2023 Buick Envision

The same three trims from the previous year - Preferred, Essence and Avenir are available for the 2023 Buick Envision and each of these trims comes with AWD options besides the standard FWD drivetrain. The Preferred trim with the standard FWD is considered the base trim in this case but the features it comes with are more than you usually bargain for at a price tag of $34,795 in the US market. The standard features include Buick Driver Confidence, heated driver and front passenger seats as well as heated power outside mirrors. Premium features like Continuous Damping Control and front park assist are also available here. 

Packages

Sport Touring Package

• Carpeted front and rear floor mats with ST logo
• Cargo cover
• Alloy sport pedals
• Moldings, lower trim/wheel arch moldings with Dark Gloss finish
• 20" aluminum wheels with Dark finish
• Black roof rails
• Dark Gloss finish grille surround with tinted chrome mesh inserts
• Costs $1,445

Comfort and Convenience Package

• Hands-free power programmable liftgate with logo projection
• Heated steering wheel
• Remote vehicle starter system
• In-vehicle Air Ionizer with Air Quality Indicator
• 10.2" diagonal Buick Infotainment System
• 7-speaker enhanced audio system with amplifier
• Costs $1,850

We Recommend

The Essence trim for the 2023 Envision is the most suitable one as it has most of the premium features at a considerably affordable price range. The Avenir has some better features but it is considered much costlier. The two packages have completely different additions and they have distinct purposes as well. Hence we recommend you go according to your needs as both of them offer some valuable inclusions. 

Release Date

The delay in production has also postponed the release of the 2023 Buick Envision and it is expected to be available in Spring 2023. 

The fuel economy is not the strongest suit for the 2023 Envision but the stats are not disappointing, to be honest. The EPA-certified rating of mileage in the combined category is 25 MPG which is an acceptable figure for an SUV. Its mileage on the highway is also considered in this case. The Buick Envision has a large enough fuel tank which results in good overall mileage in all the sections. The range of 354 miles in the city and 467 miles on the highway is not comparatively the best but these figures are good enough for an SUV in the US market. 

The Kia Sportage has the best mileage in the competition with EPA-certified ratings of 25 MPG and 32 MPG respectively on the city and highway. The Mazda is the second on the list with a close enough mileage while the Lincoln has the exact same figures as the Buick in the mileage category. The 2023 Corsair has the biggest fuel tank of 16.2 gallons and the Envision is only 0.1 gallons smaller. As a result, both of them have almost the same range in the three categories but the Mazda CX-5 has the best range in the market. 

The interior of the Buick Envision is made to look like a luxury one and the soft-touch material on the door panels from the inside as well as the glossy trim used in the interior only supports that argument. The seats have standard cloth and leatherette combinations for comfort but you can opt for something cushier if you choose the Avenir. The power-adjustable front seats have lumbar support and the space available around the front and rear seats are admirable. However, the cargo space is an issue for the Envision as it is significantly less for an SUV. The rear seats can be folded to make more area but it is still not sufficient. Manual air conditioning and active noise cancellation work great toward the brand’s attempt to deliver a more comfortable SUV. 

All the cars in the competition are standard 5-seater SUVs with foldable rear seats to make more space in the back. The trunk space of the Kia Sportage is enormous as it has 39.6 cu.-ft behind the rear seat and 74.1 cu.-ft of an area with the folded seats. The Mazda is listed after the Kia with a trunk space of 29.1 cu.-ft. The cargo area of the Envision with the rear seats folded is 52.7 cu.-ft and it is still the smallest among the rivals. All four vehicles have almost similar space available around the seats while the Lincoln has the largest legroom available in the front. 

• Cloth and leatherette seats
• Optional Heated and ventilated front seats
• Active Noise Cancellation
• Leather-wrapped heated steering wheel
• Keyless entry and ignition
• Power remote windows

Infotainment System

The infotainment unit of the 2023 Buick Envision is quite attractive with an 8-inch touchscreen display and the standard 6-speaker sound system. However, this section can be replaced with a 10.2-inch infotainment screen and a 7-speaker sound system for a few extra bucks. The intuitive system is easy to control and it has good-quality graphics as well. The responsive screen is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. features like Wi-Fi and USB come as standard with the base trim but the higher trims like Avenir offer Navigation and an exclusive Bose premium 9-speaker audio system with an amplifier. The Head-up display is standard but the optional features like Amazon Alexa and Buick mobile app are great additions as well. 

