The 2021 Buick Envision ushers in an all-new second generation for the mid-size crossover nameplate, introducing a wealth of changes and updates over the preceding 2020 model year and first generation. Now, the 2021 Buick Envision has been recognized as a top luxury SUV to buy right now by Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports recently listed its top 10 luxury SUVs to buy right now, recognizing the 2021 Buick Envision with a slot on the list. Each of the vehicles that made the Consumer Reports list achieved a high rating in the organization’s evaluation Overall Score, including not only the vehicle’s performance in the Consumer Reports road test, but also projected reliability scores and owner satisfaction scores as well. Additionally, Consumer Reports factored in things like the availability of safety technology features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian protection, and blind spot warning, as well as crash test results from government and insurance groups.
The 2021 Buick Envision was awarded with an Overall Scored of 78, while the Road Test score was 79 out of 100. Predicted Reliability was 4 out of five, while Predicted Owner Satisfaction was 3 out of 5.
Breaking down the Road Test results, we find Consumer Reports rated the 2021 Buick Envision 4 out of 5 in acceleration, with a sprint from 0 to 60 mph accomplished in 7.5 seconds. Output is derived exclusively from the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LSY gasoline engine, rated at 228 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque at 1,500 rpm. The transmission, a nine-speed automatic, was rated with a score of 4 out of 5, while braking was rated 5 out of 5. Emergency handling was rated 4 out of 5.
Consumer Reports also rated the 2021 Buick Envision with a score of 4 out of five in all Comfort and Convenience categories, save the trunk/cargo area, which was rated 2 out of five.
Highlights for the crossover include the ride quality, cabin noise, braking, and infotainment, while Consumer Reports was less impressed by the gear selector, the low dash vents, and occasional front wheel spin.
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Comments
Gorgeous vehicle with a mediocre engine!
Isn’t this just a rebadged Cadillac xt4? Does the xt4 have a good rating? And if not why?
My first three points:
1. It’s made in China.
2. It’s made in China.
3. It’s made in China.
Nice looking, but, wherever possible, I won’t be supporting Communism through my personal purchases.
Support your country. There’s a whole sea of non-Chinese built, SUV alternatives. Pick any one.
1. Support one’s own country.
When not possible, there is…
2. Support one’s allies.
“I won’t be supporting communism through my personal purchases”
Looks like you’ll be returning some appliances, clothes, electronics, your cellphone etc then if you really believe that statement.
Adam first off with vehicles you do have a choice if you want something made in the USA or not. Now for your phone please tell me a usa made phone? For that matter name usa made electronics. So stop being so stupid you sound like a fool.
Don: Why so harsh on Adam. I think Adam is only making a point. I wish everything sold in America was developed, built and sold in America. Period. But Adam is making a point that those who want to continually bi–h about communist China sound silly at best. (like how does China being communist affect us in our daily lives? And why is it ok to purchase other things assembled in China but not cars? And why is it ok for millions of people to continually purchase Japanese brands, but anything China is like the sky is falling?)
Personally, I’ll take a vehicle assembled in China way before anything from Japan, weather assembled in Japan or here.
Because it’s a childish thing to say anytime someone says I won’t buy this vehicle because it’s made somewhere that’s not the USA and the reply is oh well so is your phone or so is your tv or blah blah. People realize that but the point is there are plenty of vehicles that are made in the USA still and gm even offers a bunch so you have a choice as far as that goes. But when it comes down to phones, tv, appliances ect… what choice do you have? People shouldn’t have to say I wanna support the USA when I’m able to for whatever particular item that person is looking for. People know what that person means they just wanna argue and be a troll.
Don: Fair enough, and I actually agree with most everything you just said. However, wouldn’t you also say it’s “childish” for those who are constantly yelling about communism every time there’s an article about the Envision or something to do with China?
Yup and politics
Clearly a misquote. You missed the front-loaded qualifier. So let me help you with it,
“ Nice looking, but, wherever possible, I won’t be supporting Communism through my personal purchases.”
Now, having said that, several of my shoes ARE made in the US. Some of my belts are as well.
Where possible, I do chose my purchases with that specifically in mind.
