Buick’s midrange SUV brings a sub-luxury interior and a refined driving experience, but it’s not as plush as much of its competition.

What’s New for the 2023 Buick Envision

The Envision got a few new colors for 2023 but is otherwise unchanged, leaving it behind most of the increasingly competitive class where it resides. That said, the Buick is one of the quietest and smoothest-riding vehicles in its segment, which will appeal to drivers interested in comfort over performance and engagement.

Design

The 2023 Envision’s styling is as exciting as its driving experience, which means it’s pretty bland. Its compact dimensions give it a tidy look, and smooth lines help give it a flowy shape, but there’s nothing in the exterior styling that makes the Envision memorable or entertaining to look at. The same is true inside, though the Envision’s cabin is uncluttered and handsome. There are more hard plastics than we’d like to see at this price point, but the SUV’s interior design is at least easy on the eyes.

Powertrain

All Envisions come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Power hits the front or all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration is decent but not impressive, as the SUV takes a little more than seven seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill.

Interior

The Envision’s interior is handsome and nicely screwed together, but it doesn’t provide the luxury-liner experience that many of its rivals offer. There’s good room for five people, and the top Avenir trim brings upscale finishes, including heated and ventilated front seats wrapped in quilted leather. The Avenir also offers massaging seats and high-end materials throughout. There’s 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats, and the space expands to 52.7 cubic feet with the rear bench folded.

Technology

The 2023 Envision gets an 8-inch touchscreen as standard equipment, and higher trims get a 10.2-inch display. Other standard tech includes six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and more. Higher trims pick up a nine-speaker Bose audio system and wireless charging. Like those of its General Motors siblings, Buick’s infotainment interface is intuitive and easy-to-use, especially while driving. Menus are easy to access, and few actions require more than a tap or two to accomplish.

Safety

The Buick Confidence safety package comes standard, bringing lane-keep assist, lane-departure alerts, automatic high beams, following-distance indicators, automatic emergency braking, and forward-collision warnings. The last Envision to undergo crash testing with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) was the 2020 model, which earned solid scores in most areas but missed out on a Top Safety Pick.

Pricing

As of this writing, pricing for the 2023 Buick Envision starts at $34,795 and ranges to $47,055. Buyers can upgrade with several added-cost options, including premium paints, upgraded wheels, and two options packages. The $1,495 Sport Touring Package brings exclusive exterior styling upgrades, while the Technology Package adds the larger infotainment system.