BrownPride

Yes it will pick up the rental fleet market which the Sebring convertible dominated. I think the failure of every car in this segment has shown that the only "cheap" convertibles people are willing to buy are Mustang 'verts. The Verano has gotten very lukewarm reviews for good reason.....it's extremely mediocre. Add to that it has a Buick badge which has almost zero equity with any American consumers under the age of 60 and you have a recipe for disaster. At best, It'll sell to fleets, GM employees, and senior citizens. I don't see a market beyond that.

I don't believe Verano and LaCrosse are really "squeezing" the Regal because the former two aren't hot sellers either. All three are mediocre badge-engineered vehicles from overseas. I agree that SUVs biting into sales big time.

Toys4RJill

Here is another one:

2016 Buick Envision First Review
http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-...ew/2100000786/

The 2016 Buck Envision is an all-new crossover SUV for the premium brand, slotting between the subcompact Encore and midsize Enclave. As an upscale 2-row, 5-passenger SUV, it aims to compete with the Acura RDX, Audi Q5 and Lincoln MKC.

The all-new Envision arriving now will have a short 2016 model-year run before 2017 versions go on sale in September. The 2016 Envision is only available in two high-end trims, Premium I and Premium II, whose starting prices are $42,995 and $45,635, respectively. As we previously reported, when the 2017 Envision arrives, it will add three lower trims and have a price that begins just under $35,000. As loaded, top-line models, the 2016 Envision comes standard with features such as leather seats, Bose audio, 8-inch infotainment screen, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, and 19-inch wheels.
Buick knows the upstart Envision is challenging established rivals, but the brand feels this new premium 5-passenger crossover is ready for the fight. Buick invited us to GM's Milford, Michigan, proving grounds to see how it stacks up. Here's what we found.

Quality Assurance

Addressing a potential elephant in the room, yes, the Buick Envision is made in China. So far it is among just two cars imported to the U.S. The short-lived Coda electric car arrived on our shores a few years ago before departing as quickly as it came, and the Volvo S60 Inscription is currently made there.
If the Envision's quality is any indicator, it may not be the last. In our time with several production models, fit and finish felt in line with its peers hailing from Germany and Japan. That's not surprising, considering it was designed, engineered and vetted in the United States. While time will tell how the Envision holds up in initial and long-term reliability, this crossover has already seen massive success in China, where it has already sold well over 100,000 units in the past couple years since it debuted.


Something to Prove

At the proving grounds, we tested the 2016 Buick Envision on a miles-long loop intentionally laced with the kind of surfaces most public roads aim to avoid. Poor pavement, big dips, bumps and contusions that make vehicles shake, rattle and roll. For comparison, Buick also brought three rivals to the party: the Audi Q5, Acura RDX and Lincoln MKC.
If you're a get-to-the-point type of person, the Envision's ride quality is best described as "relaxed with a playful side."
Considering the Envision is a Buick, that first quality isn't a surprise. In a segment where every player wants to be sporty this and performance that, it's refreshing to have a crossover SUV that's commendably comfortable and quiet. The Envision was notably quieter than the competitors here, and absorbed road bruises without bruising us.


Drive-wise, it felt most like the Lincoln MKC. But we prefer the Buick's airy cabin to that of the more closed-in MKC. Also not surprisingly, the Envision didn't feel as zippy or agile as the Acura RDX, whose 279-horsepower V6 has 27 more ponies than the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder in the 2016 Envision. Still, the turbo engine used in this Envision offers good acceleration thanks to its impressive horsepower and more impressive torque (260 lb-ft starting at a low 2,000 rpm). Turbo lag was a non-issue, and the 6-speed automatic transmission is a smooth operator.
Being that all 2016 Envisions are the two top models, they include this up-level engine, and all use an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. That AWD worked well on surfaces of the test track where traction was compromised. In emergency braking maneuvers, the Envision also came to a halt swiftly and as stress-free as can be when you're slamming the brakes from 70 mph.
Like more and more vehicles, the Envision is equipped with an engine start/stop system that cuts power and stoplights. It isn't defeatable, but at least it didn't feel overly intrusive during an hour-plus drive outside the proving grounds. EPA fuel economy is rated at 20 mpg city/26 highway for these turbo AWD models. The Envision's 22 mpg combined rating ties that of an all-wheel-drive RDX and Lincoln MKC, and slightly trails that of the Audi Q5 and Lexus NX 200t.
When 2017 Envision models arrive this fall, they'll offer a 2.5-liter naturally 4-cylinder 197 horsepower. One wasn't available for this test, so stay tuned.