Butch: Like I said to Don above. I do agree with nearly every word you just said. But what’s the difference to you or any of us if China is a communist country?
I may not agree with communism. They may not be the best people out there. But I really need someone from this group to help me understand why them being communist has anything to do with any of this? The Japanese are just as bad if not worse, but it’s ok with you because they are a democracy?
Yes it is.
Buick Envision is a CCP top pick. Too bad XT4 is $5-8,000 more.
cant see supporting china ,no matter how good the car is.GM build it here!
It’s not cost effective to build it in the US when they sell 5 times more Envisions in China.
Love mine. I don’t care if it’s made in the 3rd rung of hell. I’m hoping that the “plus” model makes it way over here as well. A 3rd row Envision will be my next purchase as well. Call me bias, but it’s the best looking SUV in it’s category. Love everything about it including the options and price-tag. Engine has plenty of get up and go, I’m very interested to see how it does in the snow.
I am finding dealer inventory is very slim. Did you have the same issue?
Every time an article comes up on here about the Envision, we end up reading the same ignorant posts. I too wish GM would make every product here in the USA. Personally, I wish every product sold in this country would be made in the USA and BY a US COMPANY. But in reality, I also don’t want to pay a lot more money on everything to do so. Sound like I’m talking out of both sides of my mouth? Probably. But be honest and question yourself on this. Would you pay that much more for the Envision to be assembled in the USA? It’s probably a better car than the XT4 and with more features is still about $5-8000 LESS.
So I’m interested to see how many on here will reply to this. Please share with others your thoughts on:
1. The cell phone you use? Where’s it assembled? What country produces it? Where do the profits go? Did you research to see if you could buy another brand that was all American?
2. Same for your TV? Did you research to see if you could get an American made TV? Or at least buy from an American company? Same for any of your electronics?
3. How do you feel about so many Japanese brand cars being purchased and sold in this country? Do you complain about that? If it bothers you, do you vocalize that to others? If not, why? Are you one of those who thinks it’s better to buy a Japanese brand car assembled in the USA rather than an American brand vehicle assembled overseas? Why? Same for the European brands.
4. Why are we (as a country) ok with sending billions of dollars to Japan? What’s the difference if we are sending our money to Japan or China? Why do you care if China is communist? How does that affect you living here in America?
I can only speak for myself. But I care because of my Muslim brothers being jailed and slaughtered in China for the simple fact they are Muslim. But I also don’t bring it up on each post.
Hi Don,
Your arguments about the cell phone and other such items is weak. We all know that unfortunately, they are not made here. Some products are designed here, but none of the electronics are made here.
My washer and dryer are Speed Queen. Those were an informed purchase. They are not sexy, but they are built like tanks. They are made in the U.S.
Also, there’s a world of difference between buying a vehicle that is made in Germany or Japan and one from China. Your arguments were doing well until you equated them as the same. They are not.
Perhaps you don’t concern yourself with the welfare of those that assembled [ fill in the blank ] for you. If that’s the case, I can understand why you have no concern about its place of manufacture. You’ll likely savor the day when AI replaces your job. That is until you realize that your check went away, too.
So, if that is your starting point, in this discussion: that no one else matters, we really don’t have anything else to discuss that would be of any positive benefit. So please do. Buy your Communist made vehicle. It’s clear where you stand.
Being a big fan, of the red and yellow, you might even consider working in that political system, so that you can experience it, personally.
That car could have been made here. It could have been made in Mexico, Taiwan, or any number of other countries. The mistake was to manufacture this most American of brand names in China. Shame on GM.
Butch: Now that was all quite a stretch to say the least. To take my comments and attempt (in a really bad way) to tie me to communism is just showing how ignorant your comment really is. Your attempt to tie it all to how those workers assembling them are treated is at least an effort, but doesn’t hold water. Have you ever been to Japan? Do you know how workers there are driven like slaves by the Japanese companies and government? Do you know how bad the suicide rate is among the Japanese working professionals? Obviously not. What about some of these other countries you mention? How are the work conditions there? Mexico? Really?
But what you completely missed is about the cost to value. I noticed you didn’t say one thing about if you would spend 8 to 10 grand more for an Envision just so it was assembled in the USA. Why didn’t you touch on that?
