A bit puzzled by this discussion. No complaints about the car itself, other than it being maybe 500-1000 more than the Trax, but with better styling and more sound insulation, meets everyone's needs, people like it....yet it's not good because y'all are not sure about the market position? Weird.
Agreed I can't understand their conversation, this car is beautiful.The trax is not beautiful....some people are comparing the appearance off the Envista to a Lambo..I know a few people who bought one and not only love it but get compliments from strangers all the time. I have seen so many reviews of this car and how the interior is really nice with soft touch plastic feels that you would get in a Audi (which I own)
I 100% agree. So much time was spent where Buick is positioning the vehicle in the market and how that was their big issue, really? I took away they don't understand the packaging differences between the Trax and Envista, and why the Buick is slightly more expensive. They clearly didn't note the many differences between the two - one small example, the Buick has padded door arm rest panel. Years ago, I was a LONG time subscriber to Consumer Reports and canceled for the sole reason of their poor and misleading car reviews. I found they're testing and "ratings" were way off on any car I owned, and I perceived they had bias against certain vehicles, in particular, domestic brands. After watching this video, I feel totally justified in that decision. Motor Trend, Car & Driver and many other publications (including digital sources) are significantly more insightful, thorough, and I believe unbiased(!) vs. CR.
I bought the Envista over the Trax because of the sound deadening windshield and insulation. The car is quieter than the Trax. I also dont want to keep black wheels clean in the midwest salt that are on the higher end Trax that had the equipment I wanted. I got every option on a preferred model and I am very happy with it so far. 38 mpg and smoother and quieter than my 2020 Rav4 I traded.
Like Honda, Toyota is overrated. I traded a Scion xB years ago on a Cobalt. I was tired of the noise, rattles and horrible ride of the toaster. I likewise traded a 2017 Honda Fit on my present car, a 2020 Kia Rio in 2020. The Rio is so superior it's not funny.
I really have to disagree with these guys that there's not a place for this car. The budget CUV's coming out of GM Korea recently are all surprisingly good. There are plenty of people that want a luxury look and feel but are on a budget. Likewise the Trax is there for those that want a sportier look and feel. Both cars have a place and I suspect they'll do really well.
The reviewers are confused about what their mission should be in this review. We are definitely interested in their opinions, but their opinions on the vehicle itself not their opinions on the leadership in the marketing division of Buick that’s not our concern.
A neighbor just purchased an Envista, and it looks far more expensive than it is. I'd bet the 26-35 age group, especially those buying their first new car, will flock to this.
I’m not so sure. FWD and lifted is a bad combination for attracting younger buyers these days. It seems they either want ground clearance with AWD or they want sedans, hatchbacks or trucks with beds.
This is on the shopping list of my 26 year old daughter. We live in a snow area in the winter and the lack of AWD does not matter with snow tires. In fact I would take a 2 wheel drive vehicle with snow tires over AWD with all season tires any day of the week. Snow tires are a game changer. Another thought is with a 2WD you save a little bit of weight, complexity and money up front. Adding snow tires negates some of the cost savings.
The Buick adds the larger digital screen, 6 speaker stereo compared to 4 and soft touch arm rests on door and center arm rest. Plus it supposedly has added sound proofing which Buick is known for. That's what your paying for over the Chevy...now is that worth the extra coin?
I love how you guys are bitching about this car not being fancy inside when it’s mid 20s in price. Honestly doesn’t look that much worse than the lemon 2022 Lexus RX 350 that I owned briefly. Somehow your ‘professional testers’ missed that the RX has terrible engine vibrations, and droning noises at 1600 RPM that Lexus deems to be normal. Honestly one of the most unrefined cars I ever owned at any price, and you gave it high praise. And this considerably under half the price of the Lexus! I think it’s an extremely attractive car for the price point. If it had a Toyota or Lexus badge on it, I’m sure you would be singing praises of it. 🙄
The CR guys seem to be baffled about where it fits in the lineup, or in the market, etc. This, in my view is a good thing because there’s a lot of vehicles that break the mold, I’m thinking of Ford Maverick, turn out to be great successes. So my view the fact that they cannot categorize it is great! We need more high-feature, affordable vehicles.
Their statement about the Envista costing more than the Trax is not correct once you factor in equipment. For example, if you want a power driver's seat/lumbar support adj., heated front seats, no-touch remote, remote start, then you need to go up to the $23,900 top-trim Trax Activ + destination. You can get the same equipment via Convenience Pkg. I in the base Envista Preferred costing $23,695+destination if you like Summit White. Many colors in Trax Active are no-cost and you get larger 18" rims painted shiny black. TrueCar also indicates a bit more discounting with Envistas than Trax in LA now.
As usual, CR has no clue regarding any vehicle that isn't foreign. Personally, to me, the Envista is the BEST LOOKNG vehicle that has come along in many years. I also like the interior styling. They, likewise forget (or ignore) Buick history. While Buick is generally more upscale, they have offered more competitively priced vehicles for decades. The Special was always competitive. In 1977, I purchased a new Buick Skylark that solidly fit in a lower price bracket. Don't forget the Skyhawk and Skylark of the eighties. And, more recently, the Encore.
