Buick has addressed some of the flaws of the first-generation Envision with this redesign, and the result is a comfortable, quiet, mildly-upscale SUV that’s pleasant to drive.
The only available engine in this luxury compact SUV—which can be had in front- or all-wheel drive—is a 228-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. We found the engine smooth and responsive, with enough power for most situations. The transmission operates intuitively, marred only by an occasional bumpy downshift. Even with our tested model’s all-wheel-system engaged (it can be switched between front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive modes by pressing a button), the Envision has a tendency to briefly spin the front tires when taking off quickly from a stop, which can be unnerving in slippery conditions. Our tested fuel economy of 23 mpg overall isn’t anything to write home about for an all-wheel-drive SUV of this size.