• 8-inch touchscreen
• 6-speaker sound system
• Optional Bose premium 9-speaker audio system with amplifier
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• Wi-Fi hotspot and USB ports
• Optional Navigation system

Buick does not focus as much on the exterior of the 2023 Envision as it does for the comfort and design of the inside of the cabin. However, the exterior design still makes the SUV look aggressive but the front grille might not meet your expectations. The 18-inch silver-finished aluminum wheels come as standard with the base trim and they can be replaced with the larger 20-inch dark-finish aluminum wheels. There are other options for the wheels if you choose the Avenir trim and each of them comes with an attractive design. The LED headlights and the DRLs are good looking but the overall road presence of the Buick Envision is subtle. The three equidistant body lines on the top merge with the A-pillar to provide an uncommon look and the power programmable liftgate along with LED taillights are great additions. 

All the cars from the competition belong to the compact category which means that they have negligible differences in structure and dimensions. The length of the Kia is slightly bigger than the other rivals while the Lincoln is the widest SUV. All four of them have considerable ground clearance and comparing the data available, the Lincoln has the best ground clearance. The Buick Envision has the longest wheelbase of 109.4 inches it is also the heaviest SUV. The Kia Sportage, on the other hand, has the lowest curb weight of only 3,373 lbs. 

The Buick Envision from 2023 has the highest ratings in the different crash tests and the NHTSA authorities have awarded the model with five-star grades in all the categories for both the FWD and RWD options. The IIHS is yet to test the Envision SUV and the last time they tested it was before the upgrades of 2021. Ratings are not the only assurance for the car as it comes with several important safety features to offer reliable riding for the driver and passengers. The aspects of cruise control and safety seat alerts are counted as standards while the teen drive function is an exclusive one. The Envision also comes with several optional features like adaptive cruise control, HD Surround View camera, and automatic parking assist.

Some of the key safety features for the Buick SUV are - 

• Cruise control
• Following Distance Indicator
• Lane departure warning
• HD backup camera
• Teen drive function
• Optional Automatic Emergency Braking

2023 Buick Envision vs. 2023 Lincoln Corsair

The 2023 Lincoln Corsair is the closest competitor of the Buick Envision as it has almost all the same features in most segments. The range and mileage of the Lincoln are clearly similar and the spacious and comfortable seating matches the Buick. The exterior dimensions have negligible differences and the overall features are similar too. However, the Lincoln has a more powerful engine that offers better acceleration and the cargo capacity is slightly bigger than the Envision. The performance and handling are appreciable and the Corsair is a direct rival to the Envision. Unfortunately, the Lincoln has a price tag that is around $5,000 higher than the Buick SUV. 

2023 Buick Envision vs. 2023 Mazda CX-5 Premium

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 Premium has the same price range as the Buick and has a slightly larger engine. However, the CX-5 lacks a turbocharger and offers lower power and torque output as well. The acceleration is not as good and the top speed is also lower than the Envision. The braking and handling are commendable for the Mazda and it comes with better fuel efficiency as well. The Mazda, due to a smaller fuel tank has only a slight advantage in range and the interior design is not too impressive either. The standard features and safety aspects are appreciable but the exterior is average. Despite the same cost the Mazda does not pose strong competition against the Buick Envision. 

2023 Buick Envision vs. 2023 Kia Sportage SX

The Kia Sportage SX also has a larger engine but the naturally aspirated I-4 produces a much lower torque. The top speed is at disadvantage against the Envision but it has considerable ride and handling experience. The mileage of the Kia Sportage is the biggest aspect and it is much better than the Buick but the smaller fuel capacity results in almost the same range as the Envision. The interior is spacious and Kia offers larger legroom in both rows. The cargo capacity is much better than the Envision and its overall style and comfort overshadow the semi-luxury status of the Buick SUV. Considerable features and good safety aspects make the Kia a strong contender and the lower price tag might convince you to go for it instead of the Envision. 

The 2023 Buick Envision is definitely a great compact SUV. The fact that it offers a handful of luxury aspects despite not being a luxury car, makes it really impressive. The Envision has its priorities stuck in the comfort factors inside the cabin which is a good thing for the passengers but not at the cost of the driving experience. We expected that Buick would improve its driving aspects including the steering feels and the overall dreary experience. The Envision, however, received better and more comfortable seating with a set of premium features. This has been a let-down and the fuel economy at its price does not have impressive figures. The engine performance is stable and the riding is satisfactory while the brakes are commendable. The exterior, on the other hand, is not something that would make you fall in love. The Buick Envision is a fine SUV and you will not regret purchasing it but we recommend that you take a look at the alternatives first.