2020 Buick Envision Review
Price Range: $16,490 - $26,939





+127
Average
7.2
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The 2020 Envision is a quiet, comfortable SUV that offers a lot of features for the money. It's also priced between the luxury and non-luxury segments. It falls well short of those luxury competitors in everything but cabin quietness, but it provides a slightly elevated level of comfort compared to the standard segment.
2020 Buick Envision Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What's new
- The Envision carries over essentially unchanged
- Part of the first Envision generation introduced for 2016
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Buick Envision 1SV 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.34 per gallon for regular unleaded in Arizona.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Arizona
$166/mo for Envision 1SV
Envision 1SV
vs
$180/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent
#1 out of 32 among Midsize SUVs
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Buick Envision from 2008-2022.$318/yr
vs. $485/yr
for Average Midsize SUV
for Average Midsize SUV
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).0.18x/yr
vs. 1.18x/yr
for Average Midsize SUV
for Average Midsize SUV
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).4.8%
vs. 13.5%
for Average Midsize SUV
for Average Midsize SUV
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Buick Envision Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(68%)
4(26%)
3(2%)
2(2%)
1(2%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Very Surprised, purchased over CR-V and Tiguan
4 out of 5 starsNathan, 03/31/2019
2019 Buick Envision Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
Firstly, we just bought this Envision and only have 500 miles on it so far, so I cannot comment on reliability, etc. We had been shopping for an SUV for a couple months and had struggled with the whole 2-row vs 3-row thing. We decided to get a larger 2-row because my wife will drive it every day and we only road-trip a couple times a year (something a 3-row would be best suited for). … We were set to buy a VW Tiguan because of its size, power, etc. We visited our local Buick dealer just to see what they had to offer. We had not even considered the Envision, but when my wife drove the turbo 2.0, the decision became easy: she had to have it! We were blown away by the ride, smoothness, easy steering, and the extremely quiet interior. We also drove one with the 2.5 4-cyl, but it didn't hold a candle to the turbo. I will say however, that I felt the 2.5 liter was on-par with VW's turbo 2.0. It made us realize that the VW and the Honda were weak. This thing has all kinds of power, but it comes at a price. We averaged 25 mpg (hand calculated) on a 400-mile road trip, with a conservative 71 mph average speed. Not terrible, but overall worse than others in this class. This will be my wife's daily-driver, so we'll see how it does in the city. I'm hopeful the mileage will improve after we get a few thousand miles on it. Cargo capacity is okay, but we travel lightly so we're good with it. We had just enough room for us, two small kids, 3 small suitcases, a box of toys, and miscellaneous bags of stuff. I recently rented a Nissan Murano for a road trip, and this Envision felt just as good, if not better. The only areas where the Murano was better was mpg and its slightly larger size. We got the Premium I trim, but even the lower trims are well-equipped with a power lift gate, heated seats, wheel, and more. The other makes only offer that stuff in high trim levels. Honda does not even offer two of her must-haves in the CR-V: heated steering wheel and panoramic sunroof. If you're shopping for a larger 2-row SUV, do not pass up on the Envision. UPDATE: 16k miles on our Envision now, and my wife still loves it. We have not had any issues whatsoever, and have only performed the required maintenance. After break-in, we've bested 27 mpg on a very long highway trip. We don't track in-town mileage, but would estimate it's in the 18-20 mpg range. Driven conservatively, I would say it does better on fuel than the estimate. The only downside, is that it requires premium. My wife definitely notices a difference in performance if she uses regular or mid-grade fuel.
Underrated and overlooked car
5 out of 5 starsClark, 03/27/2019
2019 Buick Envision Essence 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
The Envision has a lot going for it. It is comfortable, has controls that are intuitive and easy to use, has sufficient power, quiet, smooth gearbox, plenty of space, and lots of useful tech (power liftgate, blindside assist, rear cross traffic alert, heated steering, remote start, to name a few). All trims come with at least HID headlamps, which makes night driving much better than with … halogens. The external design is understated, but by no means unsightly. I can understand why this vehicle doesn’t stand out from the crowd. Edmunds criticism is that this vehicle is too pricey to be a normal SUV, but not luxury enough. For certain segment of buyers, it hits a sweet spot of not too pricey (or as luxurious) as Lexus and Audi, but much more put together than non-luxury SUVs. Unfortunately for Buick, I haven’t seen an Envision on the road where we live (other than us), and that is quite Ok with us. There are plenty of Encores and Enclaves, but don’t see many Envisions out there.
