Unique Shape Sets 2024 Buick Envista apart from Chevy Trax Platform Mate
The 2024 Buick Envista hits dealer lots later this month and starts at $23,495 for Preferred trim models.
The small crossover uses a 1.2-liter turbocharged I3 that makes 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque.
The Buick Envista is the new entry-point of the Buick lineup and is available only in front-wheel drive.
The Buick Envista isn’t exactly new. Its debut in China last year shouldn’t be surprising for those following the company, but its introduction to the US market was noteworthy. Though, after the rollout of Chevrolet’s new Trax, it probably shouldn’t have been a surprise after all. Powered by the same three-cylinder engine, this Trax platform mate looks to fill the same role as the Trax does in the bowtie’s portfolio: it’s an affordable entry point to the brand’s growing crossover lineup.
Just like the Trax, the Buick Envista’s 1.2-liter turbocharged I3 makes 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. That power is transferred exclusively to the front wheels by way of a six-speed automatic. Like in the latest Trax, this engine is surprisingly competent in the Envista.
The numbers might not suggest it, but the Envista hums along nicely and has plenty of power at the top of the throttle. It isn’t exactly quick, but it does manage the daily grind and accelerate up to highway speed.
Dynamically, the Envista shares the same wheelbase and suspension design as its Trax sibling. The Envista’s 106.3-inch wheelbase, front MacPherson strut suspension, and rear compound crank suspension are effectively what’s underneath the Trax.
While the damper tuning might be different between brands, the Envista feels largely the same as its Trax counterpart. That is good. The Envista’s suspension works well to soften the bumps and offers reasonable control over the car’s inputs. The steering is admittedly numb and maybe not as precise as you’d want from a sports sedan, but the Envista isn’t trying to be that.
If you’re wondering where the Envista sets itself apart from the Trax, that’s in the interior and the exterior styling. Despite riding on the same platform, the folks at Buick have leaned the Envista more into a coupe-ified compact crossover. That means the Envista sacrifices some rear cargo area and rear passenger space when compared to the Trax, but it gains a unique styling element in a sea of compact crossovers.
Inside, the Envista’s dashboard looks and feels more mature than that of the Trax. Instead of massive round air vents, the Buick’s side air vents are blended elegantly into the dash and follow the same design as the rest of Buick’s lineup.
Both the Buick and Chevrolet sport a massive screen panel that’s home to the digital instrumentation and touchscreen media system. Combined, the 11-inch infotainment screen and 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster span 19 inches of screen space. Apple CarPlay comes with the Envista and works well at managing your Spotify, calls, and your Google Maps.
The Envista repositions Buick’s entry point to make it more attractive to prospective buyers. It starts at $23,495 and is set to hit dealers later this month. Of course, that’s stepping up a few thousand dollars from the base-model Chevrolet Trax, which starts at $21,495. That’s not an insignificant leap, but it does net you a more mature interior and a more stylish small lifted wagon crossover.
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