INDIANAPOLIS — It’s a crossover world in which the beautiful among us trade wagon backs for fastbacks and an athletic stance. These “crossover coupes” stand high and proud like their traditional brethren, but have an air of exclusivity. Of course, they usually wear luxury brands like Audi, Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz with prices to match. Unless…we’re talking about the 2024 Buick Envista that’s not only the most beautiful Buick, but also the most affordable – even in our top Avenir luxury trim.
With my hand over the badge, you’d never guess it’s a Buick. Front styling is lifted straight from the recent Wildcat EV concept’s wide front grille, LED headlamps, and angry driving lamps above. Avenir trim adds nickel finishes and 19” wheels. Seeing it from the side, it’s vision of beauty as the roofline sweeps down the liftgate to a subtle spoiler and thin wrap-around taillamps. Sculptural body forms lend sophistication. Check the textured chrome inserts on the rear sail panels and reinterpreted tri-shield logos on both ends.
Attention to small details carries to the interior as designers will likely receive awards for what they created. The twin-screen dash is a work of art, as are the textured stitched dash coverings, seats with contrasting piping, aluminum look around the gear selector, heated flat-bottom steering wheel and nickel trim. I can imagine a couture seamstress stitching the seat backrests. Heated front seats are faux leather, and there’s a lot of plastic too, but it is all beautifully executed and easy to clean.
Icons on the touchscreen are easy to understand and control devices wirelessly connected through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Charge wirelessly in the console. The automatic climate control is single zone, but kept the car ice cold in 90-degree heat. Remote starting and rain-sensing wipers add convenience. Safety is amped by adaptive cruise, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and rear cross traffic alert.
But, it’s also very practical for passengers and cargo. After adjusting the driver’s seat, I slid into the rear seat behind. I’d gladly ride cross-country back there – plenty of legroom, perfect armrest, and USB ports for charging. Power open the rear hatch and flip down the rear seats for a cavern of space. It’s a sporty compact car, but practical enough for an actual family.
Let’s get on the road. You wouldn’t think a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine would elicit excitement, but it produces a healthy 137 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque – routed to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed transmission is good enough, but adding GM’s 9-speed transmission would maximize power fuel economy. All-wheel-drive is not available, but fuel economy rates a frugal 28/32-MPG city/highway.
I recently drove a similar Buick Encore with the same engine from Indianapolis to Memphis and back, high-tailing it through Kentucky and Tennessee hills – nearly a thousand miles round-trip. Even sweeping through rising hills, it rarely feels underpowered. Turbo torque carries it through. Our Envista skips an independent rear suspension, but it was firm and composed even over rough city pavement. On the highway, it rode as comfortably as an Audi while active noise cancellation kept it quiet.
Nearly 70% of Buick sales last year came from new customers while the brand maintains strong loyalty. It shouldn’t surprise anybody as offering refined style and luxury car attributes at disgustingly affordable prices has long been Buick tradition. The stunningly gorgeous Envista Avenir does it all so well. Base models start at just $22,400, rising only to $30,490 all-in, making it tough competition for the Hyundai Kona, Nissan Kicks, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30 and similar Chevy Trax.
An ad for the 1972 Buick Centurian billed it as “The personal car for the family man”, which could also describe the Envista. Those classic Buicks laid pavement for a rising global brand producing beautiful and affordable automobiles. One of the most famous was the Electra 225, on which the Centurian was based, that was introduced in 1959 and named for its 225-in. length. It became known as the “Deuce and a Quarter.”
The Deuce was one gi-normous automobile. My high school Biology teacher had one in fading gold with gold brocade seats that was well past its expiration date, but continued to run without complaint. Six passengers had no problem fitting into the interior, which was encompassed by a body shell as large as a small boat. Early models came with a 401-cu. in. V8 connected to a 2-speed Dynaflow automatic transmission. Three-speed automatics came by the mid-60s while engines grew to 455 cu. in.
Models built from 1971-1976 were very close cousins to the Cadillac DeVille. Electras dropped the 225 moniker when the fifth-generation arrived with slimmer forms in 1977. Electras were downsized again in 1985 to GM’s new front-drive luxury platform that also supported the Oldsmobile 98 and Cadillac DeVille. After 1990, Electras became Park Avenues, eventually evolving into the Lucerne and Lacrosse. By the time Electra slipped into history, children and grandchildren of original Deuce owners were behind the wheels of Toyotas, Hondas, and Hyundais.
Wouldn’t it be 2 pc. and a biscuit if Buick built an Enclave 225 just to get its groove on? OK, maybe not, but it is far out to remember this shag carpet icon of Buick’s past that has influence well into the future. Such a car shall never glide this way again.
As Prince sang in his song Deuce a Quarter, “In my deuce and a quarter feelin’ funky funky fine…convertible top down so I can see the honeys passin’ me by.”
Storm Forward!
Send comments to Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.
Likes
- Suave styling
- Artful interior
- Turbo engine
Dislikes
- 6-speed transmission
- No AWD
- Single-zone climate
2024 Buick Envista Avenir
Five-passenger, FWD Crossover
Powertrain: 1.2-liter T3, 6-spd trans
Output: 137hp/162 lb.-ft. torque
Suspension f/r: Ind/Watts link
Wheels f/r: 19”/19” alloy
Brakes f/r: disc/disc
Fuel economy: 28/32 mpg city/hwy
Assembly: Bupyeong, Korea
Base/As-tested price: $22,400/30,490