If you want to go full luxury and has the budget for it, skip the Envision, but if you near-luxury with a fair price that falls in line with where they position this vehicle, it could be the right call for you. As a daily driver, this car does almost everything very well.
I came back to the Envision
5 out of 5 starsLeland, 02/24/2019
2019 Buick Envision Preferred 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
I owned a 2017 but traded it in after it was involved in an accident. I purchased a Buick Encore to replace the Envision. While I really liked the Encore in many ways, I decided to trade for a 2019 Envision for the larger size and cargo capacity. I find the 2019 Envision superior to the 2017 I previously owned in terms of styling and technology. The envision has the classic Buick classic … quiet ride and I find the Envision very easy to drive. My Envision has the 2.5 L engine, which meets my needs for driving and performance. For the cost of the vehicle and features, I find the Envision is very competitive with other mid size SUV/Crossovers.
The Buick Ride
4 out of 5 starsTony in Edmond, Oklahoma, 12/20/2020
2020 Buick Envision 1SV 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
Before buying the envision, my wife and I have had a couple of enclaves, and my daughter has an 2019 encore. The only difference I could find in an envision between a basic and preferred models are the all weather floor mats and the placard on the rear lift gate. Pretty much the same car. With a shorter wheelbase, it rides a little rougher than the enclave, (although not as touchy as … the encore) and is less roomy inside. It’s easier to see out of, and handles like a dream. Parking is much easier than trying to park the massive enclave. I’ve test drove the comparable SUV models in other brands, but none have the Buick ride and quiet. Very pleased with the envision.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Buick Envision, so we've included reviews for other years of the Envision since its last redesign.
2020 Envision Highlights
1SV
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $31,995 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 25 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $166/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 26.9 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Envision models:
- Safety Alert Seat
- Vibrates the driver's seat on the left or right side to alert the driver of a possible hazard.
- Side Blind Zone and Rear Cross-Traffic Alerts
- Alerts the driver if a car is lurking in a blind spot or if one is approaching from the side while backing up.
- Rear Seat Reminder
- Reminds the passengers to check the rear seat for children and valuables before exiting.
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
People who viewed this also viewed
3.9 average Rating out of 12 reviews. |
Starting at $22,900 |
4.5 average Rating out of 11 reviews. |
Starting at $26,000 |
4.6 average Rating out of 9 reviews. |
Starting at $45,000 |
Related Used 2020 Buick Envision info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- BMW Alpina B7 2021 Review
- Toyota Prius 2021 Review
- Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD 2020 Review
- Ram Promaster City 2020 Review
- Lincoln Nautilus 2020 Review
Shop similar models
- Used Ford Bronco-sport 2025
- Used Volkswagen Tiguan-limited 2018
- Used Lincoln Corsair 2025
- Used Fiat 500X 2023
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Buick Envision 2016
- Used Buick Envision 2017
- Used Buick Envision 2018
- Used Buick Envision 2019
- Used Buick Envision 2020
- Used Buick Envision 2021
- Used Buick Envision 2023
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- Aston Martin DBX
- 2025 Audi RS 7
- 2025 M2
- New Cadillac Escalade
- Cadillac Vistiq
- 2025 Bolt EV
- 2026 Chevrolet Suburban News
- 2025 Trailblazer
- New Ford Bronco
Research other models of Buick
- 2025 Buick Envista
- New Buick Enclave
- 2024 Buick Enclave
- 2025 Encore GX
- New Buick Envision
- New Buick Envista
- Buick Encore GX 2024
- 2025 Envision
Research similar vehicles
Other models
- Used Audi A4-Allroad in Lorton, VA 2025
- Used Mclaren Senna in Raeford, NC 2019
- Used Kia K900 in Morristown, NJ 2020
- Used Hyundai Tiburon in Irmo, SC 2008
- Used Lincoln MKZ in Orland Park, IL 2020
- Used Saturn L300 in Danbury, CT 2005
- Used Chevrolet Monte-Carlo in Smithfield, NC 2007
- Used Infiniti G37-Sedan in Marlborough, MA 2010
- New Ford Edge for Sale in Hudsonville, MI
- Used Volkswagen Jetta in Hamden, CT 2025