You don’t often hear the words “affordable” and “luxury” in the same sentence. When it comes to cars, the word affordable makes you think of compact models with great fuel economy and a low MSRP, but a compromise on key entertainment and safety features. The word “luxury” implies things like roomy interiors, leather seats, and all the latest gadgets, at a price not always affordable for the average person. However, General Motors has made the term “affordable luxury” synonymous with its line of 2020 Buick SUVs by offering great comfort and high tech features at a price that will pleasantly surprise buyers. Each of the three models gives you the freedom to choose the style and size of your SUV without having to compromise the performance, safety, and driving pleasures you’ve come to expect from Buick.
Three Models to Choose From
Buick’s line of sport utility vehicles comes in three different models, each with different trim levels. The Buick Encore is a compact SUV with a starting MSRP of $23,200. The five-seat Buick Envision is a small size SUV with an MSRP of $31,995. And the largest model of the line is the Buick Enclave, with room for up to seven passengers and a starting MSRP of $40,000. The size differential will allow you to choose the Buick SUV that best fits your needs and lifestyle.
All 2020 Buick SUVs come equipped with the Buick Infotainment system, a wonderful integration of informational and entertainment features. This includes Bluetooth, an AM/FM six-speaker stereo system, USB ports, and either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, depending on your smartphone’s operating system.
A Compact SUV with Plenty of Room for Everyone
The 2020 Buick Encore may be called a compact SUV, but you’ll be surprised at how Buick engineers have designed the Encore to maximize space. The vehicle has a length of 168.35 inches, a width of 70.10 inches, and a height of 65.25 inches, with a wheelbase of 100.60 inches. This gives the Encore a tight turning radius of 36.7 feet, allowing you to park with ease in even the tightest space. However, the compact size of the Encore doesn’t mean you have to compromise on interior space. The front seat has enough room for you and another passenger, with 39.58 inches of headroom, 40.82 inches of legroom, and 54.18 inches of shoulder room. Your three rear-seat passengers won’t be cramped either, with 38.78 inches of headroom, 35.75 inches of legroom, and 52.50 inches of shoulder room. There is also plenty of space for your cargo, with up to 18.80 cubic feet behind the second row of seats, and a full 48.40 cubic feet of space with the rear seat folded down.
The base model Buick Encore 1SV is equipped with a 1.4-liter DOHC turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with six-speed automatic transmission. This little engine produces 138 horsepower with 148 pounds to feet of torque. The Encore 1SV is a front-wheel drive vehicle, but all-wheel drive is available as an upgrade. The EPA estimated that drivers of the 2020 Buick Encore 1SV will have 25 miles per gallon in the city, 30 miles per gallon on the highway, and 27 miles per gallon combined.
The Encore 1SV also comes with an amazing amount of standard safety features. These include 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, ten airbags, a rear vision camera, a tire pressure monitoring system, LED daytime running lights, StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with traction control, and OnStar and Buick connected services. The base price for this trim level of the 2020 Buick Encore is $23,200, but there are three other levels as well. The Preferred has an MSRP of $24,600, and features a rear cargo cover, and color-keyed carpeted front and rear floor mats. The Sport Touring adds 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, fog lamps, and a remote starter system for an MSRP of $25,800. The top of the line 2020 Buick Encore is the Essence. With an MSRP of $29,300, the Essence features leather seats, heated driver and front passenger seats, rear cross-traffic alert, side blind zone alert, and a heated steering wheel.
Envision Luxury in a 5-Seat SUV
The 2020 Buick Envision is a larger SUV than the Encore, but the extra space doesn’t mean a compromise in luxury, performance, or affordability. The Envision measures 183.70 inches in length, 72.40 inches in width, and 66.80 inches in height, with a 108.30-inch wheelbase. This provides the Envision with a 36.4-foot turning radius for maximum control over your SUV. The dimensions also give the Encore a roomy interior that is the envy of its vehicle class. Front seat passengers will enjoy 40 inches of headroom, 40.9 inches of legroom, and 57 inches of shoulder room, while the three passengers in the back can stretch out in 38.5 inches of headroom, 37.5 inches of legroom, and 55.8 inches of shoulder room. There’s also plenty of room for your stuff, with a full 26.9 cubic feet of volume behind the rear seat, and a truly spacious 57.30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat folded down.