So you test a Buick, and you decide the most logical approach would to buy the base model striped down version, and then criticize it for not living up the the Buick, semi luxury reputation. Makes perfect sense.,
I love this car there' nothing I don't like but wish the upgrade Avista had the engine size as the Encore... Never consider a Buick will give this car a try. Love the ideal it doesn't have a rear wiper..? I still love the look of a sedan type style.. I drive a 2005 Maximum so please bring in more sedans like this one because I'm not a fan for the SUV Crossover Bus look.. This car looks great inside and out and has the better power torque than the Kick, which I was considering to buy. Don't hate Buick for thinking outside the box. This car stands alone. Buick definitely hit the mark on this one ❤
I am 6'1" and I just had the opportunity to step into the back of a Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave and holy crap. I fit! For what you get on those they are really well priced
With respects, you guys didn't review the car, you reviewed the marketing. Nothing about the nuts and bolts, driving impressions, or engine performance. You just talked about style and status. I've driven the Trax and Envista. You're right saying the Trax is good but for the money the Envista has a better level of refinement and is better looking. This fashion magazine report was pointless.
Consumer Reports focusing on brand positioning is ridiculous. You should be brand blind and just testing the merits/demerits of the car - period. Comparing it to the Trax is fine, but making brand judgments doesn’t help consumers one bit.
What is going on with Talking cars lately? They used to do a lot more thorough reviews. This is the first Talking Cars video after 4 weeks and they didn’t mention anything about the engine, the transmission, the suspension. This is less that what you see in a first impressions video.
Seems like a pretty good bargain. However, living in Minnesota, lack of AWD is a hard pass for me. As for value, you can get an Impreza RS for 29K if you can find one without any option packages. I would pick that any day over the Trax or Envista. You can also get a CX-30 for around 28k with decent equipment.
@toomuchthyme But the resale of the Impreza will make up for the extra cost up front. Plus, the Impreza isn't a Korea sh!tbox that will fall apart in under ten years meaning the Envista or Trax will both depreciate more and cost more to maintain than an Impreza.
I’m amazed at how you guys aren’t giving praise to an affordable car. You are actually disappointed. Like what did you guys want? A 20k dollar BMW!? Come on man.
It's NOT a Coupe!!! You can call it a sedan, or you can call it a crossover, but it is definitely NOT a Coupe. Do you know the difference between a Coupe and a Sedan?
I'd prefer a more conventional engine, or a hybrid. But there is a lot to like about this vehicle. I'm not sure it's right for me, but I think it will sell well, like the original Encore did. I like the ST and Avenir trims better. I like the CX-30, but they're all AWD now, and AWD is kind of overrated and adds weight, expense, and diminishes MPG.
Too low for what? I have a Mazda3 hatchback and live in Northern Mi and have never had any issue even in heavy snow. Come to think of it, my Mazda3 has AWD and is a hatchback and cost about the same as this FWD Buick with 60 less hp. That lower center of gravity makes it handle far better, too. It is much smaller, especially in the back seat, but I haven’t needed more room.
If you're going to get someone in the 3rd row, you're going to move the 2nd row forward, no matter what. You're not just going to ditch the extra passengers. Measuring the 2nd row moved forward makes more sense, it's just going to be 4 less comfortable passengers than 2 comfortable and 2 left behind.
Just because its half the price of the average car doesn' t mean its affordable. Someone needs to bring out cars with no touchscreens or heated seats or other stuff like that. Also no unneeded extra so called safety features. We need a cheaper set of cars. We need a car for 18 thousand dollars.
You already have it...Mitsubishi Mirage starts under $18K. Its being dropped due to low sales...so no, people won't buy cheap cars, they want SUV/Truck type vehicle and if they can't afford they buy used.
@@ericbryant796 The Mirage is an retched piece of garbage, which is why it didn't sell. You would be better off with a 3-5 year old Civic or Corolla vs a brand new Mirage in every meaningful way from reliability, comfort, safety, resale value, etc
Q4 ‘23 USA sales of Chevy Trax are 44,127 and may include the last generation model. During the same period, the ‘24 only Envista sold 7,917. Dealer inventory of the ‘24 Trax is very limited. For the Envista, it’s practically non-existent for 100+ miles around downtown LA. I have a feeling the production split greatly favors the Trax but demand vs supply is far better for the Envista. I forecast Envista depreciation will be far less. Some dealers are listing used Envistas for thousands above new MSRP.
It's a Crossover IMO. It does have more inside than Trax. Door panels for instance have material the Trax doesn't offer at all, elbow rests is hard plastic in Trax but some material is used in Buick. Still on the cheaper side but they're not the exact same.
Buick is doing the same thing with the Envista that Chrysler did with the PT Cruiser. Essentially, it gives dealerships something inexpensive to sell. Unfortunately, it will lessen brand identity. However, Buick has a habit of doing this every so often. If you look back at the '50s Buick Special, that model was playing in the Pontiac/Dodge/Mercury/Studebaker sandbox. In the '60s, Chrysler did that with the Newport. Owners got to brag that they owned a near-luxury nameplate while hoping car buffs would respond with a sarcastic, "But do you really?" Maybe Buick should have reached deeper into the linguistic bag-o'-tricks, naming it "Envista by/from Buick"!
About that rear wiper, it has a rear defroster and then there is RainX I can apply to it which beads off rain? The only peave is “bird droppings!” With a builtin spray wash fluid and a wiper, its a snap to remove. The other peave about rear wipers on Buicks is their placement in a vulnerable area where the wiper arm could get damaged. Better if closer to the roof line and concealed under a rear roof spoiler. And then there is dust buildup and mud splaters on rear window glass. Snow, not a problem. But road salt from tractor trailers passing by, could be a problem.
This commentary is horrific. The ST and Avenir are more luxury like AND still affordable. You guys sound like snobs completely disassociated with economic realities.
Buick might be trying to go down market, to a younger car buyer who doesn't have as much to spend, but doesn't want to be associated with a utilitarian Chevy. Their ads don't seem to be targeting a premium audience, just younger.
