Buick Envista focuses on affordability, fuel economy, comfort.

In a world full of hybrids, EVs and premium SUVs, the Envista is a fresh face on the market. With the glorious Buick name and all that comes with a premium, more mature brand, the Envista feels different.

My tester was in a color called Copper Ice, which is in an orange pallet. Think burnt umber and you’re close to how curvaceous this squatty little SUV is. The Envista is the first of what Buick calls the “new face of Buick.†As evidenced by its low profile and forward-leaning nose. There is a new Buick logo that is now placed on the body, directly above the elegant and complex design of the grille.

Sharon Gauci, Buick’s executive director of design who announced that this was not your average small SUV also said: “With its unique proportions, modern stance and sleek shape, the Envista takes Buick’s iconic aesthetic to the next level.

Another area where the Envista is not like other SUVs is in displacement (engine size). The small 1.2 liter engine has a turbocharger to make it a bit smoother; but with only 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, it’s still pretty pedestrian. 0-60 times tested by other shops have the Envista reach 60 mph in 9 seconds. It’s obviously not exciting but it shows that the focus is on fuel efficiency.

The bottleneck in fuel efficiency seems to be the six-speed automatic transmission. With the new powertrain, it feels like it could use several more gears and therefore there is a noticeable turbo lag. Some fuel efficiency is regained by simply releasing the Envista in front-wheel drive.

If the horsepower seems too low, consider that the new 1.2-liter engine weighs significantly less than the previous iteration of this engine offered by GM in the past. The total weight of the Envista block is over 3,000 pounds.

The Envista walks a fine line between staying budget conscious while also maintaining Buick’s reputation for quality and refinement. If the Chevy Trax is bare bones, the Envista has meat on the bones. The flat-bottom steering wheel has a good feel. Coordinating colors on the chairs is a great complement and ties the overall design together.

There’s 38.7 inches of rear legroom to go along with 37.3 inches of headroom. The rear seats were spacious, considering the sloping roofline and the Envista’s sleek styling. For a small SUV, it was all about comfort.

The Envista has a new infotainment system that if GM implements in other vehicles it will be a huge success. It’s called the Ultrawide Infotainment Display. It has 19 diagonal inches of integrated LCD screens that work together harmoniously. The Infotainment screen itself is 11 inches. Somehow, the designers made it work so that it does not overpower the dashboard and seems to flow perfectly together.

There are 20.7 cubic feet of cargo room, which can expand to 42 cubic feet with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats. There is a power lift available.

With an emphasis on fuel economy, Envista achieves that with an average fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon. It has an EPA rating of 28 mpg/city and 32 mpg/highway. For non-hybridists, those are pretty good numbers.

One thing I hear from readers is that I only review cars that are very expensive. Here’s the 2024 Buick Envista with its MSRP of $24,100, making it one of the most affordable SUVs I’ve reviewed in a long time. My tester, which was a Sport Touring trim, had several optional packages that took the final price down to under $30,000.

With a unique color, attractive price tag and ample features and comfort, the new Buick Envista is not average.

Jimmy Dinsmore is a freelance automotive journalist. Email him at jimmydinsmore73@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @driversside

2024 Buick Envista Sport Touring

Price/As tested price………………………………………… … $24,100/$29,070

Mileage…………………………………….. 28 mpg/city; 32 mpg/hwy

Engine…………………………………… 1.2-liter turbocharged 4- cylinder

Horsepower…………………………….. 137 hp/162 lbs./ft.

Transmission…………………………….. Six-speed automatic

Driving Wheels………………. Front wheels

Final Assembly Area……………. Bupyeong Gu, Korea