General Motors had to make a lot of changes in Buick in the past few years, in order to spare it from Pontiac’s fate. The 111-year old marque started to give more attention to the Chinese market, where it has been surprisingly strong for several years. And in the U.S., since one of the problems was the overlapping of models, a very clever solution was to offer foreign vehicles under Buick, from Europe and China: GM would avoid investing in new products there as well as create another market for those ones. The marque is no longer known for glamorous names like LeSabre or Riviera, unfortunately, but it did experience an expressive sales growth. Therefore, since the very Buick became a successful cash cow, GM would not risk it with dubious ventures.
This is why Envision is the kind of car which pleases you, rather than surprising. It will sit below Enclave and above Encore, and will have the very same mission. Instead of revolutionizing comfort, design, efficiency, luxury and/or performance, this is a reliable people-hauler which tries to be good in everything, rather than the best at something. Buick’s latest visual identity brought a very balanced front fascia, whose elements add a hint of sportiness without exaggerations. The sides follow the trends of high waistline and two strong creases, in order to divide the section in three using light and shadow. The lower one is particularly interesting, because it starts at the front wheel arch and ends in a curve which resembles the latest Opel cars.
Besides, it is nice to notice Buick’s work with the “C” pillars: Enclave’s are thin because they make room for large third windows. Encore’s, on the other hand, are much wider because those would not go well with its compact air. And Envision’s are a perfect middle ground. The rear section brings LED tail lights visually connected by a chrome bar, which is a must-have when the car tries to look fancy. As you can see, no surprises. This is the kind of design intended to please as many people as possible. One proof of its effectiveness is the fact that GM already has plans to take Envision to the United States, just like its crossover brothers (the minivan GL8 is only offered in China). It is highly expected to arrive at that country late 2015.
Envision’s cabin repeats the very same feelings. The dashboard is based on horizontal elements, in order to create a visual connection with the door panels – these, in turn, connect with the rear and conclude Buick’s “360-degree design”. The two-tone leather coating (with double stitching for the seats) is paired to discreet chrome inserts, and a very interesting section in wood. Besides, you can expect excellent comfort and internal room for up to seven. The official information is very few, so far, but it includes the fact that Envision uses a whole new platform, developed exclusively for crossovers and SUVs. Such configuration has blessed it with most of the several technologies of the latest years, like high-strength steel and multiple electronic systems for passive safety.
However, mentioning equipments leads to talk about Envision’s biggest attraction. Buick’s sophisticated image was enhanced with a list that includes 8” touchscreen for the infotainment system (MyLink 2), Bose audio system with a noise-cancelling function (claimed to offer a “home-theater-like listening experience”), controllable ambient lighting with Ice Blue LED strips, heated seats and steering wheel, external lights in LEDs, panoramic sunroof equipped with an electrically-operated sunshade, parking assist, engine start/stop, and FlexRide. This is the crossover’s all-wheel-drive system, which features four modes: Normal, Tour, Sport and Off-Road. The latter is available in a Buick for the first time, and “is ideal for driving on slippery, unstable or bumpy surfaces”.
Buick’s aforementioned intentions for Envision are repeated once again at the powertrain. This is not the vehicle to buy if you are looking for the latest technologies dedicated to reduce consumption or emissions, because working with those is as risky as expensive. On the other hand, using excessively old engines would end driving customers apart just as much. This is why there is only one option, and a very “neutral” one: the turbocharged Ecotec 2.0L is modern and efficient, but already tested enough so as to have good reputation. It delivers 260 hp of power and 247 lb-ft of torque, enough for going from 0 to 100 kph in 8.4 seconds and to reach an average of 11.4 kpl of gasoline. This vehicle made its official debut during this year’s Chengdu Auto Show.