Buick enters 2021 with a couple of bold claims.
One is that 72 per cent of Buick buyers are new to the brand, versus an industry average of 58 per cent.
The other is that it is the most popular brand among women.
If we’re to believe these claims, it means that Buick must be doing something right. But getting new owners into Buicks is one thing, and having them trade up to other Buicks is another.
Well, it seems the company has that one covered, too, as brand loyalty is up 11 per cent. To help maintain that upward swing in ownership, the company has launched the totally redesigned 2021 Buick Envision.
The new Envision is built on GM’s E2 platform, which pushes the wheels closer to the vehicle’s corners (wheelbase is 28 millimetres longer), and boasts a lower, wider stance. The body is 43 mm wider and 56 mm lower than before. Styling is bolder, with a flatter hood, wider grille, narrower headlights (LED lighting all around) and more streamlined sides.
The new platform also replaces the former four-link rear suspension with five links, which reduces road noise and vibration. The chassis is 30 per cent more rigid.
Buick scaled down the engine choices, with only one available powertrain, a 2.0-litre Ecotec turbocharged four mated to a nine-speed automatic. The engine claims 228 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, which is down from the outgoing model’s 252 hp/295 lb.-ft.
Gone is the 2.5-litre, 197-horsepower naturally aspirated four and six-speed automatic that were standard on the lower trims.
Claimed AWD fuel consumption is 8.2 L/100 km highway and 10.5 in the city, with the FWD model claiming a half litre less.
There are three trims to choose from: Preferred, Essence, and Avenir. The last one is new for the Envision, and it’s the GMC-Denali-esque, no-expenses-spared variation, featuring dedicated exterior and interior styling cues, 20-inch wheels (18-inches standard), clear sequential rear turn signals, and added interior amenities. It’s also the only trim on which continuous damping control suspension is available.
Technology has been ramped up, with nine standard safety features, including forward collision alert with auto emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane departure with lane keep assist, and blind-spot warning, among others. Shifting the transmission into gear is done via pushbuttons on the centre console. A power panoramic moonroof is either optional or standard on the various AWD trims. A heated steering wheel is standard, as is Rear Seat Reminder, so you don’t forget a young one back there.
Standard connectivity and infotainment system features include an optional 10-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and for the first time in any vehicle, Amazon Alexa integration is available.
While AWD was standard across the trims in 2020, you can now get the base Preferred trim with FWD. This has driven the base price down by $700 to $35,698. Opting for the Preferred AWD will cost $38,098, an increase of $1,700 over its 2020 equivalent.
The 2021 Buick Envision is trickling into dealers now, with availability ramping up in March.
