Latest news with #BuickEnvista
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Buick Isn't The Brand You Think It Is
General Motors has long portrayed itself as a company of brands. It's one where buyers start with an entry-level Chevrolet and work their way up through Cadillac. And for many longtime consumers, that message still resonates. But the reality is different. While Buick has long marketed its status as residing just below Cadillac in GM's pecking order, that's no longer the case. The average transaction price (or ATP) paid for a Buick is the lowest among GM brands, according to Cox Automotive. In March 2025, buyers paid an average of $74,078 for a Cadillac, $64,946 for a GMC, $47,175 for a Chevrolet, and just $35,745 for a Buick. In fact, among car brands sold in America, Buick's $35,745 ATP is the fourth-lowest in the industry, topping only Subaru at $35,076, Nissan at $32,809, and Mitsubishi at $31,692. Buick's pricing is lower than Mazda ($36,117), Kia ($36,716), Hyundai ($37,209), Honda ($37,537), and Dodge ($49,548). It has a long way to go before reaching such true premium players as Acura ($52,590), but never mind GMC ($64,946), with which it shares showrooms. While Buick is portrayed as a premium brand, its pricing tells a far different story. It's now a little more than the automotive equivalent of Target. Part of this discrepancy is due to the price spread of the products each GM brand sells, as GM's poor product planning has undermined Buick's position in the U.S. market. Buick's lineup begins with the $23,800 Buick Envista and ends with the $59,695 Buick Enclave Avenir. In between reside the $26,000 Encore GX and the $36,500 Envision. In 2024, the Envista and Encore GX accounted for nearly 60% of Buick's sales, according to figures from Automotive News. 'The bulk of their volume are two vehicles that are basically entry-level models,' said Sam Fiorani, Vice President Global Vehicle Forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. 'It's possible that Buick changed its brand image without telling anyone.' Compare that to Cadillac, which starts at a Buick-like base price of $34,995 for a CT4 sedan, climbing to more than $350,000 for the hand-built Cadillac Celestiq EV. "Cadillac really covers a pretty broad range of premium price points. And so you don't really need Buick being at that level, price-wise, and competing with Cadillac," said Sam Abuelsamid, Vice President Market Research at Telemetry. Buick has other in-house rivals, too. GMC's offerings start at $31,995 with the GMC Terrain and ascend to $107,145 for a GMC Hummer SUV. Chevrolets start at $20,550 for a base Chevrolet Trax, lower than any Buick, but top out at an eye-watering $173,300 on the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. 'Chevrolet has some pretty high transaction prices, and it's because they sell so many vehicles that cost more than $50,000,' Abuelsamid said. So, why would Buick concentrate on lower-priced vehicles, rather than market a true premium vehicle lineup? 'What they seem to be doing is pricing them relatively close to Chevrolet, but with a little bit more upscale look and feel to it,' said Abuelsamid. 'I don't think it feels any less premium than it did 10 years ago, but it is strangely much more affordable than what you could get from Buick 10 years ago. I don't think it's a bad strategy. You know, it has certainly stabilized Buick sales in North America.' Indeed. Buick sales have risen more than 43% since hitting a modern-day low of 103,519 units in 2022. When asked about the price vs image issue, Buick wouldn't supply anyone for an interview or answer any questions. Instead, Buick spokeswoman Angelique Williams issued an emailed statement that, 'Buick's premium yet affordable portfolio is attracting new and younger customers, with Envista leading the way with 40% of buyers between 36 and 55, nearly 25% between 18 and 35 - and more than 60% were new to the brand in 2024.' While Buick could conceivably move upmarket with their products, they run into Cadillacs that start at the same price as a Buick Envision. Cadillac's price range is no different than rival Mercedes-Benz, yet GM has Buick to feed the lower end of the luxury market, something Mercedes-Benz lacks. Now that Cadillac is heading upmarket with its $350,000-plus Celestiq EV, there's little need for Cadillac to go any further down market than the new $52,895 Cadillac Optiq EV. Yet in China, Buick's lineup includes the type of high-end vehicles Buick once sold in America. It's flagship vehicle, the Buick GL8 Century, starts at the equivalent of $96,707. And Buick has been selling a line of electric vehicles (EVs), including the Electra E5, since 2023. But any thoughts of it coming to America seem distant due to slackening stateside EV demand and sky-high tariffs on imported goods from China. While Buick's uptick in U.S. sales is encouraging, it's the Chinese market that has sustained the automaker since re-entering the country in 1997. But that's changing. 'The reason Buick even exists now is because during the during GM's bankruptcy, they were selling 1.2 million units in China, and that's how they convinced the Ratner team to let Buick continue,' Abuelsamid said. 'Buick sales in China are down to about 300,000 last year, and like most other non-Chinese OEMs, they're continuing to fall.' Even worse, of Buick's current American models, only the Enclave is built in America. The rest are built in Asia. 'If Buick continues to decline in China, and tariffs put the kibosh on three of the four models that Buick sells here, then at least in North America, the Buick brand could go away. So it could become a non-issue," Abuelsamid said.