Agree that it's not enough of a step up for the brand. Should have had it start at 26k but be a little nicer with more standard. 26k is still a good price for a vehicle that size in this market so you still get the "budget entry premium" entry point.
Once again if this was a foreign brand, you guys would be giving it endless praise. The fact that this is a GM vehicle, you guys give it endless backhanded compliments. Yeah, the swoopy design cuts into storage space and that's why GM decided to offer 2 models based on the same platform for those who might put space as a higher priority. In decades past, GM might have just done a badge-engineering job and offered 2 cars with only the grill being different. These two cars actually look totally different both inside and out and you guys still complain about it?! Maybe tone down the anti-GM and anti-American rhetoric a little, you're not hiding it well. If this was a Honda or Hyundai, you guys would have spent the entire 20 mins gushing over how amazing it is.
Oh give it a rest. It's a more stylish Trax, which they said they loved. Loved! And you're whining because they said it's small and not worth the extra money in comparison? Boohoo. It's always the domestic fanboys that claim everyone else is biased.
American cars are, objectively, very unreliable. If GM held themselves to the reliability standard of their Japanese counterparts, we'd all be buying them.
But they were gushing over the Chevy Trax. I think the Trax and Envista comparison to BMW X3 and X4 as a coupe styling rebadge is accurate. However, I disagree with CR, buyers going to Buick GMC dealerships are not looking for Lexus prices. A cheap Buick “car” will have buyers.
They were all praise on the Trax, how are they being anti-GM? You view is they are totally different, they didn't think so and preferred the Trax instead for what is a similar price. How is that anti-American?
The real problem with this review is that you're only reviewing the Base Envista (Preferred trim) The Envista Avenir is luxurious...the ST trim has some luxury touches as well
if you are looking for a bargain, and they are few and far between. I wouldnt complain that buick has this car. good for them we need sometihng at the bottom. cant figure out why these dudes are complaining. Women will buy it.
Two things. First, why did you test this vehicle? It's a Trax. This is what you are literally saying: it's a Trax with a coupe body and pretty much the same otherwise. So kind of a waste of time. Second, why are you so obsessed with AWD?? I know you are in the Northeast and I'm sure some of the AWD buyers there actually need it. The same is true of the upper midwest and Rockies/mountains, I would think. But, most Americans do not live in these places. I think an honest, old-school (value-oriented) Consumer Reports view would be that it's a waste of money for most purchasers. It's a status thing. FWD is good, like really good. I'm in Houston, what benefit does AWD offer me? None, is the answer.
The man who did he is 5’8” and he had no head room in the Envista 2nd row simply wasn’t truthful. I’m 6’1” with long 36” legs and I fit very comfortably in the back seat of my Envista Preferred with several inches of head clearance and plenty of leg room. His prejudices against the Envista were clear but no need to be untruthful. BTW, the engine is peppy and accelerates quite nicely. It’s unfair to compare this nice car to others costing thousands more.
There are reviews saying Envista is *quieter* than the Trax. That alone worth the higher price tag. But it is a bit longer than it, making it less forgiving for street parking.
Definitely don't listen to these boneheads if you are deciding between trax and envista. They have no clue what they are talking about here. Anyone who's done any research about the two can tell you the differences between the two are pretty apparent. The trax is boring styling outside and the interior is hideous with red or yellow vent coloring. The hard armrest is a deal breaker in itself. Think of a long road trip with a throbbing elbow! Envista st seat stitching is super nice and no ugly bright interior colors, trying to be hip. Add the extra insulation and upgrded suspension, this is not even a comparison. If you can afford an extra couple thousand you should definitely go for the Envista.
My long/boring answers to viewer questions: 3rd row leg room measurements in SUVs? Anywhere from small to non-existent. Leave your car seat and tape measure at home. If you need a 3rd row get a minivan and everyone will be happiest. Live in a city/new car? Chances are if you live in a city and are concerned with street parking, that means you have no place to charge overnight. EVs are out. But also, I BRISTLE at the suggestion that "new safety features" are a reason to replace a 10-year old car. Your 2014 already has the ACTUAL safety features that matter. (Anti-lock brakes, all the airbags, traction control and it may even have a back-up camera) I recently went from a 2005 to a 2020 Outback, and I can tell you that many of the new "safety" features are actually "distraction" features. Because they are little more than beeps and flashing lights that literally distract me from actual driving and when I can, I have turned them off. I do like a back-up camera and find it to be a nice feature. I also like the big amber flashing lights on the side view mirrors (Subarus have bigger than average warnings here) for blind spot warnings. On other cars that I test drove, the oft lauded "lane keep assist" can be intrusive and unnerving as it grabs the wheel from your control if it considers you "over the line." (Hyundai/Kia's lane keep assist is actually really pretty good; others, not so much.) In theory, on a well-maintained highway this is a useful/good feature, but for the reality of city driving (where lane lines are more of a suggestion thanks to double parked delivery trucks, daredevil cab drivers, construction zones with confusing lines painted in the road, etc., a lane-keep assist system that will try to steer for you is literally a hazard. And while emergency auto braking front and rear are classified as "safety" features, I consider them more of a "luxury/convenience" features. As in having the luxury/convenience to pay less attention when you are in slow and go traffic or navigating a parking lot. Plus, there's this element of complacence that happens with the "safety" features that can lead to bad consequences. Once I rented a vehicle with blind spot detection and got very used to it during my drive. But then it randomly stopped working, but since I had grown accustomed to not turning my head to check my blind spot during lane changes, on one occasion, I nearly went into another car because the amber light wasn't flashing at me. Little did I know it just stopped working. Keep your car. IMO.
why do these guys have an obsession's with reviewing cars ???Is it the most affordable thing that millions of people would care about? people who recklessly waste money are the one would pay attention to these pointless car reviews...
