2019 Buick Envision Sees Price Cut, New Transmission
CARS.COM
Competes with: Acura RDX and Lincoln MKC, also higher trim levels of mainstream compact SUVs
Looks like: The current Envision with a new grille and taillights
Drivetrains: A 197-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with six-speed automatic transmission or 252-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four with new nine-speed automatic; front- or all-wheel-drive
Hits dealerships: Spring 2018
Buick is making some tweaks to refresh its Envision compact SUV for the 2019 model year, but the most notable change is on the window sticker: a price cut of $2,000 for the base front-wheel drive Envision, now $32,990 with destination, as well as downward price adjustments for its four higher trim levels. The next-level Preferred model will start at $34,495, down $2,370; the Essence at $36,795, down $1,920; Premium at $41,695, down $1,620; and Premium II at $44,595, down $1,360. (All prices include a $995 destination charge.) The 2019 Envision will be at dealers in the spring.
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Shop the 2018 Buick Envision near you
The new pricing plants the Envision more squarely between the prices of Buick’s Encore subcompact entry-level SUV, the brand’s best-seller, and the big Enclave three-row SUV. And it might make it easier to keep Encore buyers with the brand if they need to step up to a larger SUV.
Besides the price cuts, there are light changes to the vehicle. Last year was the Chinese-built compact SUV’s first full year in the U.S. market after making its debut in the spring of 2016.
Exterior
The refreshed front end gets an updated grille with Buick’s wing design, as well as wing-shaped LED daytime running lights. Xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights are standard on the 2.5-liter models; the turbo 2.0-liters get LEDs. In the rear, there is a more angular look with a new taillight design and liftgate.
Interior
The interior carries over with some minor feature improvements that include quicker-heating seat warmers, improved voice recognition, upgraded wireless phone charging and a cabin air ionizer. An 8-inch touchscreen continues to be standard.
Under the Hood
The base 197-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder and six-speed automatic carry over. But the 252-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter gets a new nine-speed automatic and a torque boost to 295 pounds-feet, an increase of 35 pounds-feet. Buick says that the improvements should lower the Envision’s zero-to-60-mph performance by about a half-second. Front- or all-wheel drive is offered with both engines.
There also are two improvements that are victories for driver discretion. The stop-start system can be turned off (a first for Buick in the U.S.). In addition, the Envision will become one of the few vehicles to let the driver switch between adaptive and conventional cruise control to better fit road and traffic conditions.
Safety
A backup camera and rear parking sensors are standard on all 2019 models. Availability of additional equipment for 2019 has not been specified, but for 2018, a rear cross-traffic alert and blind spot alert are standard on Essence and above; lane departure alert, lane keep assist and front collision alert are on the Preferred models; and a front collision system with automatic emergency braking is optional only on the top Premium II trim level.
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