In the second model year of its second generation, the Buick Envision was named the best luxury compact crossover SUV on the market. Consumer Reports actually uses the term “top-rated” to indicate which vehicles really stand out. That means if you’re looking for a new or used Buick, the Envision is an excellent choice.
From Concept To Champion
The Buick Envision was first imagined as a concept crossover in 2011. The original concept was a plug-in hybrid that featured scissor doors that opened upwards along with a solar roof. Most of these elements didn’t make it into production, but the waterfall grille became part of this SUV’s image.
Buick put the Envision into consumers’ hands in 2014. By 2017, it was Buick’s third top-selling vehicle in the United States. Today, the Buick Envision is one of the most popular small SUVs on the market. It fits perfectly between Buick’s extra small Encore GC and larger Enclave.
From its full lineup of convenience and infotainment technology to a slew of luxury features, this SUV has it all. It’s also not too hard on the wallet, which makes it even more popular. Used Buick Envisions is also one of the most requested vehicles out there.
How Consumer Reports Evaluates Cars
If you’re familiar with Consumer Reports, you know that it is the ultimate guide for knowing how products rate. For vehicles like the Envision, Consumer Reports looks at a variety of factors. It starts with a road test at its 327-acre test facility. This road test includes more than 50 different sub evaluations.
Consumer reports also look at survey results from actual people. They look at owner satisfaction, how many people say that they would definitely buy the vehicle again, and more. They also throw in safety and government reports.
When all of these various tests and surveys are combined, a final score is determined. The maximum score is 100. The top-rated vehicles can be more than 40 points above the lower-ranked options.
The Scores Are In
After evaluating Buick Envision, the final Consumer Report score was a solid 84. This score put this crossover into first place for the luxury compact SUV division. Elements that stuck out were the Envision’s high-quality ride, quiet cabin, advanced infotainment center, and excellent braking performance.
The Envision earned a 79 on the road-test evaluation out of 100. The only areas that were open for criticism were things like low dash vents and the gear selector. With few things to complain about, it makes sense that this ride also earned a 4.7 out of 5 on Kelley Blue Book’s evaluation. This crossover is clearly a winner, whether you buy it as a new or used Buick. Stop by your local dealership to see why this crossover was named number one.
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