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Front view of the 2024 Buick Envista ST in Cinnabar Metallic. Preproduction model shown. Actual production model may vary.

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The 2024 Buick Envista ST interior, featuring a standard Ultrawide Infotainment Display. Preproduction model shown. Actual production model may vary.

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Rear view of the 2024 Buick Envista ST in Cinnabar Metallic. Preproduction model shown. Actual production model may vary.

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Front view of the 2024 Buick Envista ST in Cinnabar Metallic. Preproduction model shown. Actual production model may vary.

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A close-up view of the new Ultrawide Infotainment Display in the 2024 Buick Envista ST. Preproduction model shown. Actual production model may vary.

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With the introduction of the 2024 Buick Envista, the company marked a significant departure from its traditional lineup, embracing what we perceived as a fresh, new approach that should appeal to a more modern and mainstream SUV buyer.

The Envista is specifically designed to cater to those seeking a mix of affordability, sleek design and practicality. The SUV takes direct aim at the growing subcompact SUV market. After a week spent behind the wheel, driving through Utah’s diverse landscapes, we found that the Envista offered a compelling package for both urban and suburban drivers alike.

Exterior design: Sporty and sleek

The first thing that we noticed was that the 2024 Envista stood out with its unique design language. Unlike some of the bulkier, more traditional SUVs in Buick’s lineup, the Envista boasted a sleeker and more unique appearance.

The Sport Touring trim accentuated this with its unique exterior elements that included blacked-out trim, 18-inch machined alloy wheels and a sportier front grille design. The coupe-like silhouette, with a sloping roofline, gave the Envista what we perceived as a more youthful and energetic appearance — something that was out of the box for a Buick.

In terms of size, the Envista slotted just below Buick’s Encore GX. That made it a more compact offering. Despite the smaller footprint, it retained a commanding road presence expected of an SUV.

A longer hood and higher beltline contributed to a muscular stance, while sharp creases along the body emphasized its modern styling. During our driving around the streets of our hometown Springville and throughout the area, the Envista turned heads and had even our neighbors asking questions about the striking SUV.

Powertrain and performance: Nimble and efficient

Getting under the hood of the 2024 Envista Sport Touring, we found a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that delivered 136 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. While those numbers may not sound impressive at first glance, the engine felt surprisingly peppy, especially in city driving conditions.

The combination of a lightweight frame and the turbocharger gave the Envista enough low-end torque for quick acceleration, making merging onto highways or zipping through city traffic a relatively smooth experience.

In our week of testing, the Envista performed admirably. Its continuously variable transmission, or CVT, was tuned for efficiency, and while some CVTs can feel sluggish, this one responded quite well to throttle input, providing a more linear and smooth driving experience. Though it would not win any races, it delivered enough power for most daily driving tasks, especially in an urban setting.

What we really liked most about the Envista’s performance was its fuel efficiency. Buick estimates that the Envista should achieve around 28 miles per gallon in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. Over the course of our week with the SUV, which included both city commutes and a couple of longer highway stints, we found these estimates to be fairly accurate, achieving a combined 30.5 mpg.

Interior: Modern tech meets Buick comfort

The 2024 Envista Sport Touring for us showcased a clean, functional and well-designed cabin. Buick has done an excellent job blending traditional comfort with modern technology, thus offering an interior that felt upscale for its price point.

Soft-touch materials, leatherette seating and an intuitive dashboard layout contributed to that premium feel. The contrasting stitching and subtle chrome accents on the Sport Touring model added just that extra touch of sportiness to complement the exterior design.

We loved the 11-inch touchscreen infotainment system that sat at the center of the dashboard and was truly the standout feature of the interior. It proved to be easy to use, responsive and integrated seamlessly with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There was also a wireless charging pad that made it very convenient to keep our smartphones charged without messy cords cluttering the console.

One area where the Envista excelled was cargo space. Despite its compact size, the vehicle offers 20.7 cubic feet of cargo room behind the rear seats, which expands to 42 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. Deanne found it very useful on her weekly trip for supplies at Costco for work, where she gets enough food for a week of lunches for 20 to 30 people.

Technology and safety: Advanced features for the modern driver

Buick hasn’t skimped on tech or safety features for the 2024 Envista. The model came standard with an impressive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and forward collision alert. During our week of driving, the safety features worked seamlessly, adding peace of mind in stop-and-go traffic or when navigating narrow roads through Utah’s diverse landscapes.

For even more advanced features, the optional Advanced Safety Package included adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert and a 360-degree camera system. These features were particularly useful during high-traffic drives and in crowded parking lots.

Ride quality and driving dynamics: Comfort over speed

The 2024 Envista was definitely not designed to be a performance SUV, with its focus on comfort over speed being very evident in its driving dynamics. The suspension was tuned to absorb most road imperfections, making it well-suited for daily commutes and long-distance drives.

The steering proved to be light and easy, which was great for city driving, but it lacked the sharp feedback that driving enthusiasts might crave. However, for most regular folks in the subcompact SUV market, this would not be a dealbreaker. The light steering made the Envista incredibly easy to maneuver in tight spaces.

At the end of the week: A fresh, affordable option from Buick

The 2024 Buick Envista Sport Touring proved to be an impressive entry point into the growing subcompact SUV market. With a uniquely sleek design, comfortable interior and tech-forward approach, it was very clear that Buick is targeting a younger, more urban demographic. But even us empty nesters enjoyed the ride!

Base price: $24,100

Destination charge: $1,095

Price as driven: $29,070