Buick Sedan Owners Have Found The Perfect Alternative

Sedans like theBuick Regaland LaCrosse are完成了. GM's premium brand has no intention of bringing either of them back. Those still hoping to see a reborn Grand National coupe also need to admit the new reality: Buick is now a crossover-only brand. Company management has zero regrets because the sales figures speak for themselves. But what about all of the current Regal and LaCrosse owners out there? Eventually, they'll need new vehicles and Buick certainly doesn't want to lose them to a competitor. What to do? Convince them to buy a crossover instead.

According to information obtained by GM Authority, this isn't proving to be that difficult thanks to a certain newly redesigned model.

The2021 Buick Envisioncompact crossover "attracts more former sedan buyers to the brand than any other Buick model," the automaker says. We interpret that statement to mean it's not only Buick sedan owners but also sedan buyers outside the brand. It's important to remember the Envision is front-wheel-drive-based with optional all-wheel drive, meaning its off-road capabilities are pretty limited. A true SUV has a body-on-frame chassis rather than acar-based platform, like the Envision and its corporate cousin, the Cadillac XT4.

Buick targets predominantly women buyers for the second-gen Envision, and a demographic age between 35 and 55. Because it's a premium brand, the average Envision buyer's annual income is about $80,000.

Most buyers are married couples with children of all ages. With a starting price tag of $31,800, not including destination, the base Preferred trim comes nicely equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, eight-inch touchscreen, single-zone climate control, and a six-speaker audio system.

All Envision trims come powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque that's paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. A fully-loaded Envision Avenir, complete with 20-inch wheels, heated front seats, 10.2-inch touchscreen, navigation, and HD surround-view camera system, costs a still very reasonable $40,400.