Photo of 2016 Buick Envision by Mike Antich.

Photo of 2016 Buick Envision by Mike Antich.

Buick's 2016 Envision arrived at the Detroit auto show to give the nameplate a compact luxury SUV to slot in between the Encore and Enclave in the industry's highest-volume segment.

The four-door, five-passenger Envision is powered by an Ecotec 2.0L turbocharged engine that produces 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Envision features Buick’s first active Twin Clutch all-wheel drive (AWD) system. It is a fully automatic, on-demand system engineered to deliver sure-footed handling in low-grip conditions, while also contributing to a quieter and smoother ride with minimal torque transferred to the rear wheels when all-wheel-drive traction isn’t needed.

To improve the Envision's efficiency, the crossover comes with upper grille shutters that open and close to enhance aerodynamics on the highway. The 2016 Envision eliminated an estimated 22 pounds of add-on material to create a whisper-quiet passenger cabin, according to a release from the automaker.

Photo of 2016 Envision courtesy of Buick.

Photo of 2016 Envision courtesy of Buick.

Standard features on the Envision include safety alert seat, which pulses to alert the driver about a possible crash; front park assist, lane change alert and rear cross traffic alert; the following distance indicator; stabiliTrak electronic stability control; four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution; rearview mirror camera; and cornering brake control and brake assist. Also available to the crossover are full speed range adaptive cruise control and collision mitigation braking.

The Envision includes IntelliLink with an 8-inch color touch screen. OnStar with 4G LTE, and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot are also available for the Envision.  

The compact SUV falls in between the automaker's Encore and Enclave. It will compete with the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, and the Lincoln MKC when it goes on sale later this year. 

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