2026 Buick Envista

Performance

The 2026 Envista is powered by a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine making 136 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The new powertrain is lighter and simpler than previous iterations, which should make it more reliable and efficient than its predecessors.  

The 2026 Envista also turns in some exceptional fuel economy. It is rated up to 28 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined.  

The turbocharged three-cylinder engine is tuned for more efficiency than performance, though it has received mostly positive reviews in its short time on the market. It’s a competent performer in town, where it’s more than capable of delivering the short bursts of acceleration needed to enter traffic and merge onto the highway.    

As a Buick should, the 2026 Envista irons out the worst road imperfections and maintains a quiet, mostly smooth ride throughout. The ST and Avenir trims add a Watts link suspension system, which further improves the ride quality.

Exterior

The 2026 Envista feels more expensive and premium than its price tag suggests. Buick employed a new design language for the SUV that it said is based on the Wildcat EV concept car. It wears Buick’s latest logo, unique grille designs, and other styling elements not usually found at this price point.   

Exterior accents differ between trims, with the ST getting dark exterior trim and others incorporating satin chrome accents. LED daytime running lights come standard, and the 2026 Envista’s headlight design mirrors Buick’s signature wing shape.   

Wheel sizes range from 17 to 19 inches, with the range-topping Avenir trim getting pearl nickel 19-inch wheels, which Buick said gives the vehicle an elegant, luxurious look.  

Interior

Buick focused on light and space with the 2026 Envista, featuring large, long windows that create an airy cabin feel. Its extended wheelbase affords excellent interior room, especially in the second row, where legroom is more generous than in any small SUV Buick has offered to date.  

The Avenir and ST trims come with stitched logos in the upholstery, and most models get contrasting stitching. All models get a flat-bottom steering wheel, and Buick stated that it scrutinized the most minute details throughout the cabin. The automaker also equips its QuietTuning noise cancellation tech.  

Cloth with leatherette upholstery comes standard, while the range-topping Avenir trim adds leather, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a heated steering wheel. It also brings a host of exclusive styling and interior features, including an air filtration system with dust and particulate filtering, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, keyless entry and start, and more.   

The 2026 Envista’s five-seat cabin offers generous space, with 39.4 inches of front headroom and 37.3 inches in the back. The legroom measures 41.9 inches in the front and 38.7 inches in the back. The cargo space is surprisingly decent, measuring 20.7 cubic feet with the rear seats upright and 42 cubic feet with the 60/40 folding bench folded flat.  

Technology

The 2026 Envista comes equipped with an 11-inch touchscreen that supports wireless smartphone mirroring for both Apple and Android devices, an eight-inch driver information display screen, Bluetooth with two-device connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot, HD Radio, SiriusXM Radio, and more. Higher trim levels get a remote start system, wireless device charging, a keyless entry keypad, and more robust OnStar functions.  

Buick benefits from GM’s excellent infotainment interface, which is simpler and easier to use than many competing systems. That simplicity also makes the interface less distracting to use while driving. At the same time, it offers a generous set of standard features, and the large touchscreen runs flawlessly.  

Safety

The 2026 Envista comes standard with a range of driver assist features, including lane departure alerts, lane keep assist, forward collision warnings, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, and a rearview camera. Buyers can add adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, and rear parking sensors.   

Neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has crash-tested the 2026 Envista. The IIHS recently updated its testing criteria with a more intense side-crash evaluation, and the 2026 Envista is expected to perform well in the new tests.