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The Envision makes a great selection for those who want an entry-level luxury compact SUV. Here’s how the 2023 Buick Envision will offer high-end amenities, appealing design, and comfort.
It’s only been a couple of years since the Buick Envision receives a major facelift, so the 2023 Buick Envision is expected to roll out as a carryover model. However, it’s still worth exploring what the third model year of the second generation Envision has to present in terms of specifications, designs, and features.
An Insight into the Buick Envision
The Envision is a compact-sized SUV produced by General Motor. It is manufactured solely by the SAIC-GM joint venture in China that supplies to both the local China market and the global market.
The Buick Envision was unveiled as a design concept first in 2011, where it sports two butterfly doors as a small SUV model. It also offers technologically advanced concepts at that time related to plug-in hybrid systems such as offering a head-up display and solar roof. Not all features brought by the concept car are made to the production version. One of the few features maintained is the “waterfall” grille.
In Chine, the 5-passenger SUV was introduced for the first time in 2014 and went on sale in the same year. Two years later, it made its U.S. debut at the 2016 North American International Auto Show. It was available for sale starting from the summer of the same year, which cements its title as the first Chinese-manufactured vehicle under General Motors to be sold in the American market. Originally, the car was only offered an AWD system, but later in 2017, the FWD variant is made available as an option as well.
The 2nd generation Envision was launched in the USA in 2020. There are four trim grades offered within the range: Base, Preferred, Essence, and Avenir. This release marks the first trim top-spec Avenir trim is included. The new Envision is marketed in China next to Envision S, which is merely a new nameplate for the 1st generation Envision. The car model moved the assembly process to the Jinqiao plant in China.
The 2023 Buick Envision Engine, Fuel Economy, and Safety Features
There is only one engine offered by the 2023 Buick Envision: a 228 HP 2L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. The engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The FWD variant is the standard, but the AWD model comes as an option for all trim grades in the range.
The entry-level trim FWD Envision gains 24 mpg city and 31 mpg highway, while the AWD version acquires 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway ratings from the EPA. These numbers are better than the fuel economy ratings of the Honda Acura and Volvo models of the same class.
There is an abundance of driver-assistance features presented in the Envision as standard across the trim levels, including blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, rear cross-traffic alert, lane centering, and automatic emergency braking. The optional feature available in the fully-loaded trim Avenir is an HD 360º view camera.
Upgraded Designs and Features
The 2023 Buick Envision arrives as a carryover car from the last model year for the most part. That being said, it does offer two new exterior colors: White Frost Tricoat and Moonstone Gray Metallic.
The interior design of this compact SUV is comfortable whichever trim grade is chosen. The highest-spec Avenir, however, can compete with the interior luxury provided by the likes of Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, and Audi Q5. The middle-spec Preferred and Essence trims already provide a lot of standard features, but the Avenir offers even more high-end features such as ventilated and heated front-row seats, quilted leather-wrapped seats, and massaging function for the driver’s seat.
Even if you go with the entry-level trim, there’s a chance that you will find the car to be excellently furnished by boasting keyless open and start and auto-on/off LED headlights. The base trim comes with a 4.2” instrument board screen, a 6-speaker audio system, and an 8” infotainment display. Active noise cancellation and smartphone connectivity options (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) are available as well.
The Essence trim adds a hands-free power liftgate, remote start, and bigger instrument panel display at 8” and infotainment screen at 10.2”, a 7-speaker audio system, dual-zone climate control, heated steering wheel, and heated front-row seats. Meanwhile, the 2023 Buick Envision, trim brings 9-speaker audio, wireless charging pad, navigation system, and a head-up display features added.
Release Date and Pricing Details
No official information about the release date of the 2023 Buick Envision, but it is most likely to go on sale in the fall. The pricing range starts at $31,500 for the base level to $39,850 for the top-range trim.