Miami Herald
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Buick Isn't The Brand You Think It Is
General Motors has long portrayed itself as a company of brands. It's one where buyers start with an entry-level Chevrolet and work their way up through Cadillac. And for many longtime consumers, that message still resonates. But the reality is different. While Buick has long marketed its status as residing just below Cadillac in GM's pecking order, that's no longer the case. The average transaction price (or ATP) paid for a Buick is the lowest among GM brands, according to Cox Automotive. In March 2025, buyers paid an average of $74,078 for a Cadillac, $64,946 for a GMC, $47,175 for a Chevrolet, and just $35,745 for a Buick. In fact, among car brands sold in America, Buick's $35,745 ATP is the fourth-lowest in the industry, topping only Subaru at $35,076, Nissan at $32,809, and Mitsubishi at $31,692. Buick's pricing is lower than Mazda ($36,117), Kia ($36,716), Hyundai ($37,209), Honda ($37,537), and Dodge ($49,548). It has a long way to go before reaching such true premium players as Acura ($52,590), but never mind GMC ($64,946), with which it shares showrooms. While Buick is portrayed as a premium brand, its pricing tells a far different story. It's now a little more than the automotive equivalent of Target. Part of this discrepancy is due to the price spread of the products each GM brand sells, as GM's poor product planning has undermined Buick's position in the U.S. market. Buick's lineup begins with the $23,800 Buick Envista and ends with the $59,695 Buick Enclave Avenir. In between reside the $26,000 Encore GX and the $36,500 Envision. In 2024, the Envista and Encore GX accounted for nearly 60% of Buick's sales, according to figures from Automotive News. "The bulk of their volume are two vehicles that are basically entry-level models," said Sam Fiorani, Vice President Global Vehicle Forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. "It's possible that Buick changed its brand image without telling anyone." Compare that to Cadillac, which starts at a Buick-like base price of $34,995 for a CT4 sedan, climbing to more than $350,000 for the hand-built Cadillac Celestiq EV. "Cadillac really covers a pretty broad range of premium price points. And so you don't really need Buick being at that level, price-wise, and competing with Cadillac," said Sam Abuelsamid, Vice President Market Research at Telemetry. Buick has other in-house rivals, too. GMC's offerings start at $31,995 with the GMC Terrain and ascend to $107,145 for a GMC Hummer SUV. Chevrolets start at $20,550 for a base Chevrolet Trax, lower than any Buick, but top out at an eye-watering $173,300 on the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. "Chevrolet has some pretty high transaction prices, and it's because they sell so many vehicles that cost more than $50,000," Abuelsamid said. So, why would Buick concentrate on lower-priced vehicles, rather than market a true premium vehicle lineup? "What they seem to be doing is pricing them relatively close to Chevrolet, but with a little bit more upscale look and feel to it," said Abuelsamid. "I don't think it feels any less premium than it did 10 years ago, but it is strangely much more affordable than what you could get from Buick 10 years ago. I don't think it's a bad strategy. You know, it has certainly stabilized Buick sales in North America." Indeed. Buick sales have risen more than 43% since hitting a modern-day low of 103,519 units in 2022. When asked about the price vs image issue, Buick wouldn't supply anyone for an interview or answer any questions. Instead, Buick spokeswoman Angelique Williams issued an emailed statement that, "Buick's premium yet affordable portfolio is attracting new and younger customers, with Envista leading the way with 40% of buyers between 36 and 55, nearly 25% between 18 and 35 - and more than 60% were new to the brand in 2024." While Buick could conceivably move upmarket with their products, they run into Cadillacs that start at the same price as a Buick Envision. Cadillac's price range is no different than rival Mercedes-Benz, yet GM has Buick to feed the lower end of the luxury market, something Mercedes-Benz lacks. Now that Cadillac is heading upmarket with its $350,000-plus Celestiq EV, there's little need for Cadillac to go any further down market than the new $52,895 Cadillac Optiq EV. Yet in China, Buick's lineup includes the type of high-end vehicles Buick once sold in America. It's flagship vehicle, the Buick GL8 Century, starts at the equivalent of $96,707. And Buick has been selling a line of electric vehicles (EVs), including the Electra E5, since 2023. But any thoughts of it coming to America seem distant due to slackening stateside EV demand and sky-high tariffs on imported goods from China. While Buick's uptick in U.S. sales is encouraging, it's the Chinese market that has sustained the automaker since re-entering the country in 1997. But that's changing. "The reason Buick even exists now is because during the during GM's bankruptcy, they were selling 1.2 million units in China, and that's how they convinced the Ratner team to let Buick continue," Abuelsamid said. "Buick sales in China are down to about 300,000 last year, and like most other non-Chinese OEMs, they're continuing to fall." Even worse, of Buick's current American models, only the Enclave is built in America. The rest are built in Asia. "If Buick continues to decline in China, and tariffs put the kibosh on three of the four models that Buick sells here, then at least in North America, the Buick brand could go away. So it could become a non-issue," Abuelsamid said. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Car and Driver
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 Buick Envista Review, Pricing, and Specs