I had 3 cyl Dodge Neon back in the late 90’s. Looked pretty cool and swoopy. But the engine noise was crude and always revving. I’m hopeful modern 3 cyl have improved since then.
What a miserable and pretentious discussion over a car that working people can actually afford. And we spent how much time worrying about what this car does for the Buick brand? How about focusing on the car and not worrying about the brand..?
I think GM is trying to get people to buy their first new car as a Buick, not a Chevy. That is the only thing that makes sense with this parts bin car. Why parts bin? They are using an ancient 6 speed automatic. They are using internal parts/fit and finish from the last generation car (the Encore). It does get a 3-speed turbo engine which is newer, but even that has been used in cars like the Blazer for a few years. So this is a cheap car for GM to build, and low priced. For the money it is a solid car as the powertrain, and everything is using proven technology (CR gives the Trax the top reliability rating giving it perfect for all scores in 2020). It is what it is - a cheap car which probably should not be in the Buick brand, but it is as it really belongs in Chevy.
Totally dumbfounded about this review. The poorest review I have seen in a long time. The total opposite of pretty much any other review I have seen about this car.
What a terrible review. Much of the review is just surface level. The "place in the lineup" is irrelevant to the quality of an automobile. I thought Consumer Reports was focused on quality, safety, durability and value.
Ive read the comments, Ive listened to the glorified podcast, these guys suck. Theyve focused on the absolute wrong thing since this is CONSUMER reports, consumers dont care about a brands marketing or a vehicles standing in the market. If there was a reason for the discussion to be so focused on the market as a whole, then they need to justify why it should matter to buyers.
What a stupid analysis from supposedly cars specialists : the Envista is the Skyhawk, the Skylark, the Special from early days! Buick always had a basic car from years! These guys don't have any car history skills. Lame video.
Why? You have never ending car payments. I leased once and was over the mileage, so I decided to purchase the car rather than pay the penalty. Ended up paying 7 years for a Honda Civic. Maybe lease for an EV or an expensive luxury car, but for a car in the Envista price class, I just dont see it.
@@kennethjinkins8967 I work for a GM subsidiary in Detroit and we manufacture the HVAC components for these and the Chevy Trax so I'm not sure if these are just assembled somewhere overseas or what.
No way would I EVER get another GM vehicle again! They screwed their auto workers and I have a bad taste in my mouth from past experiences with the worse quality vehicles in the world (other than a VW). I'll stick with a 2024 Kona instead. Beautiful SUV, and for me, very futuristic and this IT Nerd (retired) loves the spaceship look and feel. I also would get a Toyota, but those dealers screwed the pooch when they started acting like entitled rich brats and started adding dealer markups to everything!
![30 ชั่วโมงคนเดียว บนรถไฟชั้น 3 โซเวียต [Around The World Ep. 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MlE9boAVqDA/mqdefault.jpg)
A bit puzzled by this discussion. No complaints about the car itself, other than it being maybe 500-1000 more than the Trax, but with better styling and more sound insulation, meets everyone's needs, people like it....yet it's not good because y'all are not sure about the market position? Weird.
I felt the same way. These guys are destined to fail in the TH-cam realm
Agreed I can't understand their conversation, this car is beautiful.The trax is not beautiful....some people are comparing the appearance off the Envista to a Lambo..I know a few people who bought one and not only love it but get compliments from strangers all the time. I have seen so many reviews of this car and how the interior is really nice with soft touch plastic feels that you would get in a Audi (which I own)
I 100% agree. So much time was spent where Buick is positioning the vehicle in the market and how that was their big issue, really? I took away they don't understand the packaging differences between the Trax and Envista, and why the Buick is slightly more expensive. They clearly didn't note the many differences between the two - one small example, the Buick has padded door arm rest panel. Years ago, I was a LONG time subscriber to Consumer Reports and canceled for the sole reason of their poor and misleading car reviews. I found they're testing and "ratings" were way off on any car I owned, and I perceived they had bias against certain vehicles, in particular, domestic brands. After watching this video, I feel totally justified in that decision. Motor Trend, Car & Driver and many other publications (including digital sources) are significantly more insightful, thorough, and I believe unbiased(!) vs. CR.
Agreed it was an odd position to take. Makes no sense.
@@badele80 100% these guys are idiots.
I bought the Envista over the Trax because of the sound deadening windshield and insulation. The car is quieter than the Trax. I also dont want to keep black wheels clean in the midwest salt that are on the higher end Trax that had the equipment I wanted. I got every option on a preferred model and I am very happy with it so far. 38 mpg and smoother and quieter than my 2020 Rav4 I traded.
Honest to goodness, 38 mpg? My only concern was the low mileage rating. Good news.
Like Honda, Toyota is overrated. I traded a Scion xB years ago on a Cobalt. I was tired of the noise, rattles and horrible ride of the toaster. I likewise traded a 2017 Honda Fit on my present car, a 2020 Kia Rio in 2020. The Rio is so superior it's not funny.
@@Iwannadrive I've been seeing many people get over 40mpg with it if they're careful drivers
38 mpg??!!! Highway?
I really have to disagree with these guys that there's not a place for this car. The budget CUV's coming out of GM Korea recently are all surprisingly good. There are plenty of people that want a luxury look and feel but are on a budget. Likewise the Trax is there for those that want a sportier look and feel. Both cars have a place and I suspect they'll do really well.
The reviewers are confused about what their mission should be in this review. We are definitely interested in their opinions, but their opinions on the vehicle itself not their opinions on the leadership in the marketing division of Buick that’s not our concern.
