Is the 2025 Buick Envista a proper luxury vehicle?

[Sal Collaziano]

Don't let the inexpensive price tag fool you; the 2025 Buick Envista is far more luxurious than most vehicles in this price range.

I'm sure we all agree that automotive design is subjective, but many seem to agree that the 2025 Buick Envista looks like a more expensive vehicle. I agree. Moreover, the interior and electronics all feel far more premium than the sub $24,000 price tag would suggest. In many ways, the Buick Envista punches above its weight, and it is a fantastic alternative for consumers who are looking for a snazzy car on a budget.

I am calling it a "car," even though Buick markets it as an SUV or crossover. Given that it's not available with all-wheel drive (AWD), to me, it's a tall hatchback. That's not a bad thing unless you absolutely need AWD. There's not a ton of new features for 2025. Buick has added a new optional Aquamarine Blue Metallic on the ST trim. Copper Ice is also available on the Preferred and Avenir, but it's no longer offered on the ST.

The drivetrain is the only thing that feels inexpensive
Based on the same powertrain and platform as the Chevrolet Trax, the Buick Envista is powered by a turbocharged DOHC 12-valve three-cylinder that makes 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. That power goes to the wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. To get that maximum horsepower, though, you have to stand on it and get high revs. Read more...

 

[Storkdude]

Yes, it’s well equipped in the Avenir but not to the luxurious level, IMO. What they left out is OK. The body style is quite rare. It’s a lift back with some ground clearance. Genesis and BMW sell these. Honda had the Crosstour a while ago.

 

[ulycyc]

Calling a Envista a luxury vehicle is like calling a rowboat a luxury yacht. Many people never road in or driven a Park Ave Ultra😉

 

[Storkdude]

I had an ATS-V and a BMWM3 with every optionI currently have a C8 HTC LT3 with almost every option, and a GV70 with every mechanical/ electronic option. I also have a new Envista Avenir. I had plenty of crappy cheap cars including a 1970 rusted Beetle and a rusted out Pinto. I feel like I’m familiar with both luxury and bare-bones cars. The Avenir really reminds me of my wife’s old SAAB 900 Turbo -the first generation 900 with the fishbowl windscreen. Very well though out. Near luxury. It’s not bare like a Chevette. It’s def near luxury-in the Avenir form. They skipped some things like power passenger seat and such. But it’s a great compromise. I’m totally satisfied with it.

 

[Anthony Cipriano]

I had an ATS-V and a BMWM3 with every optionI currently have a C8 HTC LT3 with almost every option, and a GV70 with every mechanical/ electronic option. I also have a new Envista Avenir. I had plenty of crappy cheap cars including a 1970 rusted Beetle and a rusted out Pinto. I feel like I’m familiar with both luxury and bare-bones cars. The Avenir really reminds me of my wife’s old SAAB 900 Turbo -the first generation 900 with the fishbowl windscreen. Very well though out. Near luxury. It’s not bare like a Chevette. It’s def near luxury-in the Avenir form. They skipped some things like power passenger seat and such. But it’s a great compromise. I’m totally satisfied with it.

You are definitely the "fun to drive" type! It goes without saying. I think the point @ulycyc was trying to make leaned more toward what a traditional American luxury "ride" was. It doesn't really exist anymore unless you buy the very top model of Mercedes S-Class or Rolls/Bentley vehicles. And it certainly doesn't exist in an ATS-V, M3, or Corvette. The GV70 is your closest experience to what real luxury used to feel like, but it's still not nearly the same.

How do you like the Envista compared to the GV70?

 

[Storkdude]

The Envista is a poor substitute for the GV70. The Gennie is pretty fast. More luxurious and roomy. Pretty much better in every single measure. But, the mission of the Buick is to me inexpensive. It does that very well. I wouldn’t have been shocked if the Envista Avenir was released as the base model of an entry-level Genesis. Buick made good cuts to reach the price. For example I like nav. The Buick lacks it but I use CarPlay. I can live with that. The adaptive cruise they included was incredible. I frequently make trips of 400-800 miles one-way every month. That is a really great feature to have for me. Sport mode on the tranny would have been nice to include. I added some really loud Hella horns and am currently doing a factory-looking install of HomeLink, but that’s likely all I’ll do. I’m gonna post some how-to threads on the other Envista forum mid November-if anybody wants to do some fairly easy mods.