Buick’s recent success in small SUVs was forged with the Encore GX; but not to rest on their laurels, they’re doubling-down with an all-new model, and nameplate, the 2024 Envista.

Reportedly their last new internal combustion engine clean sheet effort before going all EV, the Envista is just under 183-inches long, or about a foot longer than the Encore GX.

Sharing under skin bits with the Chevrolet Trax, the Envista rides on a 106.3-inch wheelbase. That gives the cabin nearly 39-inches of rear legroom and almost 21 cubic-feet of trunk storage. Fold that second row down and cargo capacity picks up to a respectable 42 cubic-feet.

As to that ICE engine, it’s a 1.2-liter inline-3 turbo. With 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque being sent to the front wheels only through a six-speed automatic, the Envista is rather peppy when you need it to be. A Watts link rear suspension is standard on the top-trim Avenir. It limits suspension lateral motion providing both a more controlled ride and more responsive handling and it’s our clear choice.

  1. “I know I hear a collective groan when we say that there is a three-cylinder engine under the hood of a car, but power should not be a problem in this vehicle. And it’s just overall…it handles itself really well on the highway, at highway speeds. I was going 70 miles-per-hour —that was the speed limit on the highway I was on— and it was very comfortable. It wasn’t too loud. I felt like it was very stable. So overall, the Envista just does a lot of things really good.”

Cabin styling does change slightly between all three trims– that’s the Preferred, ST and Avenir– but Buick’s Virtual Cockpit System comes standard in all three, consisting of an 11-inch infotainment screen and an 8-inch instrument panel.

Even at its entry-point, the 2024 Buick Envista is well-enough equipped for the budget-conscious buyer, starting at about $23,500 with delivery. Orders are open now, with dealership arrivals expected this fall.

And we’ll have more Quick Spins… soon!