LaFontaine Buick GMC Ann Arbor

Feb 9, 2024
A red 2024 Buick Envista ST is shown in front of a modern building after leaving a Buick dealer near Brighton.

Buick’s lineup is looking better than ever, thanks to the 2024 models. If you live in the greater area of Brighton, there are many reasons why you should take a closer look at what Buick has to offer. Do you want cargo space? Check. Passenger room? Efficiency? Style? Yes, Buick has it all. Let us take you on a brief journey through the 2024 Buick lineup and ultimately give you the rundown on why you should visit a Buick dealer near Brighton when you’re done reading. Let’s dive in.

If You Want to Save Fuel

Buick’s lineup includes SUVs that are perfect for multiple scenarios. From the more power-hungry three-row SUV that is the Enclave to the cost-effective Envista, Buick’s lineup is perfect for Brighton drivers. If you’re a cost-conscious driver when it comes to travel, it’s crucial to have a fuel-efficient vehicle. That’s especially true for those who use your vehicles multiple times daily. 

You might need your Buick SUV to be fuel-efficient because Route 96 is an everyday occurrence, thanks to the office being located in Detroit. You may even Uber around the neighborhood for some extra cash, and travel 15 minutes down Brighton Road to drive someone home after a night of partying on West Main Street. Whatever your reason is, you need to drive around Brighton–or Michigan, for that matter–to get around in a practical, fuel-efficient vehicle.

The Buick SUVs you should consider for optimum fuel efficiency are the Encore GX and Envista. Don’t be alarmed if you’ve not heard of the Envista before. The 2024 model is the first one, making it a unique part of Buick’s 2024 lineup. Both are equipped with a turbocharged 1.2L I-3 engine, making 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. However, the Encore GX matches this turbocharged engine with a Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission (CVT) while the 2024 Envista uses a six-speed automatic transmission, making it the only Buick to utilize such a transmission. 

The fuel economy ratings for the turbocharged 1.2L I-3 engine in the Envista are 28 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway (30 MPG combined.) In the Encore GX, the identically-sized engine gets 30 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway (30 MPG combined), making the combined fuel ratings a match between the two at 30 MPG. Both vehicles are outstanding for fuel efficiency, especially for city travel, like sitting in traffic on West Grand River Ave, traveling down Route 23 to get to Ann Arbor, or maybe hiking at the Bird Hills Nature Area. 

The 2024 Encore GX can also be fitted with a turbocharged 1.3L I-3 engine. The slightly larger displacement coupled with the choice of a CVT or a nine-speed automatic transmission means performance is enhanced over the base engine, making a healthy 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. Despite the increase in power, efficiency is barely nudged at all. AWD is also available, with only a miniscule reduction in fuel efficiency. 

With FWD, the turbocharged 1.3L I-3 engine earns EPA-estimated ratings of 29 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway (30 MPG combined, with AWD models still handing in 26 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway (27 MPG combined.) AWD comes standard with the 2024 Envision, which has slightly more cargo space than the Encore GX but has a large leap in performance. The EPA has not released fuel economy figures for the 2024 model yet, but the 2023 model with the same engine gets EPA-estimated ratings of 22 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on the highway, and 25 MPG combined. 

A person is shown opening the door of a 2024 Buick Encore GX  Avenir.

If You Need a Larger Vehicle

We’ve mentioned the Envision, Encore GX, and the new Envisita. All three SUVs are fantastic, but they’re missing one thing: a third row of seating. If you need the extra row, your only realistic option is the Enclave. If you have the maximum number of seven people in your car, you’ll still have 23.6 cu.ft. of cargo space. This is still more space than the Envista and Encore GX, and those two SUVs would only accommodate up to five passengers, not seven.

Owning an SUV with three rows of seating doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll always need three rows upright. You may only need two rows up regularly, which opens up more cargo space in the back. Let’s say you and your passengers occupy up to five seats, and the third-row seats are folded down. Maybe you’re driving the kids around town every morning to get to Brighton High School or Hornung Elementary, or you may be doing something fun, like taking the kids to the Mt. Brighton Ski Resort for the afternoon. In these scenarios, the 2024 Enclave will still give you 57.7 cu.ft. of space. This is more than any other Buick offers.

With three rows of seats, folding down the third row is one option to extend cargo capacity. The next way is to fold down the second row, which lends most of your cabin’s real estate to any cargo needs. If and when you need to make the most of your 2024 Enclave’s supreme interior, you’ll have a whopping 97.4 cu.ft. of space to use. This is a 69% increase in cargo space over folding down only the third row. If you fold both rows down, this is a 313% increase in the cargo room.

This added utility does come at the cost of fuel economy, but not as much as you might think. Under the hood lies a 3.6L V6, the only such engine in Buick’s current lineup. It produces a generous 310 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave can also tow up to 5,000 lbs, enabling you to tow whatever toys or additional cargo you need. The Enclave is rated to get 18 MPG in the city and 26 on the highway, with a combined rating of 21 MPG. Though lower than the smaller Buicks, it’s quite good for an SUV of the Enclave’s size and capabilities.

Vehicles like the Buick Enclave are perfect for fun, and the cargo space plays a large part. If you own a 2024 Buick Enclave, that means you can be the one to facilitate the tailgating parties after driving down to Ford Field for the Detroit Lions game (Go Lions!) You can have everything you need for the festivities, from your canopy, the coolers, snacks, chairs, and everything else that says to your friends and family that you’re the heart of the party because you’re the one who brought it with you. Of course, you have your 2024 Buick Enclave to thank for it.

A couple is shown approaching a silver 2024 Buick Enclave.

Home-Field Advantage

If you’re going to drive a vehicle in the greater area of Detroit, Michigan, you may as well be driving a vehicle that was born in the Motor City. The 2024 Buick lineup is a vibrant one, especially with the likes of the Envista joining the picture. Buick’s lineup is a defining example of quality over quantity, but that’s not to say you are restricted with your choices. Shopping for a new Buick model can be an enthralling experience, especially when you get down to the more intricate selections like the Avenir and ST models. Buick vehicles are amazing, and if you live in or around Brighton and haven’t tried one yet, then you owe it to yourself. Why not treat yourself and consider what your life may look like with a Buick vehicle in the driveway?