The 2020 Buick Envision comes equipped with a standard 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission, 197 horsepower and 192 pounds to feet of torque. Drivers should enjoy an estimated 22 miles per gallon in city driving, 29 miles per gallon in highway driving, and 25 miles per gallon combined. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available as an upgrade. The base model of the Envision is the SV1, and it comes equipped with an amazing array of standard safety features. These include a rear vision camera, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, a hands-free liftgate, rear park assist, ten airbags, LED daytime running lights, StabiliTrak, a tire pressure monitoring system, OnStar and Buick connected services, and GM’s Teen Driver system, which allows you to track any young driver in your household by engaging certain safety features, and receiving a post-drive report from the car.
The Envision comes in five different trim levels. In addition to the SV1, the Preferred comes with an MSRP of $33,500, adding smartphone connectivity and a number of exterior feature options. The Essence adds rear traffic alert, three-zone automatic climate control, lane change with side blind zone alert, heated leather seats, and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. The MSRP for the Buick Envision Essence is $35,800. The Premium adds a 2.0-liter Turbo 4-cylinder SIDI engine, forward collision alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, and a Bose premium seven-speaker audio system for an MSRP of $40,700. The ultimate Buick Envision is the Premium II, which includes automatic parking assist, heated and cooled front seats, and adds a navigation system to the Buick Infotainment system. The Premium II has an MSRP of $43,600.
A Seven Passenger SUV with Affordable Luxury
The largest of the Buick SUVs is the Enclave, which starts at an MSRP of $40,000. The Enclave measures 204.3 inches in length, 78.8 inches in width, and 69.6 inches in height with a wheelbase of 120.9 inches, giving the vehicle a manageable 39-foot turning radius. Unlike many other vehicles in its class, the Enclave is set up in a 2/2/3 configuration, so second-row passengers will have their own captain’s style chair, just like front-row passengers. The passengers in the first row have 41 inches of headroom, 31.2 inches of legroom, 59.1 inches of hip room, and 62.4 inches of shoulder room. The unique configuration also benefits second-row passengers by offering them 39.9 inches of headroom, 38.9 inches of legroom, 57.7 inches of hip room, and 61.7 inches of shoulder room, while third-row passengers enjoy 37.6 inches of headroom, 33.5 inches of legroom, 48.5 inches of hip room, and 57.3 inches of shoulder room. There is plenty of cargo space as well, with a full 58 cubic feet behind the second row of seats, and an astounding 97.6 cubic feet when the second row of seats are folded down.
The 2020 Buick Enclave has a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine, which produces 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque on a 9-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available on the Enclave as an upgrade. The Enclave also provides a level of fuel efficiency that stands out among three-row, mid-size SUVs. Enclave drivers should receive an estimated 18 miles per gallon in city driving, 26 miles per gallon while out on the highway, and a combined 21 miles per gallon.
The base model Enclave is the Preferred, and it has an MSRP of $40,000. Standard safety features include seven airbags, electronic traction control, an HD rear vision camera, LED daytime running lights, rear park assist, OnStar and Buick connected services, a tire pressure monitoring system, StabiliTrak, and 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes.
Three other trim levels are also available. The Essence adds leather seats to the first and second rows, an in-vehicle air ionizer, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane change alert with side blind zone alert, for an MSRP of $42,000. The 2020 Buick Enclave Premium has an MSRP of $48,400 and adds a Bose premium ten-speaker audio system, forward collision alert, and power-folding third-row seats. For the most luxurious Enclave, you can choose the Avenir, which features styling and a grille unique to this trim level. It includes wireless smartphone charging, a power moonroof with rear fixed skylight, and HD surround vision and rear camera mirror, for an MSRP of $53,800. This is substantially lower than comparable luxury models from other manufacturers. The 2020 Buick Enclave Avenir defines the meaning of the term “affordable luxury.”
Choosing a Model
Whichever Buick SUV you choose, whether an Encore, Envision, or Enclave, you are certain to find yourself driving in the lap of luxury, but without the financial worries that you will get from more expensive brands. Do some research, make sure to do a few test drives, and talk to your local dealership about optional packages on these models before driving one home. When you do finally pick one of these Buick SUVs, you will be the envy of your entire neighborhood.
