The 2017 Envision Gets a Lower Price and Power, but will Buyers Bite?

2016 Buick Envision (Credit: © Buick)

When the Envision crossover debuted for the 2016 model year, the Buick brand finally has a model to slot between the tiny Encore and the three-row Enclave. While filling that slot is great, the Envision was initially only available on higher trim levels that included a 252-horsepower turbocharged engine and a hefty price tag that ranged from $42,995 to $45,635, putting it well above the base Acura RDX and the Lexus NX. Buick looks to improve the competitiveness of its midrange crossover as it has just announced that it will launch a 2017 Envision that will include a more-competitively priced base model with reduced output.

The 2017 Envision will base from $34,990, aligning it better with the $34,965 Lexus NX 200t and placing it under the under the $35,360 Acura RDX. This all sounds well and good on the surface, but the base 2017 Envision’s 2.5-lter four-cylinder musters up just 197 horsepower, putting it way below the 235 horsepower the NX 200t produces and the 279 horsepower of the RDX.

Other than its output, the base Envision aligns itself well with its main competitors with features like standard hands-free liftgate, 18-inch aluminum wheels, active noise cancellation, dual-zone climate control, leatherette seating, heated and power-operated front seats, remote star, a rearview camera, and much more. While crossover buyers often prefer features over power, will they be able to look past the massive power gap between the 2017 Envision and its competitors? Only time will tell.

The China-built 2017 Envision will hit showrooms in the fall of 2016.