8 Best & Worst Buick Envision Years (Stats & Examples)

Buick Envision is a vehicle in its own league. Apart from getting a 5.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating from Consumer Reports, Buick also won the heart of J.D Power, taking the top spot in its initial quality study.

Owners have occasionally complained about airbags, electrical systems, and engine issues, some of which have led to recalls.

That means all eight years are worth looking into to make a more refined choice.

In this post, we will discuss the best and worst years of Buick Envision and what problems each has.

The best and worst years for Buick Envision are:

The best years for Buick Envision are 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, and 2018 models. On the other hand, the worst years for Buick Envision are 2021, 2017, and 2016.

What Buick Envision years are the most reliable?

Produced by GM, Buick Envision has only been on the market since 2016, and it’s still in its first generation. It’s so good that most of its latest models don’t have recalls.

If you’re looking for a used SUV, you can never go wrong with a Buick Envision. The Envision doesn’t have good resale value, making it an even better bargain.

It’s critical to understand that despite problems and recalls in some of the years, all Buick Envisions have excellent reliability ratings (above 85 out of 100 on J.D. power) and other rating systems.

The Buick Envision is a great SUV. While it’s not been in production for very long, it has made a great impression on consumers. In fact, it’s NOT among the Buick cars with many recalls.

Let’s look at what some of the best years bring to the table.

2023 Buick Envision

The 2023 Buick Envision isn’t the poshest luxury compact SUV in its class. That’s due to the stiff competition among luxury SUVs in 2023.

However, don’t let this fool you. The Buick Envision delivers one of the gentlest rides.

It has abundant seating space and a wealth of safety features to keep you and your family safe.

It’s also reasonably priced, meaning you can get an even better rate when buying a used vehicle.

The interior mixes:

• high-quality materials,
• soft-touch
• and hard-touch plastics.

The styling is simple, and the build quality is good.

The two-row SUV has 25.2 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row and 57.7 cubic feet behind the first row when the seats are folded.

The 2023 Envision comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 228 horsepower. It’s paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Front-wheel models deliver 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, while all-wheel drive delivers 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

This vehicle doesn’t have a recall yet, and no significant issue has been reported so far.

The 2023 Buick Envision gets an 85 out of 100 reliability rating from J.D Power and a 7.6 out of 10 rating from U.S News.

2022 Buick Envision

The 2022 Buick Envision is a great SUV with:

• brisk acceleration,
• excellent fuel economy,
• and smooth handling.

The SUV is packed with standard driver-assistance features like automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 228 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive and nine-speed automatic transmission are standard, while all-wheel drive is optional.

The 2022 Envision comes with 25.2 feet of cargo space, but behind the rear seats, the space is 52.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. The seats offer sufficient legroom, and the cabin remains quiet when driving around town.

The 2022 Envision gets an EPA-rated 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, while the all-wheel drive gets 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

There weren’t many complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the 2022 Buick Envision except for a few issues with the electrical system, airbags, and engine.

Other than these complaints that didn’t materialize into recalls, the 2022 Envision is a solid SUV to buy.

The 2022 Envision got a reliability rating of 85 out of 100 from J.D power and 7.7 out of 10 from U.S News.

2020 Buick Envision

The 2020 Envision is similar to the 2019 model, which explains why they got an almost similar rating.

There’s no recall issued for this model so far.

This SUV boasts:

• good fuel economy,
• an energetic turbocharged variant,
• comfortable seats,
• and a smooth ride.

There are also plenty of standard infotainment and driver assistance features designed to make your driving more comfortable and fun.

The base engine, which features: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, produces 197 horsepower, while the energetic 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 252 horsepower.

The base gets a six-speed automatic transmission, while the turbocharged engine gets a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The smaller engine with FWD gets 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, while the AWD gets 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The turbocharged engine with AWD gets 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

The 2020 Envision provides 26.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. When you fold down the rear seats, you get a roomier 57.3 cubic feet of space.

This year’s model got a J.D Power reliability rating of 87 out of 100 and 7.6 out of 10 from U.S News.

Note: We also have a list of the best and worst years for Buick Park Avenue.

2019 Buick Envision

For most people, the 2019 Buick Envision is the best year for the Buick Envision.

First, it’s got one of the highest reliability ratings on J.D Power. Second, there’s still no recall for this model yet.

Lastly, this Buick Envision features easy-to-use infotainment and a plush, roomy interior.

For the 2019 model, Buick restyled:

• the headlights,
• taillight,
• and grille.

They also fitted it with a nine-speed automatic transmission with a turbocharged engine.

The Envision rides comfortably over rough pavement. The steering is quick and slightly weighted, and the brakes offer excellent stopping power. It comes with two engine options.

