Core summary
Buick Envision
The Buick Envision is a compact crossover SUV manufactured by General Motors and marketed under Buick since 2014. The current vehicle is the second-generation Envision, introduced in the United States for the 2021 model year and refreshed for 2024. Its stated powertrain is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The current generation shares GM's E2XX platform with the Cadillac XT4. Buick offers the premium Avenir trim in this generation, alongside base, Preferred and Essence versions in the 2021 launch lineup. The Envision is built in China by the SAIC-GM joint venture. A China-market stretched derivative, the three-row Envision Plus, was launched in 2021. For 2026, GM announced plans to move production of U.S.-market models to Fairfax Assembly in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2028.
History & generations
The Envision began as a 2011 design concept before becoming a production crossover in China in 2014. The first generation reached the United States for the 2016 model year, initially with all-wheel drive and later with front-wheel-drive availability. North American first-generation engines included a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, with a six-speed automatic at launch. A 2019 facelift revised the rear styling, tail lamps, seating design and transmission pairing for the turbo engine. A further 2020 facelift changed the front and rear styling. The second generation was introduced in the United States in May 2020 for the 2021 model year. It adopted the E2XX platform, a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, a nine-speed automatic and the Avenir trim. The 2024 refresh brought front-end design changes and dashboard-mounted digital displays. The current profile concerns this second generation, not the earlier model's specifications.
First generation
Introduced in China in 2014 and in the United States for 2016, the first Envision used four-cylinder powertrains and initially a six-speed automatic. It received facelifts for 2019 and 2020.
Second generation
Introduced in the United States in 2020 for the 2021 model year, the second generation moved to GM's E2XX platform, adopted a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with a nine-speed automatic, added Avenir, and received a 2024 refresh.
Body, platform & design
The Envision's design history includes a notable transition from the first-generation crossover to the more recent second-generation model. The original production vehicle followed the 2011 concept's compact crossover theme, while the concept's waterfall grille influence carried into production. First-generation updates in 2019 and 2020 concentrated on rear and front styling changes, including revised tail lamps and end treatments. The second generation introduced for 2021 brought a new body and GM's E2XX platform relationship with the Cadillac XT4. The 2024 refresh updated the front design and added dashboard-mounted digital displays. The regular Envision is a two-row compact crossover. In China, Buick also sells the Envision Plus, a stretched version of the Envision S with a longer wheelbase and three-row configuration. That derivative has a different body role from the regular two-row Envision while remaining part of the current Envision family.
Engine & drivetrain
The current second-generation Envision uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The extract identifies front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive as drivetrain choices for the Envision, with availability varying by market and trim. The 2024 refresh did not introduce a different engine in the supplied material. The first-generation powertrains are separate from the current model: North American versions used either a 2.5-liter four-cylinder rated at 197 hp and 192 lb-ft or a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 252 hp and 260 lb-ft. Those engines were initially paired with a six-speed automatic, while the turbo engine received a nine-speed automatic in the 2019 update. Chinese first-generation buyers could also select a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine. These earlier specifications should not be applied to the current Envision.
Trim differences
The second-generation Envision launched in the United States with four trim levels: base, Preferred, Essence and Buick's premium Avenir. The Avenir designation was new to the Envision with this generation. The supplied material does not establish a complete trim structure for every current model year or market, so the launch lineup is the clearest documented reference point. The image set identifies a 2023 Preferred and a 2026 Avenir AWD, confirming those named configurations in the supplied material. China-market naming differs in the extract, which refers to the current vehicle as the Envision S and separately identifies the stretched three-row Envision Plus. First-generation versions used different naming, including 20T and 28T, and expanded from two U.S. trims in 2016 to five for 2017. Those earlier trim details describe the previous generation rather than the current Envision.
Interior & seating
The supplied material specifically records that the 2019 first-generation update included a new seating design and that the 2024 current-generation refresh added dashboard-mounted digital displays. The image filenames also identify a 2025 Buick Envision interior and an Envision Plus interior, supporting the presence of interior views for both the regular current Envision and its stretched China-market derivative. The regular Envision is described as a two-row crossover, while the Envision Plus is a three-row variant with an extended wheelbase. Accordingly, the documented interior profile is limited to the seating distinction, the 2024 dashboard-display update and the identified image subjects.
