2017 Buick Envision: Luxury For Less

When I think of a Buick, I think back to the mid 80’s model Buick Regal that my parents had when I was a kid. It was a big comfortable car that had velvety seats and a big back seat that I could lay out in (no seat belt of course) on long road trips with the family. Fast forward to 2017 and I got behind the wheel of a 2017 Buick Envision for a couple of days in the foothills of Alberta with Buick Canada.

Buick is America’s oldest car company and stands proud with it’s first time offering in the mid size luxury crossover SUV category with the 2017 Buick Envision. This rounds out their SUV category and completes the trilogy of products along with the compact Encore and the full size Enclave SUV.

At first look, immediately I saw the resemblance and consistency of the Buick SUV lines and grill. It might be hard to tell from the front which of the 3 SUVs are coming toward you on the road if it weren’t for the distinct size difference. The exterior has all the beautiful lines and curves to make a statement without shouting too loudly.

But we all know it’s whats on the inside that really counts and I’m not talking about the engine, although if you want to know, it comes with standard AWD and a 2.0L turbo, 4 cylinder, 6 speed automatic transmission, blah, blah, blah. There’s a million blogs that will give you all the technical and mechanical breakdown you want. Let’s get back to the stuff I really look for in a vehicle. Features, safety and details that make you go oooooohhhhh.

Features I got excited about are things like remote start, back up camera (required equipment on all new vehicles starting in 2018), keyless push starter and the oh so luxurious heated steering wheel. I can’t stand wearing gloves or mitts in the winter to drive. This feature is a must have for Alberta winters!

Safety is something GM has been a leader in so the Envision comes with forward collision alert for that millisecond you take your eyes off the road to check your rear view mirror. Lane departure that gives you visual as well as physical (vibrates your butt) alerts if you cross a line without hitting the indicator, lane assist and my favourite, the blind side indicator on both side mirrors.

Ooooh I got really excited about the heads up display that projects the speed and direction right onto the windshield above the dash as well as the double down of the OnStar, Apple car play, satellite radio, navigation and 4G LTE WiFi connectivity right inside the vehicle. With a paid data package, the kids can stream Netflix on road trips (when signal allows) and I can even get some work done. And probably my most favourite thing is the adaptive cruise. Set it once and forget it. The system will automatically slow the vehicle down to match the car in front of you until you decide to change lanes and pass or the person ahead speeds up.

I really loved driving the Buick Envision although it’s not a vehicle that would fit my big family of 6 plus a new puppy but if you’re a city dweller concerned about parking an SUV downtown or in a parkade and you want luxury for an amazing price point. This is your 5 seater dream come true. With space enough for a couple of kids, groceries and even a dog, it’s perfect for a small family or an active couple with cargo room for all your weekend adventure gear. It drives like a luxury car hidden inside a crossover SUV.

 

2017 Buick Envision starts at $39,995 MSRP (CDN)

 

Special thanks to Buick Canada for inviting me to test out the new 2017 Buick Envision. 

Statistics show that we ladies influence 85% of vehicle purchases so why not get a Dirty Girl perspective on what’s new on the roads. As always, I promise to give you an unbiased and honest opinion, based on my personal experience.