All-New 2024 Buick Envista Arrives This Summer; Price Starts at $23,500

Competes with: Buick Encore GX, Mazda CX-30, Volkswagen Taos

Looks like: A sleeker Encore GX with cues from the Wildcat EV concept

Powertrain: 136-horsepower, 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine; six-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: Summer 2023

As the average new-car price hovers near $46,000, Buick has introduced an all-new subcompact crossover with a starting price that lands at just over half that amount. The 2024 Buick Envista slots under the Encore GX as the brand’s most affordable vehicle after the smaller Encore SUV was discontinued for 2023. The Envista will share the same powertrain as the GX, but unlike its stablemate that’s available with all-wheel drive, the Envista will be FWD-only and joins the list of “quasi-SUVs” like the Hyundai Venue, Kia Soul and Nissan Kicks.

Related: Up Close With the 2024 Buick Encore GX: Got the Looks, Needs More Guts?

Wildcat-Inspired Exterior

According to Buick, the Envista is the first model to fully incorporate the brand’s new design language first seen on the Wildcat EV Concept. The Envista’s front end closely resembles the refreshed Encore GX, which also takes cues from the Wildcat, and the new subcompact gets Buick’s new tri-bar badge, a low-set mesh grille and slim “checkmark” LED daytime running lamps. At 182.6 inches long, it’s roughly 11 inches longer than the Encore GX and has a longer wheelbase that promises a roomy interior. The Envista is also about 3 inches shorter than the GX and features a lower coupe-style profile. The Preferred trim comes with standard 17-inch wheels, while 18- or 19-inch wheels with unique wheel designs are available depending on the trim level.

Interior Brings More Space, Familiar Tech

According to Buick, the Envista’s longer wheelbase and efficient layout offer ample space for a subcompact vehicle. Based on the brand’s measurements, it will offer the most legroom of any of Buick’s small SUVs; however, the vehicle’s sloped roofline will likely cut into its second-row headroom. While it brings more space for occupants (97.5 cubic feet compared to the Encore GX’s 94.3 cubic feet based on Buick’s estimates), it comes with a trade-off in cargo space: The Envista provides 20.7 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 42 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, while the GX gets 23.5 and 50.2 cubic feet, respectively. It’s worth noting that automakers’ cargo estimates differ from Cars.com independent testing.

The Envista shares a dashboard design with the Encore GX that includes Buick’s new Virtual Cockpit System, which features a 19-inch horizontal screen that incorporates an 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital gauge cluster. It also gets Buick’s Driver Confidence suite of advanced driver-assist features with standard automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane departure steering assist and automatic high-beam headlights. Available safety features include lane change alert with blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control with rear cross-traffic alert.

Under the Hood

All Envista trims are powered by a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine for 136 hp and 162 pounds-feet of torque; the engine is paired with a standard six-speed automatic transmission. The Encore GX employs the same base engine with the option to upgrade to a slightly more powerful turbo 1.3-liter three-cylinder for 155 horses and 174 pounds-feet of torque. According to Buick, the updated 1.2-liter uses fewer parts, making it lighter and more efficient. The brand estimates a combined 30 mpg, matching the 2024 Encore GX’s FWD variant’s EPA rating — though the Envista has yet to receive an official rating.

Trims, Pricing and Release Date

The 2024 Envista will be offered in three trim levels when it arrives at dealerships this summer: Preferred, Sport Touring (ST) and Avenir (Buick’s new range-topping variant). In addition to visual cues like an ST logo on the grille and embroidered logos on the head restraints for the ST and Avenir, the top two trims get an available Watts Link rear suspension system for a quieter and more isolated ride, says Buick. The Envista Preferred trim starts at $23,495 (all prices include destination charge); the ST starts at $25,195; and the Avenir starts at $29,695.

Versus the Competition

The Envista will undercut the 2024 Encore GX, which starts at $26,895 for the base model, and it falls in line with the 2023 Mazda CX-30’s $24,325 starting price and the 2023 Volkswagen Taos’ $25,450. Unlike the FWD-only Envista, the CX-30 gets standard AWD, while the Taos offers available AWD for an additional $2,340. The Encore GX, CX-30 and Taos each earned a spot on Cars.com 2023 Affordability Report.

More From Cars.com:

• 2024 Buick Encore GX: Pint-Sized Premium Gets Update, Price Drop
• 2023 Buick Encore GX Gains Exterior Color, Price Starts at $27,095
• 2022 Buick Enclave: Biggest Buick Gets Facelift, Standard Safety Features
• What’s the Most Fuel-Efficient SUV?
• Research the Buick Encore GX

Related Video:

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.