Dan ,
I’d love to see your breakdown on the assembled in USA Envision vs the assembled in China invasion. Let’s see that 8 to 10k difference. Please show all documentation.
Jofa: I and others on here have made this same connection. The XT4 is less vehicle for a lot more money. Same platform and essentially the same vehicle. So you feel that a lesser equipped XT4 at a higher price is just because it says Cadillac?
Of course Dan,
Your final line of defense: it costs more to make X here.
Well, that works until you meet people that ARE willing and have actually put their money where their mouth is.
Yes, I have probably paid a little more to help keep others (fellow Americans) employed. So what? You act like this Green Stuff transcends the grave.
And take a careful look at what Abdul is saying. I’ve been over there. It’s not pretty. People get shot for thinking the wrong way. Or tortured. Or separated from family. Or best yet, the family is tortured to keep people in line.
I go right back to my point: if you don’t care about others, then go right ahead and support a government that has demonstrated no remorse for crushing dissent. Multiple times.
That is simply not The American Way. I’ll walk before I capitulate to supporting that government with a car purchase. Where and when I have a choice, I’ll buy American. And thank God that I have the choice to do so.
Except Buick/GM would never do that. They already took a hit by not passing Trumps China Tariffs onto consumers. You really think they’d switch gears and bring production state side and then have to pay tariffs and exporting/importing fees to ship to China where it sells nearly 5 times as much Envisions? In what universe is that economically smart.
As much as I love to shop American whenever I can even I can admit when it’s not economically viable to “build American”.
Great question Adam,
Excellent point. I would not expect GM to move the entire production line back here. That just doesn’t make sense. I have heard that they sell at least five times more Buicks there. Five ships versus one. Better yet, how about none?
So, I say, keep making the Chinese Buicks there.
It doesn’t have to be black or white. There are other car production lines that make more than one type of vehicle. It doesn’t even have to be made in the U.S. However, I would most certainly prefer that the U.S. bound Buicks be made here, in the U.S.
And based on the amount of dissent in this chat alone, I’m not the only one that thinks this way.
Agreed however GM sadly never listens to their buyers or fans most of the time unfortunately.
You bring up great points and it’s so tiring seeing the typical Anti-Communism/China comments on posts like this. I think we’d all like to see the Envision made in the US but it’s not economically viable to do so. Yet the nay sayers would rather Buick lose money and build it here for the sake of American Made. I just don’t understand the logic of it.
On a more political note, Vietnam is one of our most important ally’s in S.E Asia. They’re Communist, we fought a war against them and we do massive amounts of trade with them. Where are the nay sayers when it comes to Vietnam? Crickets.
Vietnam was a war/country that did not threaten the US or house millions of slaves. It’s been 47 years since I’ve been there and it’s not the same…so there are no crickets… same as Afghanistan, we were involved to support, China wants our ass. Japan was conquered and under our control and an ally where Vietnam is an independent Asian nation like Taiwan and others being pushed by China in the south China sea area.
Ever think why it’s cheaper to build in China or any Asian country…labor is less than 3.00 an hr, no unions, just PLA to keep the people and cost under control, and parts. Easy to keep cost down. You don’t follow the rules, you’re never seen again…sort of like here today, you get fired and no benefits and get shamed by the woke…if you don’t agree instead of having a choice… Standing up for your child, you are now a domestic terrorist. Think about it…moms are terrorists…where’s the PTA…
You’ve never been overseas and seen the real China…ask Nicki Minaj, did a recent concert, and now she is speaking out against China and referencing the current WH with China…not my story, her story after seeing the truth for herself. This is a young person that saw the truth…
Corporations are a blind eye, they see dollars and they will continue to manufacture overseas to stretch the profits and gains and don’thave to deal with the labor unions rising cost which is a big factor.
OK, well let’s put it that way China is the New Japan.
A Chinese knockoff Harley-Davidson performs like a Honda.
Yet when the day or say what if Harley-Davidson makes their motorcycles in China and yet still making them in the USA then the Chinese made Harley has no leaks and the American made Harleys always have leaks.
