2024 Buick Envista Preferred

The Envista is Buick's entry-level crossover, a subcompact SUV slotting below the Encore GX and Enclave. It competes with the Chevrolet Trax, Kia Soul, and Nissan Kicks in the value-oriented small SUV segment. The small turbo engine delivers adequate acceleration for city driving, and the ride is composed on smooth roads. Inside, the Envista offers a modern dashboard with a standard 8-inch touchscreen and available wireless Apple CarPlay. The Preferred is the base Envista, so you skip the Sport Touring's gloss-black trim and the Avenir's leather and heated seats, but you save several thousand dollars. Its 1.2L I3 makes 136 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, routed through a six-speed automatic to front-wheel drive, which is enough for around-town errands but needs a firm foot on the gas to merge onto the highway. The Preferred rides on 17-inch wheels with all-season tires and a suspension tuned for comfort, so you get a softer feel over broken pavement than the Sport Touring's firmer setup.