Impressive Cabin and Amenities

The 2016 Buick Envision's comfortable drive manners are complemented by an equally refined, leather-laced cabin. As we've noted, it feels open and airy, and while the buttons and switches are Chevy-familiar, that's not a bad thing these days. Moreover, they're easy to see and use.
Rearward visibility is good, and passengers sitting in back are treated to plenty of legroom, their own climate controls and USB ports, and -- this is noteworthy -- no hump to impede feet. Even with its all-wheel-drive platform, the Envision has a flat floor free of a transmission tunnel.
The 2016 Envision with its limited trims will be on sale for a few months before the expanded 2017 lineup arrives in September. Note that if you must have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you'll have to wait for the 2017 Envision. If you must have a CD player, then the 2016 model it is.

This new Buick fills a much-needed space in the brand's crossover SUV lineup, and if our first taste is any indicator, the Envision appears to be a strong candidate if you're looking for a smaller SUV that stands out for it comfort, quiet and versatility.

mmarshall

Many Sebring ragtops were not just rental-specials, but also privately owned or leased. It was popular for two main reasons....moderate price and roomy back seat by ragtop standards, though build quality lacked, especially in comparison to the similar-sized Toyota Solara convertible.

It has actually helped to lower Buick's average buyer-age....and most of the reviews consider it anything BUT mediocre....especially in road manners and sound insulation. It's true, though, that it is not a classic enthusiast's car......but it wasn't designed to be.

Of course, it is not perfect by any means. I own one myself, and IMO they should have used a more refined small V6 instead of the Ecotec four and taller, higher-profile tires instead of its 45's for a smoother ride. But it is an excellent small semi-luxury car as it is.

Face it, though...........it's a very simple issue. GM simply made a mistake by dropping it here in the U.S. Despite the improving quality of their vehicles, GM has a history of poor marketing, and dropping vehicles they shouldn't have.

According to the numbers, though, that's basically what's happening. Both handily outsell the Regal in the American market......especially the Lacrosse, which markets to many of the traditional Buick buyers. They are the ones that used to buzz around in the Lucerne, Lesabre, and Park Avenue.

With the Verano and Regal, that's a good thing. Like with the also-European derived Cascada and Encore, It has given them good construction quality (better then the Lacrosse and Enclave). The LaCrosse, however, is NOT a badge-engineered "overseas" vehicle (as you put it), but a derivative of the same platform as the Chevy Impala and Cadillac XTS.

Toys4RJill

@ mmarshall. The current Lacrosse is built on the Epsilon II platform which was developed by Opel.

mmarshall

This reviewer obviously had a better first impression of the Envision than CR did. CR, though, in their review-style, often tends to be critical of some issues that others either ignore or downplay.

mmarshall

Yes that's true, but it is a world platform, not just European.....and is used by several mainstream American GM large sedans.

Anyhow, we all got off topic on other Buicks. As far as I'm concerned, let's get back to the Envision.

On the Envision, one thing that neither review seemed to talk about much is build quality/precision. China has a reputation for poor-quality products, and one thing that I will be looking at very closely, when I myself get a chance to review an Envision, is how well things are screwed together on it. I'm eagerly looking forward to that, as I have never reviewed a Chinese-built vehicle before....it will be interesting to see how well its vehicle build quality compares to that of other countries in Asia such as Japan or South Korea. Japan, of course, first wrote the book on quality, and then the South Koreans followed suit.

tex2670

Can we take this to mean you have finally come to accept Consumer Reports as a legitimate source of automotive journalism?

LexBob2

You had to bring that up. Lol....

bagwell

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-...ew/2100000786/




Yeah Jill....I thought you hated CR? but you quoted them?

tex2670

I think that she hates Buick even more.....

BornDriver

In China, Envision costs little more than similarly loaded Rav4/CRV. It never touches the premium/luxury competitors listed in there. The price here is too laughable to know. What are those people at GM drinking?

mmarshall

Either that, or just baiting Buick owners.

mmarshall

An interesting question, though, is what The Chinese-market Envision offers in refinement and standard equipment in relation to the RAV-4 and CR-V. It may not have as many standard or optional features on it as the American-spec version. The American-spec version actually has (IMO) a fairly attractive starting price under 35K.

Toys4RJill

Did I not post the positive viewpoint from KBB?

Toys4RJill

Not true at all.
CR is mostly useless. I just want them to release their comments at the same time as everyone else. That way they can't custom tailor their reviews around what everyone else has released.