Forget about its Chinese roots; the Envision is a comfortable, well-appointed crossover. But it's also expensive, and there are some interior compromises. Let's not beat around the bush: The 2017 Buick Envision is the first mainstream vehicle assembled in China and exported to the United States. Introduced last year but expanded for the 2017 model year to a full lineup of base, Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Premium II trim levels, the Envision may sound like a brand of perfume, but it's really a mid-size crossover.
Pros Perfect fit for the Buick lineup Quiet interior Comfortable ride quality Attractive styling
Cons Price on par with genuine luxury rivals Would you buy a Chinese-made American car? Turbo is AWD-only Advanced safety tech costs big bucks
The 2017 Buick Envision ranks 12 out of 14 Luxury Compact SUVs. The 2017 Buick Envision gets lost near the back of the luxury compact SUV pack. It’s comfortable to drive and nicely equipped, and it offers good value for the money, but in a sea of over-achievers, the Envision is just average.
Pros Peppy turbocharged engine Comfortable, spacious seats Excellent safety ratings Lots of tech features
Cons Underpowered base engine Dull handling
The 2017 Buick Envision is an all-new vehicle in the lineup that slots between the smaller Encore and the midsize Enclave SUVs. The Envision combines a practical size with a long list of standard features that make it a value-packed, near-luxury SUV worth considering.
Pros Manageable size makes it easy to drive and maneuver The cabin is as quiet inside as premium luxury SUVs You get a lot of features for the money.
Cons Cargo capacity is merely average for the class Engine output is adequate but far from impressive.
The award-winning 2017 Ford Everest SUV range is now available with a rear-wheel-drive variant, designed to suit buyers who like the size, space and power of the Everest, but don’t need the cost and complexity associated with the multi-mode four-wheel drive system.
Pros For the most part, its the same car for $5000 less Light steering and easy to drive Still comfy and practical for family and towing duties
Cons Rides like an off roader, so there are better options if urban comfort is your game No reach adjustment on steering wheel Just the single Trend grade available
Visually, the rear-wheel drive (RWD) Ford Everest Trend is almost impossible to pick from 4WD versions. Same with the drive experience contributed to by the 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel, the packaging and the towing abilities. So, other than a $5000 price saving over the $60,990 (plus ORCs) 4WD Trend. Apart from a small, essentially useless, receptacle in the centre console, there’s precious little that visually separates Ford’s rear-wheel drive Everest Trend from its four-wheel drive equivalent.
Pros Well-planned, versatile interior Safety technology Some customers simply don’t need 4WD
Cons Some customers simply want 4WD One-way only steering wheel adjustment Engine noisy at times
