Historically, Buick has been known as a premium automotive brand, slotted one spot below Cadillac on the GM luxury ladder. This made the Buick Envista’s arrival for the 2024 model year a major shift in the eyes of the car-buying public. Starting at just $22,400 for the entry-level Preferred trim and $28,600 for the top-end Avenir trim, this subcompact crossover joined a group of cars and SUVs seeking to offer affordable options in a vehicle market where the consumer price index remains near its all-time high.
Once I got past the shock of seeing a Buick positioned as a budget vehicle, though, I discovered something: not only does the Envista cost less than a lot of other affordable new vehicles, but in many cases, a Buick Envista for sale offers performance and features that are as good as or better than its more expensive counterparts. I put the Buick Envista head-to-head with nine other vehicles in the sub-$30,000 bracket to see how it objectively stacks up.
Hyundai Kona
At a $24,550 starting price for the entry-level SE trim, this fellow subcompact SUV costs slightly more than the Envista—and it doesn’t deliver for those extra dollars. To start, the Envista has 162 lb-ft of torque to the Kona’s 132 lb-ft, helping drivers accelerate faster. It also has a larger fuel tank to go farther between fill-ups, heated side mirrors to keep them clear, more legroom in the front and rear for comfort, and a digital gauge display nearly twice the size for easy readability. You can also add plenty of features to the Envista Preferred that you can’t on a Kona SE, including a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless device charging.
Mazda CX-30
For a vehicle that begins at $25,195, it’s fair not to expect the sportiest, most advanced Mazda. But the less expensive Envista holds up very well against this subcompact. The Mazda CX-30 has more horsepower, but it pays the price by getting as little as an EPA-estimated 25 MPG combined versus 30 MPG combined for the Envista. The 11-inch HD touchscreen in the Envista dwarfs the CX-30’s 8.8-inch display, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard in every Envista. For the Mazda CX-30, you must go all the way to the $30,140 Carbon Edition to get these features.
Volkswagen Taos
Continuing on the subcompact path, the $24,995 MSRP on the Taos is close to the CX-30—and again, the Envista is a worthy adversary despite costing $1,195 less. The remote start system, heated side mirrors, and six-speaker sound system on the Envista Preferred are just some of the goodies you won’t find on the matching Taos S. The Envista’s infotainment screen is also three inches bigger and has standard remote commands and real-time navigation via OnStar Basics. Many other features are a draw, like the manual driver’s seat and 17-inch wheels.
Honda Civic
The Buick Envista doesn’t just compare favorably to other SUVs. The famed Honda Civic, which begins at $24,250 for the sedan and $27,450 for the hatchback, has the advantage when it comes to fuel efficiency and includes a great driver assistance suite. But a puny seven-inch touchscreen, four-speaker sound system, lack of Wi-Fi capability, and only 37.4 inches of rear legroom in entry-level trims don’t cut it against the Envista. Power and torque are roughly a wash, and the Envista’s driving dynamics are surprisingly Civic-like as well, with matching MacPherson front struts and Buick’s Ride and Handling suspension. Then there’s cargo space—a trunk simply can’t compare to the 42 cu.ft. of cargo the Envista can handle.
Chevrolet Equinox
Now, I’ll put the Buick against a family member—the Chevy Equinox, a compact SUV that starts at $28,600. Both are members of the GM lineup, and these SUVs have many similarities, especially in the suspension, infotainment tech, and safety features. But are the advantages of the compact Equinox worth $4,800 more than the subcompact Envista? It’s debatable. The engine in the Equinox has a little more power, but the tradeoff is an EPA-estimated fuel economy that’s 3 MPG lower. And despite being a compact SUV, the Equinox has less front legroom than the Envista subcompact. Unless you need the extra cargo space and headroom, the Envista may be a better bet for the money.
Kia Seltos
Buick’s rival from Kia is the Seltos, a subcompact crossover beginning at $24,690 for the LX trim. For the extra grand, drivers get 30 lb-ft less torque, no LED lighting, a touchscreen that’s three inches smaller, no Wi-Fi hotspot, and less legroom. Kia tries to make up for this in other areas like safety, but the Envista still compares strongly with its Buick Driver Confidence safety suite plus other assistance like an HD rearview camera and Teen Driver Mode. The only big advantages the Seltos has are cargo room and available AWD, which aren’t enough to offset its shortcomings.
Subaru Crosstrek
The biggest selling point for Subaru is standard AWD—but at an MSRP of $25,810 for the Crosstrek Base, I expected it to have more to hang over the Envista’s head. For starters, the Buick Envista has 2.2 inches more rear legroom and 0.8 cu.ft. more rear cargo room than the Crosstrek. The Envista Preferred also has more torque, better fuel economy, remote start, more speakers, and a four-inch bigger infotainment screen, among other advantages compared to the Crosstrek Base.
Toyota Corolla Cross
The SUV version of the famed Corolla looks like a great value at a $24,035 starting price, and on the surface, it does have a leg up over the Envista in a few areas, like having a little more power and better fuel economy. But when you put the Buick Envista Preferred and Toyota Corolla Cross L trims head to head, you can see Toyota has cut some corners. The Corolla Cross L is stuck in the Stone Age with its steel wheels, and it uses a torsion beam rear suspension instead of the more adept Watts Link System. Toyota’s competitor also has a scant 32 inches of rear legroom, manual climate control instead of automatic, and just an eight-inch touchscreen.
Ford Escape
The least expensive non-truck from Ford costs 23% more than the Buick Envista Preferred, with the Ford Escape Active starting at $29,150. The bottom line is that the Escape Active is not 23% better. The baseline Escape engine is a wash when it comes to fuel efficiency, and the added horsepower is offset by the higher curb weight. It’s also another member of the eight-inch touchscreen club and has a basically identical tech setup. When you compare the similarly-priced Envista Avenir, Buick further beats Ford with a wireless charging pad, 19-inch wheels, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and more. The Escape at least capitalizes on its size with more legroom and cargo space, but otherwise, it’s hard to find an edge.
Get the Most Value With the Buick Envista
As you can see, the Buick Envista consistently gives budget-conscious drivers more for their money and still offers a luxurious touch. Beyond the standard features I reviewed, the Envista Preferred has available upgrades for even more goodies that aren’t available on many rivals (and some of these items are included with the Sport Touring and Avenir trims). You can add a moonroof, all-weather floor liners, a power liftgate, a cargo area organizer, and more, depending on your budget and priorities. It may seem like a strange new world where a Buick is a viable option in the affordable car market, but it’s a world I welcome.
