2016 Buick Envision: First Look

CARS.COM

Competes with: Acura RDX, Audi Q5, Lincoln MKC

Looks like: The polished, attention-grabbing middle sister in the Enclave/Encore family

Drivetrain: 252-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder; six-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: Spring

Buick has already proven itself adept at luxury on a large scale with the three-row Enclave SUV, and now the brand plans to foray into the compact luxury SUV market with its new Envision. Already on sale in China, the Envision will slot below the Enclave and above the tiny Encore in the automaker’s lineup.

Related: More 2016 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

Exterior

Outside, the Envision is instantly recognizable as a member of the Buick family with the brand’s signature grille front and center flanked by upswept, winged headlights. Plenty of chrome trim makes the elegant face pop, and chiseled body lines add some drama to its profile.

Interior

Buick said it put the focus on soft-touch surfaces in the Envision for a premium look and feel; we’ll learn more about the interior during the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. One unique feature is the large center console storage bin’s dual-wing doors. Buick says they provide easier, less-obstructed access for the driver as well as front and rear passengers.

The focal point of the cabin is a floating instrument panel that houses the standard IntelliLink multimedia system’s 8-inch touch-screen; it features a built-in Wi-Fi hot spot with 4G LTE connectivity. Four USB ports, four 12-volt outlets and a 120-volt outlet are also standard.

Other standard luxury creature comforts include heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, eight-way power-adjustable front seats with four-way power adjustable lumbar, tri-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and a Bose premium sound system. Options include a panoramic moonroof and cooled front seats.

In back, there’s seating for three passengers on sliding, 60/40-split seats. Buick didn’t release specs but said the Envision offers more passenger and cargo room than the Acura RDX and Lincoln MKC.

Under the Hood

Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 252 horsepower and 260 pounds-feet of torque. It uses an automatic stop/start feature to save fuel, though EPA estimates have not been released. The Envision is the first application of the stop/start system on this engine. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, as is all-wheel drive. Buick says its active twin clutch all-wheel-drive system is an automatic, on-demand system that delivers sure-footed handling in low-grip conditions and provides minimal torque to the rear wheels when all-wheel-drive traction isn’t required. 

Safety

Standard safety features include lane keep assist, front park assist, lane change alert, rear cross-traffic alert, a rearview camera and the Safety Alert Seat, which pulses to alert the driver about a possible crash. Available features include full-speed range adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, automatic park assist and a surround-vision camera system.