The Buick Envision is a compact crossover from General Motors’ Buick brand.
First Generation
The first-generation Buick Envision was unveiled on August 29th, 2014 and launched in China the same year. For the North American market, Buick announced the Envision on December 4th, 2015. The vehicle went on sale in the 2016 calendar year. It received a mild update for the 2019 model year.
Another update was introduced in China for the 2020 model year.
The vehicle is based on a modified version of the GM D2 platform loosely shared with the third-generation Chevrolet Equinox, second-generation GMC Terrain, second-generation Chevrolet Cruze, and second-generation Buick Verano. The model is sold in China and in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico). Assembly took place at the SAIC-GM Dongyue North plant in China.
The Envision slots between the Encore and Enclave in Buick’s crossover portfolio, and enters the best-selling crossover segment in the world. However, the vehicle’s performance in the U.S. market has not been strong. Top GM executives stated that the 2020 model year refresh will make its way to America. However, that ended up not being the case. Instead, GM ended up replacing the model with an all-new, mechanically-unrelated vehicle with the same name for the 2021 model year.
Second Generation
The second-generation Buick Envision was announced on May 29th, 2020. It is believed that GM’s original plans were to call this vehicle the Buick Enspire, but those plans changed, and the model is now called Envision.
The second-gen Envision will be based on the GM E2 platform shared most directly with the Cadillac XT4. Other Chevrolet to use the same general architecture are the ninth-generation Chevrolet Malibu and fourth-generation Buick Regal (aka Opel Insignia and Holden Commodore NG).
“The design of and technology in the all-new Buick Envision are sure to be a hit in today’s growing premium SUV market,” said Helen Emsley, executive director, Global Buick and GMC Design. “The 2021 Envision will be lower and wider, with premium proportions and striking styling designed to combine the expressiveness of a car with the practicality of an SUV.”
Inside, the 2021 Envision offers Buick’s first available 10-inch diagonal touchscreen infotainment system that includes in-vehicle apps, such as built-in Amazon Alexa, Spotify, Pandora and Fox Sports. Projection features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, are also included.
Power comes from the turbo-charged 2.0L I-4 LSY engine mated to the GM nine-speed automatic transmission. In the XT4, that combination is rated at 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel-drive will be standard, while AWD will be optional.
Buick’s range-topping Avenir trim level is available for the first time on the 2021 Buick Envision.
The second-gen Envision will arrive in the U.S. market in early 2021. The model will be sold in China and in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico). Assembly will take place at the SAIC-GM Jinqiao South plant in China.
More Buick Envision Resources
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