A Clean-Sheet Design
The 2016 Buick Envision is here to do battle with the likes of the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, and Lincoln MKC. It’s a clean-sheet design with new features like a turbocharged engine and a sophisticated all-wheel drive system. But the Envision still stays true to Buick hallmarks like a comfortable, quiet cabin and luxurious ride.
Powertrains and Performance
The Envision marks a further expansion of Buick’s crossover lineup, taking the virtues of the smaller Encore and larger Enclave and incorporating them into a package that’s somewhere in the middle in terms of size.
Under the hood, the sole available powertrain is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It produces 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, which should get the Envision down the road nicely. That’s also more standard horsepower and torque than an Audi Q5, one of the Envision’s main competitors.
To help keep fuel efficiency high, Buick equipped the four-cylinder engine with a start/stop system, and added active grille shutters for improved aerodynamics. Weight savings were also a priority; the Envision makes extensive use of high-strength steel, has an aluminum hood, and features a structural design that allowed engineers to eliminate 22 pounds of added material, and still keep the cabin Buick-level quiet. Official EPA fuel-economy figures will be released closer to the Envision’s launch.
Buick’s latest crossover also gets the new Twin Clutch AWD system from the 2017 LaCrosse sedan and Cadillac XT5 crossover. This system helps balance handling, traction, and fuel economy by quickly shifting power between the front and rear axles depending on conditions. To maximize fuel efficiency, power is sent mostly to the front wheels when extra traction isn’t needed.
Features and Trims
The 2016 Buick Envision is a five-door, five-seat premium crossover. Detailed information on trim levels and pricing will be released when the Envision goes on sale in the U.S. in the second quarter of this year.
As a premium model, the Envision will come with a generous amount of standard equipment. That includes heated front seats, rear seats, and steering wheel, eight-way power front seats, tri-zone climate control with rear-seat controls, remote start, 19-inch alloy wheels, a Bose® audio system, Buick’s Intellilink infotainment system, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot.
Other available features include cooled front seats, a programmable power tailgate with hands-free operation, passive entry with pushbutton start, and a panoramic moonroof.
Design
Designing a new vehicle that stands out from the crowded crossover crowd isn’t easy, but Buick created a handsome entry by sticking to the fundamentals. It emphasized car-like proportions, and brand-specific details like the winged headlights, waterfall grille, and air vents, located on top of the hood.
Underneath the skin, the Envision is one of the first all-new Buick models in years. Buick usually works with platforms already employed by other General Motors divisions, but the Envision is a true clean-sheet design. This allowed engineers to make everything from the basic structure of the Envision to the power moonroof as refined as possible. It also allowed them to cut out some unnecessary fat, keeping the Envision as lean as possible.
The same attention to detail is apparent in the cabin. It features a “floating” wraparound instrument panel that sweeps into the door panels, which helps create a more inviting appearance, Buick says. Designers also used high-quality soft-touch materials as much as possible, held together with nice stitching. The Envision boasts a total of 100.6 cubic feet of passenger volume, with 26.9 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seat, and 57.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.
There’s plenty of technology too. The Envision comes standard with Buick’s Intellilink infotainment system, including an 8.0-inch touchscreen, as well as GM’s OnStar® 4G LTE system, which features a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot that can handle up to seven devices. Thumb-operated toggle switches on the steering wheel augment the touchscreen, and there are also four USB ports throughout the cabin.
Safety
Standard safety equipment on the 2016 Buick Envision includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, front park assist, lane change alert, rear cross traffic alert, following distance indicator, 10 airbags, and the Safety Alert Seat, which vibrates to alert the driver about a possible crash. Optional features include adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, automatic park assist, and a Surround Vision camera system.
Bottom Line
The 2016 Buick Envision features exquisite styling and entirely new cabin that is filled with all the latest in-demand technologies. Needless to say, we already envision great things for this all-new entry.
Be among the first to experience the all-new Buick Envision by contacting or visiting us at 3Birds Template.
Image: Buick