A neighbor just purchased an Envista, and it looks far more expensive than it is. I'd bet the 26-35 age group, especially those buying their first new car, will flock to this.
I'm 26 and went with your so your right 😅 😂
I’m not so sure. FWD and lifted is a bad combination for attracting younger buyers these days. It seems they either want ground clearance with AWD or they want sedans, hatchbacks or trucks with beds.
I’m almost 50 and might get one.. it’s more do cost right. At my age I’m not transporting kids anymore.. no need anything larger.
This is on the shopping list of my 26 year old daughter. We live in a snow area in the winter and the lack of AWD does not matter with snow tires. In fact I would take a 2 wheel drive vehicle with snow tires over AWD with all season tires any day of the week. Snow tires are a game changer.
Another thought is with a 2WD you save a little bit of weight, complexity and money up front. Adding snow tires negates some of the cost savings.
The Buick adds the larger digital screen, 6 speaker stereo compared to 4 and soft touch arm rests on door and center arm rest. Plus it supposedly has added sound proofing which Buick is known for. That's what your paying for over the Chevy...now is that worth the extra coin?
Buick Delivered a car for a lot of people who are on a budget ❤
I love how you guys are bitching about this car not being fancy inside when it’s mid 20s in price. Honestly doesn’t look that much worse than the lemon 2022 Lexus RX 350 that I owned briefly. Somehow your ‘professional testers’ missed that the RX has terrible engine vibrations, and droning noises at 1600 RPM that Lexus deems to be normal. Honestly one of the most unrefined cars I ever owned at any price, and you gave it high praise. And this considerably under half the price of the Lexus! I think it’s an extremely attractive car for the price point. If it had a Toyota or Lexus badge on it, I’m sure you would be singing praises of it. 🙄
Good looking and exceptional value for the consumer.
The CR guys seem to be baffled about where it fits in the lineup, or in the market, etc. This, in my view is a good thing because there’s a lot of vehicles that break the mold, I’m thinking of Ford Maverick, turn out to be great successes. So my view the fact that they cannot categorize it is great! We need more high-feature, affordable vehicles.
We need more car industries to bring in more Bang for your Buck vehicles that got class like the Evista!!❤
Their statement about the Envista costing more than the Trax is not correct once you factor in equipment. For example, if you want a power driver's seat/lumbar support adj., heated front seats, no-touch remote, remote start, then you need to go up to the $23,900 top-trim Trax Activ + destination. You can get the same equipment via Convenience Pkg. I in the base Envista Preferred costing $23,695+destination if you like Summit White. Many colors in Trax Active are no-cost and you get larger 18" rims painted shiny black. TrueCar also indicates a bit more discounting with Envistas than Trax in LA now.
As usual, CR has no clue regarding any vehicle that isn't foreign. Personally, to me, the Envista is the BEST LOOKNG vehicle that has come along in many years. I also like the interior styling.
They, likewise forget (or ignore) Buick history. While Buick is generally more upscale, they have offered more competitively priced vehicles for decades. The Special was always competitive. In 1977, I purchased a new Buick Skylark that solidly fit in a lower price bracket. Don't forget the Skyhawk and Skylark of the eighties. And, more recently, the Encore.
It’s a good second vehicle for a family, so plenty good reasons to buy one.
So you test a Buick, and you decide the most logical approach would to buy the base model striped down version, and then criticize it for not living up the the Buick, semi luxury reputation. Makes perfect sense.,
I love this car there' nothing I don't like but wish the upgrade Avista had the engine size as the Encore... Never consider a Buick will give this car a try. Love the ideal it doesn't have a rear wiper..? I still love the look of a sedan type style.. I drive a 2005 Maximum so please bring in more sedans like this one because I'm not a fan for the SUV Crossover Bus look.. This car looks great inside and out and has the better power torque than the Kick, which I was considering to buy. Don't hate Buick for thinking outside the box. This car stands alone. Buick definitely hit the mark on this one ❤
I am 6'1" and I just had the opportunity to step into the back of a Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave and holy crap. I fit! For what you get on those they are really well priced
With respects, you guys didn't review the car, you reviewed the marketing. Nothing about the nuts and bolts, driving impressions, or engine performance. You just talked about style and status. I've driven the Trax and Envista. You're right saying the Trax is good but for the money the Envista has a better level of refinement and is better looking. This fashion magazine report was pointless.
Consumer Reports focusing on brand positioning is ridiculous. You should be brand blind and just testing the merits/demerits of the car - period. Comparing it to the Trax is fine, but making brand judgments doesn’t help consumers one bit.
At 5’8 in the back seat you hit the roof? Don’t think so!
Maybe he was bouncing on his boyfriends lap ? 😊
That guy was completely lying! I am 6’1”and fit very comfortably in the backseat with several inches of headroom to spare.
Doug Demuro fit just fine, and I'm pretty sure he's over 6'
these people seem like typical liberal idiots, get them the hell off of youtube, liars and idiots who didnt even review the car properly.
What is going on with Talking cars lately? They used to do a lot more thorough reviews. This is the first Talking Cars video after 4 weeks and they didn’t mention anything about the engine, the transmission, the suspension. This is less that what you see in a first impressions video.
Reliability is the biggest concern. People who cant afford more than a very entry level vehicle, also cannot afford regular repairs.
According to the recent GM Korea engineer interview, 3 cylinder engines have thoroughly tested for 1.4 M kilometers run.
Seems like a pretty good bargain. However, living in Minnesota, lack of AWD is a hard pass for me. As for value, you can get an Impreza RS for 29K if you can find one without any option packages. I would pick that any day over the Trax or Envista. You can also get a CX-30 for around 28k with decent equipment.
