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Is the All-New 2021 Envision Good Enough to Spark a Revival of the Buick Brand?

One of the oldest American carmakers, Buick has been struggling to rediscover its identity in recent years. For 2021, its all-crossover lineup features a completely redesigned Envision, a model the company hopes will revive its sales figures.
2021 Buick Envision 7 photos
Photo: Buick
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After failing to impress with the first-generation Envision, the manufacturer released a completely new version in May 2020 as a 2021 model. It is set to compete against the Lincoln Corsair, Acura RDX, or Infiniti QX50 but is it good enough to outsell its rivals?

Unlike its depressingly unappealing predecessor, the new compact SUV looks good enough to be called a premium vehicle. The exterior design is a huge improvement, while the interior, which wasn’t that bad on the preceding model, has received just the right number of upgrades.

Looks are a matter of personal taste but for the sake of argument, allow me to voice my humble opinion. The bodywork looks a bit better than the RDX and Corsair, but I think the QX50 is more eye-catching.

2021 Buick Envision
Photo: Buick
Inside, the Buick seems more ergonomic and luxurious than Infinity’s compact crossover, yet Lincoln and Acura’s cabins look more appealing.

In terms of power, the 2021 Envision comes with a single powertrain option consisting of a 2.0-liter Ecotec turbocharged inline-four good for 228 hp (170 kW) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque. It's paired with a nine-speed automatic gearbox and comes with standard front-wheel-drive; AWD can be added to all available trims for about $2,000.

The RDX and QX50 also feature a single powertrain comprised of a 2.0-liter turbocharged straight-four that produces 272 hp and 268 hp, respectively, while the Corsair comes with either a 250-hp 2.0-liter or 280-hp 2.3-liter; on top of those, it's set to add a hybrid powertrain to the lineup soon.

2021 Buick Envision
Photo: Buick
Like the Envision, the competitors come with standard FWD, which can be upgraded to AWD for the same price difference. Here, Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive is arguably the better system.

Safety is extremely important, and Buick has made an effort to improve the crossover’s suite of standard features. All trims come standard with automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, or adaptive cruise control.

Unfortunately, neither NHTSA nor IIHS have released their ratings for the 2021 Envision, so we can’t go into further details about how safe it is compared to its rivals.

2021 Buick Envision
Photo: Buick
We do know that the Acura earned the highest ratings from both agencies, while the Corsair got five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. The 2021 QX50 hasn't been crash-tested by the NHTSA yet but received five stars for the 2020 model; however, it hasn’t earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS.

Prices start around $33,000 and can exceed $41,000 for the 2021 Envision's top Avenir trim, making it a cheaper option than the $37,000+ Corsair or the $39,000+ RDX and QX50.

Overall, the 2021 Buick Envision is a major improvement over the previous generation in terms of design, and although it might be the top choice for those on a tight budget, it doesn’t stand out in any major way from the competition.

GM is hoping to revive the Buick brand, which has been spiraling into anonymity in recent years, but it needs to do a better job if it intends to rise above its rivals.
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About the author: Vlad Radu
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Vlad's first car was custom coach built: an exotic he made out of wood, cardboard and a borrowed steering wheel at the age of five. Combining his previous experience in writing and car dealership years, his articles focus in depth on special cars of past and present times.
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