Then in the repair shops are full of American made Harley-Davidson motorcycles while the Chinese made Harleys are more reliable than their American made Harleys.
Then if that is the case if your Harley-Davidson motorcycle has leaks and has been plenty of times in the repair shop it is made in The USA.
If your Harley-Davidson has no leaks and never been to a repair shop then it is Made in China.
Then the same thing happens with the Envision and yet other cars like for example the only Mercedes Benz cars that performs like the ones that are Made in Germany are the Mercedes Benz cars that are Made in China and not the ones that are Made in USA.
That’s a fact!
It’sa strange manner in which you build your logic. However, I still stand by my I original premise.
Anyone purchasing this Buick is supporting the Chinese Communist party. It is that simple. BTW, the flaw in your logic is this: China has poor intellectual rights protection in place. Our designs are their designs.
So if a vehicle is manufactured both in the U.S. and China, and the one in the U.S. leaks oil, you can bet money that the same flaw exists in the Chinese clone vehicle, as well.
Right the couple of hundreds of dollars Buick pays to export it from China is really the majority of China’s tax revenue. *sarcasm*
It is Chinese. A perfect choice for America hating Consumer Reports.
If you are a supporter / fan/ whatever you want to call it of GM (or do you just want to argue here and ruin it for everybody?), you should be happy that this Buick is a beautiful and well-put-together vehicle that is recognized by Consumer Reports, which a lot of people pay attention to. And there’s no denying the quality of this and other Buicks, regardless of where the factory for each is. If I had the money, I would buy this Buick and not think twice about where it came from. It’s a Buick, a GM, and a great vehicle.
Haha your broke
Hi Akear,
I like Consumer Reports. I have read many of their articles. I trust that their reviews of appliances are thoughtfully constructed. However, when it comes to forming opinions on cars, I reach for a different magazine.
I don’t always agree with CR. But that’s okay. A disagreement in position certainly does not equate to hating them.
Hi Chris,
I LOVED my Buick Park Avenue. I jokingly called it my mafia staff car. Acres and acres of stunningly beautiful American sheet metal that was lovingly washed and polished. With air leveling rear suspension, it could stealthily carry 3-1/2 bodies in the trunk and enough sacks of concrete for their shoes. Just kidding.
As for my next car, it will be the Chevy Bolt. I drove it two days ago. It was an eye opening experience. It is the future. I sure wish that there was a Buick variant. It was quiet, and smooth riding. But a Buick would have been even quieter and smoother. Oh well. Maybe in the future.
I know that the batteries have issues, but that’s the reason I went and test drove the car now. They can’t try and twist my arm to buy one. I will, just not today. However, I just read that the battery issues have apparently been addressed. LG has started making replacement battery packs for GM.
So, I have driven the Encore, as a rental. The GX is pretty darned good. But I’d like just a bit more luxury. I have driven the Enclave. It’s VERY nice but as an empty nester, it’s more than I need.
Envision. It’s so close to the mark. I’m a big Buick fan. But this flaw is insurmountable. Too bad.
Unfortunately, I have to give it a pass.
I drive a 2014 Buick Verano with the 2L turbo engine. Wonderful car. I thought the 2021 Envision would be our next vehicle, but alas, after a test drive we discovered the new 2L engine is a real wheezer, so no thanks. Too bad.
D2XX is a great platform. CR loved it’s predecessor, Epsilon 2 based Impala. Getting props from CR gives Buick a new audience and the introduction of Envision “Plus” would do the same.
I like that Consumer Reports is classifying Buick as luxury as opposed to comparing the brand to high trim Ford and Toyota. I’ve got little hope for Cadillac but think Buick could keep gaining market share. They compete with Lincoln but offer better made and less expensive vehicles.
All the hate for the Buick makes me sad. The thing is they don’t sell as well over here as they do in China. I’m no expert on imports by any means and I have no clue how much it costs to make a vehicle in one country and ship it to the next but I would have to think it would cost a lot for gm to make it here then ship it there anyways. I get people want American companies to make the vehicles here and for the most part gm does, it’s just this Buick. I haven’t seen anyone in the comments say they were glad it’s made In China I think people just understand it is what it is and we can’t change it. But at least gm has a bunch of good vehicles that are made here we can choose from.