@toomuchthyme But the resale of the Impreza will make up for the extra cost up front. Plus, the Impreza isn't a Korea sh!tbox that will fall apart in under ten years meaning the Envista or Trax will both depreciate more and cost more to maintain than an Impreza.
@@Noah_EYes it's only a Subaru that might blow a head gasket. Ever had to pay to get your Subaru worked on? Timing belt?
Subaru's burn oil and blow head gaskets. Plus they are iverpriced.
I’m amazed at how you guys aren’t giving praise to an affordable car. You are actually disappointed. Like what did you guys want? A 20k dollar BMW!? Come on man.
Very nice urban econobox! I hope it sells well for GM. I'm not excited about a turbo, 1.5 liter I3.
Its 1.2L not 1.5 😢
It/they (trax) uses the same smaller base engine that the Trailblazer offers.
It’s actually a 1.2 liter turbo 3. So even less exciting.
It's NOT a Coupe!!! You can call it a sedan, or you can call it a crossover, but it is definitely NOT a Coupe. Do you know the difference between a Coupe and a Sedan?
Nice to see a premium brand with cloth upholstery. I hate leather.
the Envista ST has faux leather (leatherette) which still looks amazing
I'd prefer a more conventional engine, or a hybrid. But there is a lot to like about this vehicle. I'm not sure it's right for me, but I think it will sell well, like the original Encore did. I like the ST and Avenir trims better. I like the CX-30, but they're all AWD now, and AWD is kind of overrated and adds weight, expense, and diminishes MPG.
"..AWD is kind of overrated and adds weight, expense, and diminishes MPG". Amen to that.
Four wheel drive burns more gas and it’s not needed unless you live way out and hard conditions,front wheel drive is ok.
Agree I like the Avenir as well but AWD I don't want. I can get all seasons tire that issue.
Base Mazda 3 sedan. Reliable, good quality, good looking, and fuel efficient with the 2.5L.
It sits too low.
Too low for what? I have a Mazda3 hatchback and live in Northern Mi and have never had any issue even in heavy snow. Come to think of it, my Mazda3 has AWD and is a hatchback and cost about the same as this FWD Buick with 60 less hp. That lower center of gravity makes it handle far better, too. It is much smaller, especially in the back seat, but I haven’t needed more room.
I'm still skeptical of these tiny turbo engines...they're going to wear out faster.
Ugh, yet another CR video where we hear reviewers tell us how much smarter they are than us and the manufacturer..no thanks
If you're going to get someone in the 3rd row, you're going to move the 2nd row forward, no matter what. You're not just going to ditch the extra passengers. Measuring the 2nd row moved forward makes more sense, it's just going to be 4 less comfortable passengers than 2 comfortable and 2 left behind.
Just because its half the price of the average car doesn' t mean its affordable. Someone needs to bring out cars with no touchscreens or heated seats or other stuff like that. Also no unneeded extra so called safety features. We need a cheaper set of cars. We need a car for 18 thousand dollars.
You already have it...Mitsubishi Mirage starts under $18K. Its being dropped due to low sales...so no, people won't buy cheap cars, they want SUV/Truck type vehicle and if they can't afford they buy used.
@@ericbryant796 The Mirage is an retched piece of garbage, which is why it didn't sell. You would be better off with a 3-5 year old Civic or Corolla vs a brand new Mirage in every meaningful way from reliability, comfort, safety, resale value, etc
Q4 ‘23 USA sales of Chevy Trax are 44,127 and may include the last generation model. During the same period, the ‘24 only Envista sold 7,917. Dealer inventory of the ‘24 Trax is very limited. For the Envista, it’s practically non-existent for 100+ miles around downtown LA. I have a feeling the production split greatly favors the Trax but demand vs supply is far better for the Envista. I forecast Envista depreciation will be far less. Some dealers are listing used Envistas for thousands above new MSRP.
Hmmmm. I Bought my fully loaded Envista Preferred the other day for $2300 BELOW sticker from a Seattle area dealer.
It's a Crossover IMO.
It does have more inside than Trax. Door panels for instance have material the Trax doesn't offer at all, elbow rests is hard plastic in Trax but some material is used in Buick. Still on the cheaper side but they're not the exact same.
CR should encourage car manufacturers to build more affordable vehicles, especially under the situation of $48K as the average price in the market.
Buick is doing the same thing with the Envista that Chrysler did with the PT Cruiser. Essentially, it gives dealerships something inexpensive to sell. Unfortunately, it will lessen brand identity. However, Buick has a habit of doing this every so often. If you look back at the '50s Buick Special, that model was playing in the Pontiac/Dodge/Mercury/Studebaker sandbox. In the '60s, Chrysler did that with the Newport. Owners got to brag that they owned a near-luxury nameplate while hoping car buffs would respond with a sarcastic, "But do you really?" Maybe Buick should have reached deeper into the linguistic bag-o'-tricks, naming it "Envista by/from Buick"!
2012 Corolla L $17k. = 2023 $24k.
This is pretty good.
Corolla has good transmission, throttle reaction (NA engine), and powertrain reliability.
👍 if Mare thinks the civic is fun to drive, Corolla a good option and so fuel efficient
What a stupid convo. You are supposed to be consumer reports talking about how good the car is for the money not about the brand’s lineup.
About that rear wiper, it has a rear defroster and then there is RainX I can apply to it which beads off rain? The only peave is “bird droppings!” With a builtin spray wash fluid and a wiper, its a snap to remove. The other peave about rear wipers on Buicks is their placement in a vulnerable area where the wiper arm could get damaged. Better if closer to the roof line and concealed under a rear roof spoiler. And then there is dust buildup and mud splaters on rear window glass. Snow, not a problem. But road salt from tractor trailers passing by, could be a problem.