Efficiency & range
The 2011 concept was described as a plug-in hybrid with a solar roof and heads-up display, but that concept was not the production powertrain and should not be treated as a specification of the current crossover. The current production vehicle is documented with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a nine-speed automatic. Stop/start calibration was mentioned as part of the first-generation 2019 update, not as a current-generation specification. Buyers comparing efficiency should therefore distinguish the production Envision from the earlier concept and avoid carrying first-generation engine or calibration details into the current model.
Safety & equipment
For the 2021 second-generation launch, the Envision included a suite of standard safety features. The extract specifically names blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning and forward-collision alert. The first-generation North American model was described as having seven active safety technologies in its 2016 Premium I and Premium II configuration, but that is historical equipment information and does not define the current vehicle. GM planned to introduce Super Cruise for the Envision, but the supplied material says the launch was delayed and the system was not realized. No crash-test scores, complete current safety-equipment list or autonomous-driving rating is supplied. The documented current safety profile is therefore centered on the named second-generation driver-assistance features and the stated status of Super Cruise.
Strengths
The current Envision combines a clear second-generation break from the original model with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, a nine-speed automatic and the availability of all-wheel drive. Its trim structure includes Buick's Avenir name, giving the line a higher-grade configuration within the documented launch range. The 2024 refresh updated the front design and introduced dashboard-mounted digital displays. The model also has a distinct international range: the regular Envision is a two-row crossover, while the China-market Envision Plus extends the body for three-row seating. Sharing the E2XX platform with the Cadillac XT4 places the vehicle within GM's compact crossover architecture. Its long production history since 2014 and continuing sales presence in China and North America give it an established position in Buick's crossover range.
The current Envision is a second-generation compact crossover with a 2024 refresh, a turbocharged four-cylinder, available all-wheel drive and Buick's Avenir trim. It remains closely tied to China-based SAIC-GM production, although GM has announced a planned 2028 move for U.S.-market production.
Considerations
The Envision's production history is closely connected to China, where it has been manufactured by the SAIC-GM joint venture. That arrangement became a significant market issue in the United States after tariffs on Chinese goods led GM to seek a waiver in 2018; the waiver was denied in 2019, and GM continued paying the tariffs. In January 2026, GM announced plans to move production of U.S.-market models to Fairfax Assembly in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2028. That is a future production plan rather than a current manufacturing arrangement. Buyers should also distinguish the regular two-row Envision from the China-market Envision Plus, which is a stretched three-row derivative. The planned Super Cruise introduction was not realized according to the supplied material.
Recommended use
The regular Buick Envision is positioned as a compact crossover for everyday road use, commuting and family transport. Its two-row layout suits buyers seeking a conventional five-door crossover format rather than the three-row capacity associated with the China-market Envision Plus. The turbocharged four-cylinder and nine-speed automatic provide the documented current powertrain, while front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive choices broaden its applicability across different road-use preferences. Avenir provides a higher-level configuration within the second-generation range, while Preferred and Essence are also documented launch trims. The Envision Plus is the more relevant choice within the family for buyers specifically seeking three rows, although it is a China-market stretched variant rather than the regular North American body. The supplied material does not establish towing, off-road or cargo-load ratings.
FAQ
Q: What is the current Buick Envision generation? A: The second generation, introduced for 2021 and refreshed for 2024.
Q: What engine does the current Envision use? A: A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 228 hp and 258 lb-ft.
Q: Which transmission is used? A: The current model uses a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Q: Does the Envision offer all-wheel drive? A: The extract identifies all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive availability, varying by market and trim.
Q: Is the Envision Plus the same body style? A: No. It is a stretched China-market derivative with three-row seating.
Q: Is Super Cruise available? A: The planned introduction was delayed and was not realized according to the extract.
What makes the Buick Envision different?
The current Envision is a second-generation compact crossover with a 2024 refresh, a turbocharged four-cylinder, available all-wheel drive and Buick's Avenir trim. It remains closely tied to China-based SAIC-GM production, although GM has announced a planned 2028 move for U.S.-market production.
Who should consider it?
Daily commuting, family transport and general-purpose crossover use
Sources & updates
Research for this Buick Envision profile prioritized current manufacturer specifications, model-year equipment pages and official press material. Independent safety or regulatory records were used where available. Historical references were kept separate from current-generation specifications and image identification.
Equipment, pricing and certified figures can vary by market, trim and model year. The expandable reference list below contains the linked sources used for verification. Last editorial review: August 30, 2026.
Last editorial review: August 30, 2026. Specifications remain market- and model-year-specific.