Some of the Buick Envision’s rivals outshine it, so it’s no surprise that not many reviewers are impressed by it, including Edmunds. It does offer some appealing features, but is it enough to make it worthwhile in the SUV market? Well, it could depend on where exactly you place it. The publication finds this model in a strange place between being a luxury or a standard SUV. Why is that? 

Edmunds’ thoughts on the 2023 Buick Envision

The 2023 Buick Envision is in its second generation and offers nothing new for this model year. According to Edmunds, it didn’t offer enough to score higher than a 7.4 out of 10, which lands it in the No. 14 spot out of 15 models in the Small SUV category. While it has some appealing features, there’s not much to praise.

It does offer a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which has enough power to get a 7.7-second acceleration time for a 0-to-60-mph run. Brakes also performed well with short stopping distances.

One thing the reviewers didn’t like was its below-average cargo space. With the rear seats down, you get 25.2 cubic feet of space and 52.7 cubic feet of maximum storage. If you compare that to the 2023 Volvo XC60, one of its higher-end rivals, it falls short by about 10.6 cubic feet. 

The suspension system works smoothly, but it doesn’t come with some of the premium features that more luxurious brands like BMW and Volvo offer. However, you do have to wonder whether the Envision should be considered more of a luxurious mainstream SUV as you see with Toyota or Volkswagen, or a bargain luxury one, like the BMW X3. 

Should it be a luxury or mainstream SUV?

Edmunds thinks the 2023 Buick Envision falls between your standard mainstream SUV and a high-end luxury sport utility vehicle. It offers some decent features for a premium base model, such as heated exterior mirrors, rear parking sensors, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a keyless ignition and entry system. Still, it doesn’t stand out among other luxury SUVs. 

You can also add packages with features like a heated steering wheel, a hands-free liftgate, and a 10.2-inch touchscreen. However, if you compare the 2023 Envision with some of its luxury rivals like the Acura RDX and the BMW X3, you’ll see that it doesn’t offer nearly as many premium features. 

For instance, the Acura model has an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, simulated leather upholstery, a 10.2-inch display with a touchpad controller, blind-spot monitoring, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. It excels compared to regular vehicles such as a Toyota RAV4 since it offers better features. If you put it up with more luxurious models, it excels in the fact that you can get a few premium items for quite a bit less than what an Acura RDX would go for. 

Who would benefit from the 2023 Buick Envision?

With all that being said, who exactly is the Buick Envision for? Edmunds feels that a specific group of people would be drawn to it, but it wouldn’t appeal to most of the market. We feel that’s true. 

When you analyze the strengths of the 2023 Envision, which are excellent value, good fuel economy, and a decent set of luxury features, a group starts to emerge. Someone looking for a premium model (but doesn’t want it overdone) for an inexpensive price would be interested in this model. 

Fuel economy is a bonus because it offers 22 mpg on city roads and 31 mpg when traveling on the highway (FWD version). Compared to the Acura RDX, which is 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, the Envision overshadows. Plus, the 228-hp engine in the Buick Envision is plenty powerful to get you around. 

Ultimately, the Envision is a more luxurious SUV, which you can get relatively inexpensive compared to the higher-end models. But don’t expect it to appeal to the masses.