This commentary is horrific. The ST and Avenir are more luxury like AND still affordable. You guys sound like snobs completely disassociated with economic realities.
It's the resurrection of the Pontiac Vibe 😊
Ive sat in the Trax and Envista. The Envista has a much nicer interior in my opinion. Its quieter and has more soft touch points.
Buick might be trying to go down market, to a younger car buyer who doesn't have as much to spend, but doesn't want to be associated with a utilitarian Chevy. Their ads don't seem to be targeting a premium audience, just younger.
Agree that it's not enough of a step up for the brand. Should have had it start at 26k but be a little nicer with more standard. 26k is still a good price for a vehicle that size in this market so you still get the "budget entry premium" entry point.
Once again if this was a foreign brand, you guys would be giving it endless praise. The fact that this is a GM vehicle, you guys give it endless backhanded compliments. Yeah, the swoopy design cuts into storage space and that's why GM decided to offer 2 models based on the same platform for those who might put space as a higher priority. In decades past, GM might have just done a badge-engineering job and offered 2 cars with only the grill being different. These two cars actually look totally different both inside and out and you guys still complain about it?! Maybe tone down the anti-GM and anti-American rhetoric a little, you're not hiding it well. If this was a Honda or Hyundai, you guys would have spent the entire 20 mins gushing over how amazing it is.
I think they like the trax.
Oh give it a rest. It's a more stylish Trax, which they said they loved. Loved! And you're whining because they said it's small and not worth the extra money in comparison? Boohoo. It's always the domestic fanboys that claim everyone else is biased.
American cars are, objectively, very unreliable.
If GM held themselves to the reliability standard of their Japanese counterparts, we'd all be buying them.
But they were gushing over the Chevy Trax. I think the Trax and Envista comparison to BMW X3 and X4 as a coupe styling rebadge is accurate.
However, I disagree with CR, buyers going to Buick GMC dealerships are not looking for Lexus prices. A cheap Buick “car” will have buyers.
They were all praise on the Trax, how are they being anti-GM? You view is they are totally different, they didn't think so and preferred the Trax instead for what is a similar price. How is that anti-American?
I would expect blind spot monitoring an most safety features standerd on a buick 😮
It seems to me that insuring an Ioniq 5 would be expensive... Would it be worthwhile if it's driven less than 5,000 mi a year?
The real problem with this review is that you're only reviewing the Base Envista (Preferred trim) The Envista Avenir is luxurious...the ST trim has some luxury touches as well
You get what you pay for.
It is a low price point vehicle for Buick dealers,a powerful focus group by the way.
if you are looking for a bargain, and they are few and far between. I wouldnt complain that buick has this car. good for them we need sometihng at the bottom. cant figure out why these dudes are complaining. Women will buy it.
It looks good in the photographs. But the moment you said it had three cylinder engine. It was dropped off of my consideration.
Two things. First, why did you test this vehicle? It's a Trax. This is what you are literally saying: it's a Trax with a coupe body and pretty much the same otherwise. So kind of a waste of time. Second, why are you so obsessed with AWD?? I know you are in the Northeast and I'm sure some of the AWD buyers there actually need it. The same is true of the upper midwest and Rockies/mountains, I would think. But, most Americans do not live in these places. I think an honest, old-school (value-oriented) Consumer Reports view would be that it's a waste of money for most purchasers. It's a status thing. FWD is good, like really good. I'm in Houston, what benefit does AWD offer me? None, is the answer.
Winter tires is good for cold winters.......
Go for a minvan, not a three-row SUV!
It’s $23k get over it, the wheels on my Cayenne are $4800 alone, it’s affordable for those who want a new car.
You guys are talking style. I think the Trax looks better than the Envista. Much more handsome and chunky in a way.
The man who did he is 5’8” and he had no head room in the Envista 2nd row simply wasn’t truthful. I’m 6’1” with long 36” legs and I fit very comfortably in the back seat of my Envista Preferred with several inches of head clearance and plenty of leg room. His prejudices against the Envista were clear but no need to be untruthful. BTW, the engine is peppy and accelerates quite nicely. It’s unfair to compare this nice car to others costing thousands more.
There are reviews saying Envista is *quieter* than the Trax. That alone worth the higher price tag.
But it is a bit longer than it, making it less forgiving for street parking.
But more forgiving for rear seat leg room if I'm not mistaken
If you bought an Avenir you’d like it more than a Trax
you guys argue more about the marketing of the vehicle then assess the vehicle
No Cadillac version? They could revive the Cimarron name 😊
Definitely don't listen to these boneheads if you are deciding between trax and envista. They have no clue what they are talking about here. Anyone who's done any research about the two can tell you the differences between the two are pretty apparent. The trax is boring styling outside and the interior is hideous with red or yellow vent coloring. The hard armrest is a deal breaker in itself. Think of a long road trip with a throbbing elbow! Envista st seat stitching is super nice and no ugly bright interior colors, trying to be hip. Add the extra insulation and upgrded suspension, this is not even a comparison. If you can afford an extra couple thousand you should definitely go for the Envista.
Ah! Auto reviewers' favorite whine, "cheap plastic interior" in an almost reasonably priced car. Oh, come on. Just check that box and move on.😝
Clicked video because I thought it was electric. Oh well
My long/boring answers to viewer questions: 3rd row leg room measurements in SUVs? Anywhere from small to non-existent. Leave your car seat and tape measure at home. If you need a 3rd row get a minivan and everyone will be happiest.
Live in a city/new car? Chances are if you live in a city and are concerned with street parking, that means you have no place to charge overnight. EVs are out.