The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder feels peppy, while the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine speeds the SUV briskly and offers strong passing power on the highway.

You will get 27 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are upright and 57 cubic feet of space when you fold the rear seats.

The 2019 Buick Envision gets a reliability rating of 88 out of 100 from J.D Power and 7.8 out of 10 from U.S News.

2018 Buick Envision

The 2018 Buick Envision gets the highest rating for being one of the best-priced luxury SUVs. This solid model boasts comfort, quiet rides, and a wealth of standard features.

The interior is luxurious with:

• a user-friendly infotainment system,
• roomy cabin,
• sliding and reclining seats,
• and quality driver assistance features.

The base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 197 horsepower, while the available engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates 251 horsepower.

The base engine is weaker with sluggish acceleration, particularly around inclines, but the available engine provides satisfying power and quicker acceleration. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The 2018 Buick Envision has 26.9 cubic feet of room behind the rear seats.

When you fold the rear seats, you get 57.3 cubic feet.

This vehicle has received impressive safety ratings for adding innovative driver assistance features such as the rearview camera, parking sensors, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and many others.

The 2018 Buick Envision has the highest reliability rating of 89 out of 100 from J.D Power and 8.0 out of 10 from U.S News.

What Buick Envision years should you avoid?

While the Buick Envision has generally been a great SUV, not all models were celebrated.

2021, 2017, and 2016 were marked with a series of issues, ultimately lowering their reliability rating.

First, you can check our list of older cars with few problems (where you also find the Builck Envision)

Let’s look at the problems each has.

2021 Buick Envision

The 2021 Buick Envision landed in this category after receiving a recall a few months after its release.

The recall was due to the loss of communication in the sensing diagnostic model that caused the airbag indicator light to malfunction.

We’ve seen problems with the airbags before on Buick cars. Here’s a rundown of the most seen problems across Buick cars.

As a result, the indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a potential problem with the airbag, increasing the risk of injury.

This problem did not just affect Buick Envisions made in 2021.

It was experienced in other GM vehicles made the same year, such as:

• the Cadillac CT4 and CT5,
• Chevrolet Tahoe,
• GMC Yukon,
• and many others.

Owners should take affected vehicles to the nearest dealers to update the communications getaway module software.

Several other complaints have been registered concerning wind noise and faults in the driver’s side mirror.

Overall, the 2021 Envision isn’t a bad choice, especially if the airbag problem has already been fixed.

2017 Buick Envision

2017 wasn’t the best year for the Buick Envision as it was marked with several issues and recalls.

Most issues involved improper system installation.

Owners complained that whenever they got a new system update, memory seat settings would reset to default, meaning personal settings would need to be done again after every new update.

Another complaint and recall were that the accessory, NSV Universal Tablet Holder, had been installed incorrectly onto the front seat head restraints, preventing head restraint posts from fully engaging, increasing the risk of crash injury.

GM requested all affected vehicles to visit their nearest dealer to have the systems replaced at no cost.

Other common problems drivers reported include issues with:

• the auto engine start function,
• brake failure,
• and fuel line damage.

2016 Buick Envision

The pioneer model for Buick Envision also experienced issues, some of which turned into recalls. Most of these issues were carried to the later models, particularly the 2017 model.

The earliest recall coming from GM involved the tire and loading information labeling displaying incorrect maximum weight information.

As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirements.

Incorrect weight information can cause the owner to overload the vehicle, reducing vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Other issues include:

• seat adjustment,
• fuel line damage,
• electrical faults,
• build quality,
• and head restraint position issues.

Check also the Buick Riviera problems here.

What are some typical problems with the Buick Envision models?

The most common problems with Buick Envision models include the following:

• Airbag indicator light failure
• Cramped seating
• Smaller than average cargo space
• Head restraint position issue
• Brakes malfunctioning
• Problems with air conditioners
• Electrical faults
• Seat adjustment
• Fuel line damage

Final Thoughts

Buick Envision is one of the SUVs taking over the automotive market by storm.

With just eight years of production, Buick has fought to rank among the top SUVs and compete with German machines like BMW and Mercedes.

Whether you want to get a new or used Envision, you have very little to worry about, as the majority of the year models don’t have a recall. You may also need to check what competitors are offering before making your final choice.

Best of luck!

Go Back to list of all Buick models (best and worst years)

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ⓘ  The information in this article is based on data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall reports, consumer complaints submitted to the NHTSA, reliability ratings from J.D. Power, auto review and rating sites such as Edmunds, specialist forums, etc. We analyzed this data to provide insights into the best and worst years for these vehicle models.