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2019 Buick Envision First Drive Review | Still not a standout

ATLANTA – "We're in the fashion business," executive chief engineer Rick Spina told us as he introduced the 2019 Buick Envision. "Except with a lot of technology." Spina was referring to the changing whims of new-car buyers, which have prompted Buick to give the compact Envision crossover its mid-generational update early — just 18 months into its lifecycle — and drop its prices across all trim levels. As with much of our consumer goods, the Envision is made in China. That doesn't seem to have hurt it in the market, even though it wears the badge of one of the most quintessentially American brands out there. It even aced the IIHS crash tests, putting it in league with Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. There's good news and bad news about how the Envision is doing. It's now the third-best-selling model in the Buick portfolio, behind the three-row Enclave in second place and the surprise hit Encore subcompact crossover in first. Sam Russell, Buick's director of marketing, reported 73 percent growth in the past nine months versus the first half of its market life. A full 60 percent of Envision buyers are new to the GM family, too, and Russell says that nearly half of those are likely to buy another Buick SUV when the time comes to trade in the Envision. And yet, the Envision trails in luxury compact-crossover sales, behind mainstays such as the Audi Q5 and Acura RDX, even amid crossover demand in the U.S. that has companies like Nissan posting record sales numbers and Ford canceling a redesign of the Fusion. Our test of the 2017 Envision found it competent, but lacking that "X factor" that would send buyers of German and Japanese marques flocking. Instead, we compared it to the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, and deemed those both better values. Perhaps Buick feels the same, because the base 2019 Envision now starts at $32,990, a $2,000 cut from last year. The Preferred trim level sees a greater drop of $2,400, to $34,495. Rounding out the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter grades, the Essence's price falls $1,900 to $36,795. The turbocharged 2.0-liter Premium and Premium II trims get a discount of $1,600 and $1,400, respectively. With those prices come changes that Buick hopes will make the Envision a more compelling prospect. Outwardly, the Envision sports a new grille, a winged affair to replace the 2018's waterfall and bring it in line with the rest of Buick's lineup.

Buick: Odell Beckham Jr.

An Opel droptop in Buick drag crashes a wedding. No one's quite sure who made the Cascada, but Emily Ratajkowski definitely got the bouquet. She channels Odell Beckham Jr., laying out to make the catch – and conveniently Beckham is actually there to jokingly shoot her down. Did Buick nail this one, or was it (as Beckham quips) "out of bounds?" Let us know.

2017 Buick Encore freshens up for the New York Auto Show

Buick is dressing up the 2017 Encore for spring – specifically the New York Auto Show – where the compact crossover is expected to strut its stuff. The freshening follows the playbook of the Chevy Trax, which was also updated with a light hand. Though it keeps its familiar shape, sort of like an oversized Pontiac Vibe, the Encore gets Buick's new grille. It's a simple look with the wings bisecting the brand's tri-shield, and it calls to mind Buick's iconic front ends from yesteryear. You might remember it from the Avenir and Avista concepts. There are also new headlights. They look stolen from Audi, and it's an attention-getting gaze for the new face of the Encore. There will likely be new wheel packages, too. We can't see inside the Encore. Spy photographers couldn't get close enough to this Buick shoot in Southern California. But, we expect the interior to also mirror the Trax enhancements, which included a new instrument panel, gauges, materials, and infotainment. The Encore shares underpinnings with the Trax and Opel Mokka. We expect the Encore to arrive in late summer. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Buick Encore Spy Shots Image Credit: Brian Williams / SpiedBilde Design/Style Spy Photos New York Auto Show Buick Crossover buick encore