Overview The Buick Envista brings a sporty and youthful vibe to a brand in dire need of a pick-me-up. Undercutting its Encore GX sibling in price, the Envista subcompact SUV features a sleek fastback profile, an attractive if function-forward interior, and a livelier driving demeanor despite being front-wheel drive only. Performance is average, however, as its turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder is good for just 137 horsepower. But the Envista is efficient, and it uses a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, which we prefer over a CVT. Inside, there's room for five if the folks in back are friendly. The Envista comes well-equipped with a standard 11-inch infotainment screen and wireless smartphone connectivity, making for a satisfying package. What's New for 2026? The 2026 Envista gets a little love with the availability of a new Brilliant Red exterior paint option, which is available on the Preferred and Sport Touring trims. To make room, the Cinnabar Metallic finish has left the building. Also removed from the order book are the cargo organizer, the premium carpeted floor mats, and the highway safety kit. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2026 Buick Envista is expected to start around $26,000 and go up to $31,500 depending on the trim and options. Preferred $26,000 (est) Sport Touring $27,000 (est) Avenir $31,500 (est) 0 $10k $20k $30k $40k $50k The Avenir model comes with attractive, nickel-finished 19-inch wheels (17s and 18s are standard elsewhere in the lineup), a mesh grille, heated front seats and steering wheel, perforated leather seat trim, and other upscale elements that make it look a lot more expensive than its price would suggest, making it our go-to trim. Unfortunately, none of the Envista's trims come with all-wheel drive or a more powerful engine. Engine, Transmission, and Performance All Envistas come with the same engine: a Lilliputian turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder that makes 137 horsepower. All-wheel drive is not available, so all models drive the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration feels perky enough for casual, around-town driving, but step on the throttle hard to call up power for highway passing, and the Envista feels more lethargic. It takes a second or two for the turbocharger to spool up and push the Envista ahead in earnest, which feels to the driver like the engine is taking a slow, deep breath before moving ahead with any urgency. But the Envista's vibe isn't about speed or nipping apexes. Instead, it's built for loping along comfortably and quietly. Handling confident and poised, with a well-controlled ride, precise steering, and a firm brake pedal. 0–60-MPH Times At our test track, the Envista needed 9.3 seconds to hit 60 mph. It reaches 50 mph in a more acceptable 6.7 seconds, but after that, the turbocharged three simply runs out of steam. View Photos Michael Simari | Car and Driver Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG The EPA hasn't released any fuel economy information for the 2026 Envista yet, but the 2025 model earned ratings of 28 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. On our 75-mph highway fuel economy test route, which is an integral part of our extensive testing regimen, the 2025 Envista delivered precisely on its 32-mpg promise. For more information about the Envista's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo Inside, the Envista offers a cabin that's roomy for four, and the chic coupe-like roofline doesn't noticeably cut into rear-seat headroom. Interior materials aren't luxury grade, but compared to rivals such as the Nissan Kicks and the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the Buick more than measures up. It also offers plenty of convenience features and desirable tech gadgetry, including a large glass panel on the dashboard that houses both a digital gauge display and an infotainment touchscreen. The top-spec Avenir gets the fanciest interior and rises to near the top of the class in terms of ambiance, but this is no competitor to an Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz. Important for a vehicle where practicality is a given, it can haul 20 cubic feet of gear, 42 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Payload is rated at 1,088 pounds. View Photos Michael Simari | Car and Driver Infotainment and Connectivity The Envista's dashboard consists of two digital displays, one 8.0-inch unit for the SUV's gauge cluster and a second 11.0-inch one serving as a touchscreen infotainment interface. There is also a separate panel for climate controls below a center-mounted dash vent. The Envista uses Buick's most up-to-date software, and it includes standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. Safety and Driver-Assistance Features All Envistas come with a comprehensive set of driver-assistance features, including automatic high-beam headlamps and automated emergency braking. More advanced tech is available as an option. For more information about the Envista's crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include: Standard automated emergency braking Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Available adaptive cruise control Warranty and Maintenance Coverage Buick's standard warranty package matches that of many of the Envista's key rivals but pales in comparison with the plans of the Hyundai Kona, which provides far lengthier terms as well as three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance. Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for the first visit Specifications Specifications 2024 Buick Envista Avenir Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon PRICE Base/As Tested: $29,695/$31,430 Options: moonroof, $795; Advanced Safety package (rear cross-traffic alert, heated and power adjustable exterior mirrors, lane-change alert, adaptive cruise control, intermittent rain-sensing wipers), $795; rear park assist, $145 ENGINE Turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 12-valve inline-3, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection Displacement: 73 in3, 1199 cm3 Power: 137 hp @ 5000 rpm Torque: 162 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm TRANSMISSION 6-speed automatic CHASSIS Suspension, F/R: struts/torsion beam Brakes, F/R: 11.8-in vented disc/11.3-in disc Tires: Continental ProContact TX 245/45R-19 M+S TPC Spec 3178 DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 106.3 in Length: 182.6 in Width: 71.5 in Height: 61.3 in Passenger Volume, F/R: 54/46 ft3 Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 42/21 ft3 Curb Weight: 3124 lb C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 9.3 sec 1/4-Mile: 17.0 sec @ 80 mph 100 mph: 32.3 sec 110 mph: 45.5 sec Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec. Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 10.1 sec Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.5 sec Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 6.1 sec Top Speed (gov ltd): 112 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 183 ft Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.83 g C/D FUEL ECONOMY Observed: 25 mpg 75-mph Highway Driving: 32 mpg 75-mph Highway Range: 420 mi EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/City/Highway: 30/28/32 mpg C/D TESTING EXPLAINED More Features and Specs
Bloomberg
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
GM Imports More Cars Into the US Than Any Other Automaker
Long gone are the days when an imported car meant a foreign car. And no company proves the point more than General Motors. The Detroit stalwart imported more cars into the US last year than any other automaker, even Japan's Toyota. Nearly half of the vehicles GM sold in the US last year — 1.23 million autos — were built abroad, according to researcher GlobalData. That includes many of its most affordable models, like the Korean-made Chevrolet Trax and Buick Envista SUVs, whose low prices depend on cheap production.
Korea Herald
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
Why GM sticks with Korea production despite looming 25% tariff
Automaker bets on trade talks, cost efficiency over relocation to US General Motors, one of the top three automakers in the US, remains committed to leveraging South Korea as a vital production hub for its budget cars, despite the looming 25 percent tariff imposed by President Donald Trump. According to a GM official cited by Bloomberg on Wednesday, the automaker reaffirmed its commitment to Korean operations, the production base for its cheaper models, including the Chevrolet Trailblazer sport utility vehicle, the Buick Encore GX SUV and the Buick Envista crossover. This comes after GM Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson told reporters last week that the company plans to reduce costs to offset 30 percent of the tariff impact, rather than raising vehicle prices or relocating overseas operations to the US. In its annual earnings guidance released on May 1, GM revised its projected earnings before interest and taxes from a range of $13.7 billion–$15.7 billion to $10 billion–$12.5 billion, indicating approximately $4 billion–$5 billion in anticipated tariff-related burdens on imported automobiles and parts. Despite the unfavorable optics of maintaining Korean production under the new tariffs, industry insiders here say GM is betting that upcoming Seoul–Washington trade negotiations will be pivotal for its global manufacturing strategy. 'I've heard that GM's Detroit headquarters is closely monitoring the bilateral trade discussions while actively lobbying the Trump administration,' said an industry source familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'The key issue will be whether the Korean government can reduce the auto tariff rate to a level that allows GM to remain operational in Korea.' Next week, US trade representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to visit Korea to attend the APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting, where he will meet with Korean officials to review the "reciprocal tariffs" set to take effect in July. This will mark the first high-level US trade visit since the beginning of Trump's second term. Lee Ho-geun, a car engineering professor at Daeduk University, echoed this view, noting, 'GM has long relied on its Korean unit's cost-effective production to build cars priced around $20,000. It's extremely difficult to manufacture these economical models in the US, which has a more expensive supply chain, partly due to constant wage hike demands from the United Auto Workers.' However, Lee warned that if trade talks fail and the 25 percent tariffs on cars and parts remain in place until 2027 — when GM's agreement with the Korean government to maintain plant operations expires — the automaker may seriously consider withdrawing from Korea. 'With the tariffs, the price of budget models like the Trailblazer could increase by more than $5,000, negating any cost advantage from Korean production. If the tariff burden outweighs the benefits, GM could relocate production to North America,' he said. Meanwhile, Yoon Myong-ok, chief marketing officer at GM Korea, said during a media conference on April 16 that the Bupyeong plant in Incheon received an additional order of 21,000 units from US headquarters. The facility's projected production volume is expected to rise from 208,000 to approximately 230,000 units. GM operates three manufacturing plants in Bupyeong and Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. In 2024, 84.8 percent of its production was exported to the US.
