One cannot blame Buick for trying, but this future car come to life is perhaps still waiting for the right driver. Based on the Buick Wildcat EV concept, the front of the Envista is certainly futuristic. In the grand scheme of subcompact and small SUVs, the 2024 Buick Envista has a lot of competition. While this Buick SUV might have an affordable price that makes it attractive to more shoppers, it is quickly outpaced by others in value, engine power, and even cargo space. A lack of available all-wheel drive is also a concern.

How much will the 2024 Buick Envista SUV cost?

The 2024 Buick Envista SUV will start at $22,400 for the entry-level model, while a fully loaded Envista will run you $28,600. The Envista’s price is actually one of its strong points, offering a long list of standard safety features on the base model. But the value goes down from there, with many essential features locked into pricey packages. Buick only offers one free exterior color, Summit White, while the other options range from $495 to $1,095.

For instance, the Buick SUV would benefit from the features in the Advanced Safety package. At $595, it adds Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert. Should those be included across all the trim levels? Buick does include more as you go up the trim levels.

The Convenience II package also adds Rainsense automatic wipers, wireless device charging, and a power liftgate for $595. Don’t skip the Experience Buick package for another $995. This one adds a power moonroof, 18-inch wheels, and 18-inch tires. Finally, the Convenience I package adds eight-way power seats, two-way lumbar driver-seat controls, and keyless open/start. It also includes heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a wrapped steering wheel for $1,295.

What does the Buick Envista SUV compare to?

Since the Buick Envista SUV sits in the subcompact or compact crossover SUV segment, it sits with vehicles like the 2023 Mazda CX-5 and the Chevrolet Trax. It shares a lot of design elements with the Trax, but the Envista is longer by four inches.

Since hitting the market, the Envista has seen a few complaints about those performance problems. Even though the Envista has the same engine as the Trax, a 1.2L three-cylinder with 137 horsepower, the bigger SUV suffers for that. That is enough for those who want a simple vehicle to get from point A to point B, but others might not find it powerful enough.

Buick’s SUV has a zero to 60 mph time of 9.5 seconds, which is adequate at best. The Envista did get an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, which is a positive.

How is the Buick Envista cargo space?

Two other areas hold the Buick SUV back: cargo space and lack of all-wheel drive. The 2024 Buick Envista has 20.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 42 cubic feet behind both rows. That falls behind many small SUVs like the similar Chevy Trax and even some even smaller subcompact SUVs. Plus, a manual liftgate is standard and has to be upgraded for power.

When thinking about potential shoppers for the Envista, not having a power liftgate and a lack of all-wheel drive availability seems amiss. Having that extra control in the snow and ice is necessary, depending on where you live. Since the Envista is so new, it also has not been safety tested yet. Keep an eye out for that in the future.

Overall, the Buick Envista makes sense for a niche market of buyers. Buick is not really a high-volume automaker these days, which means the Envista will probably fit right in with the other models. If you are looking for a simple and small SUV, this Buick is a good option.