But also, I BRISTLE at the suggestion that "new safety features" are a reason to replace a 10-year old car. Your 2014 already has the ACTUAL safety features that matter. (Anti-lock brakes, all the airbags, traction control and it may even have a back-up camera) I recently went from a 2005 to a 2020 Outback, and I can tell you that many of the new "safety" features are actually "distraction" features. Because they are little more than beeps and flashing lights that literally distract me from actual driving and when I can, I have turned them off. I do like a back-up camera and find it to be a nice feature. I also like the big amber flashing lights on the side view mirrors (Subarus have bigger than average warnings here) for blind spot warnings.
On other cars that I test drove, the oft lauded "lane keep assist" can be intrusive and unnerving as it grabs the wheel from your control if it considers you "over the line." (Hyundai/Kia's lane keep assist is actually really pretty good; others, not so much.) In theory, on a well-maintained highway this is a useful/good feature, but for the reality of city driving (where lane lines are more of a suggestion thanks to double parked delivery trucks, daredevil cab drivers, construction zones with confusing lines painted in the road, etc., a lane-keep assist system that will try to steer for you is literally a hazard. And while emergency auto braking front and rear are classified as "safety" features, I consider them more of a "luxury/convenience" features. As in having the luxury/convenience to pay less attention when you are in slow and go traffic or navigating a parking lot.
Plus, there's this element of complacence that happens with the "safety" features that can lead to bad consequences. Once I rented a vehicle with blind spot detection and got very used to it during my drive. But then it randomly stopped working, but since I had grown accustomed to not turning my head to check my blind spot during lane changes, on one occasion, I nearly went into another car because the amber light wasn't flashing at me. Little did I know it just stopped working.
Keep your car. IMO.
why do these guys have an obsession's with reviewing cars ???Is it the most affordable thing that millions of people would care about? people who recklessly waste money are the one would pay attention to these pointless car reviews...
Just not interested in a small 3 cylinder turbo engine. It won't last.
I had 3 cyl Dodge Neon back in the late 90’s. Looked pretty cool and swoopy. But the engine noise was crude and always revving. I’m hopeful modern 3 cyl have improved since then.
Dodge Neon's never had a 3cyl - You might mean 3 speed transmission, which they did have.
Neons NEVER had a 3 cylinder engine. At the time the inly vehicle with 3 cylinders was the Metro.
Trans Am or Grand Prix, not Grand Am
It doesn't matter how nice the car, I will never buy a car without AWD
What a miserable and pretentious discussion over a car that working people can actually afford.
And we spent how much time worrying about what this car does for the Buick brand? How about focusing on the car and not worrying about the brand..?
buy a trax u said it was good
mary get the newest corolla you can afford
Unless you have to have a power liftgate get a Trax.
Just don't buy the Preferred (low) trim, go for the Sport or Avenir
I think GM is trying to get people to buy their first new car as a Buick, not a Chevy. That is the only thing that makes sense with this parts bin car. Why parts bin? They are using an ancient 6 speed automatic. They are using internal parts/fit and finish from the last generation car (the Encore). It does get a 3-speed turbo engine which is newer, but even that has been used in cars like the Blazer for a few years. So this is a cheap car for GM to build, and low priced. For the money it is a solid car as the powertrain, and everything is using proven technology (CR gives the Trax the top reliability rating giving it perfect for all scores in 2020). It is what it is - a cheap car which probably should not be in the Buick brand, but it is as it really belongs in Chevy.
Since when is a 6 speed auto "ancient?" Most modern non-luxury ICE cars have 6 speeds.
Totally dumbfounded about this review. The poorest review I have seen in a long time. The total opposite of pretty much any other review I have seen about this car.
What a terrible review. Much of the review is just surface level. The "place in the lineup" is irrelevant to the quality of an automobile. I thought Consumer Reports was focused on quality, safety, durability and value.
Ive read the comments, Ive listened to the glorified podcast, these guys suck. Theyve focused on the absolute wrong thing since this is CONSUMER reports, consumers dont care about a brands marketing or a vehicles standing in the market. If there was a reason for the discussion to be so focused on the market as a whole, then they need to justify why it should matter to buyers.
I saw that it was a GM product and gave up on the video .
What a stupid analysis from supposedly cars specialists : the Envista is the Skyhawk, the Skylark, the Special from early days! Buick always had a basic car from years! These guys don't have any car history skills. Lame video.
1:50 into this and I can tell this won’t be pretty.
Piece of crap disposable powertrain. Will end up making money for GM once it’s out of warranty.
Whats a buick,daddy?
Lease, don’t buy
Why? You have never ending car payments. I leased once and was over the mileage, so I decided to purchase the car rather than pay the penalty. Ended up paying 7 years for a Honda Civic. Maybe lease for an EV or an expensive luxury car, but for a car in the Envista price class, I just dont see it.
made in China ???
Korea. Daewoo
Like the phone or computer you are posting this with or almost any other thing you use?
many parts are Chinese
Assembled in Korea by GM Korea, fka Daewoo, with lots of cheap Chinese components.
@@kennethjinkins8967 I work for a GM subsidiary in Detroit and we manufacture the HVAC components for these and the Chevy Trax so I'm not sure if these are just assembled somewhere overseas or what.
No way would I EVER get another GM vehicle again! They screwed their auto workers and I have a bad taste in my mouth from past experiences with the worse quality vehicles in the world (other than a VW). I'll stick with a 2024 Kona instead. Beautiful SUV, and for me, very futuristic and this IT Nerd (retired) loves the spaceship look and feel. I also would get a Toyota, but those dealers screwed the pooch when they started acting like entitled rich brats and started adding dealer markups to everything!