SUVs through crowded parking lots. Interior space is good with nearly 39 inches of legroom in the second row.   Overall styling exceeds its price point. Tech features are generally user-friendly. Pricing is very affordable.

What I didn’t like about the 2024 Buick Invista Sport Touring: If you want all-wheel drive, you’re out of luck. It isn’t offered. The rear window also lacks a wiper, a common feature on SUVs. There is a knob to adjust radio sound levels but not to surf the dial.

Would I buy the 2024 Buick Invista Sport Touring? There’s some pretty stiff competition in the subcompact segment but few of them are domestic offerings, if that is a factor in your car shopping.