Hi Howard,
I would have thought that GM would have chosen to build, what is likely, their high volume luxury SUV, here, and ship the low volume vehicle manufacturing, to China. GM likely needed to build something over there to appease the Chinese Apparatchik and gain access to that very lucrative market, that has a real, numerical desire for the Buick brand name.
Unfortunately, both the Enclave and Encore were already in production and so it didn’t make sense to move one of them there.
So instead, China got the crown jewel, in terms of production volume. The Envision.
If individuals here, would refuse to purchase the Chinese Envision, word would feedback to corporate. GM is like any other corporation. They want to sell their stuff and make money. There’s no shame in that. So, if the customer base won’t buy X, any company will pivot and try to sell Y. A lack of U.S. sales would send the message loud and clear to GM leadership. A second production line would need to be stood up, somewhere.
An individual’s purchase choices do matter. It is literally you, voting with your dollars. GM has put on their green visor, sharpened their accounting pencils and wagered: are there are enough Americans that don’t care where a vehicle is built, that GM will sell enough to make a tidy profit from the smaller sales numbers in North American? That versus the costs associated with standing up a second production line and selling even more, just to break even.
So, for those that care, it is very important that people do not succumb to the idea that, “Their vote doesn’t matter”. GM is right to say nothing. They want to sell their vehicles. No one is going to see a small red and yellow sickle and hammer flag affixed to the hood of any car, in a U.S. showroom. That’s a sure fire way to Super Glue that car to the floor.
Instead, there will be things said that appease and explain away their sourcing choices. Understood. Bravo.
As I said in my first posting on this topic, there are many good mid-sized luxury SUV choices on the market. Choose one that does not support Communism.
If the bottom falls out on the U.S. sales of the Envision, and the rest of the mid sized, luxury SUV market stays hot, GM will change to meet the market challenge. As long as they continue to sell a small but sizable number of them—at a profit—GM will stay the current course.
GM’s wager for the Envision: gain access to the very lucrative Chinese market and their demand for Buick products; while accepting a reduced, but profitable, number of U.S. sales for the Envision.
The formula really is that simple, at least until it doesn’t work.
Remember: It’s your vote.
America’s propaganda media is very much aligned with the globalist agenda, and are known for being soft on China. This I trend is getting a lot of attention lately with how the media and publishers/curators like Twitter/Facebook/Reddit have been stifling or even openly censoring any discussion on the origins of Covid-19 and human rights violations in China.
Maybe CR is right and this is a good car, or maybe they are being CNN-lite and this is a politically driven recommendation. Maybe both. Like many Americans, don’t trust what our own publications say anymore. The credibility crisis with American institutions very much extends into automotive publications, although I didn’t think CR was corrupted in particular.
I’m not touching a Chinese built car and I have been actively avoiding Chinese build products the last couple of years. No nation or company is perfect, but definitely won’t be buying a car sourced from a nation with a well established culture of deception, shading manufacturing practices, and VERY recent human rights violations. And every “private” enterprise in China requires a partnership with the government and their ruling party. And I don’t want to validate or endorse that government’s behavior by buying a car manufactured in China.
Tump was too soft on China IMO. So you can imagine how I feel about current leadership in Canada and the US.
GM has shut down factories in the US and Canada while importing cars from China. I would be more understanding if they outsourced to more friendly nations like South Korea, India, or Mexico. The inability of GM leadership to “read the room” around Chinese manufacturing combined with short sighted terrible product decisions has proven to me that the company is a lost cause. If their EV business doesn’t absolutely explode in growth organically and legitimately, they won’t be around in 20 years.
I purchased an Envision Avenir, I must say the build quality is better than the Mexican made 2012 and 2015 SRX I had prior to the Envision. Had VW jettas made I’m Mexico that were disasters. Purchasing the Envision the money comes back to the USA, unlike foreign brands people brag that are made in the US, where profits go to either Germany, Japan or South Korea. ITS A Global world, would I like it to be made in the US, yes. But the UAW costs would make it unaffordable lime the XT4. Just my opinion so take it for what it is, it’s a great car with no issues within the first 6 months of ownership, no e, and I loom for problems.