As one of the oldest auto companies in the world, the Buick Motor Company has been around since 1903. This iconic brand is even responsible for the establishment of General Motors (GM). For over 100 years, Buick has been creating premium-quality, luxury vehicles that are built to last. From Buick SUVs to sedans, you can easily find comfortable rides. In this article, we will cover what’s to come for 2021 and the Buick lineup.
Retiring Models
One notable thing for 2021 is that Buick will be retiring the Regal sedan. With the market evolving to favor SUVs and crossovers, it’s getting harder for cars to compete. The American automaker already dropped the LaCrosse mid-size sedan in 2019. Now, the time has also come for the Regal.
The last generation of the Buick Regal kicked off in 2018 and was due for a refresh for the upcoming 2021 production year. However, this sporty sedan with a spacious interior and timeless styling has come to its end. It was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that generated 250 hp. It was also available with a more powerful 3.6-liter V6 engine that made 310 hp.
Also retiring for 2021 are the Encore and Envision models. The Encore is being replaced by a slightly larger version of its former self known as the Encore GX. As a subcompact model, the Encore was the oldest vehicle in its class in the Buick lineup, but it just couldn’t cut it anymore. The last models were powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that pushed out 138 hp. Even with its estimated fuel economy of 27 MPG combined, it wasn’t enough to attract buyers.
As for the Envision, this economical compact crossover was a bit too basic to last with such a prestigious brand. It’s only been around since 2016, and it never seemed to catch on with buyers. The Envision had two engine options. First was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder motor matched with a six-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain generated 197 hp. The second option was a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Pushing out 252 hp, this powertrain was available on higher trim levels.
2021 Buick Enclave
What’s to come for 2021 and the Buick lineup is a shift in focus to crossovers and SUVs. One of the highly-anticipated models that will be arriving on dealership lots during the third quarter of this year is the 2021 Buick Enclave.
Rumbling under the hood is a 3.6-liter V6 engine that makes 302 hp. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and FWD, this powertrain has an estimated fuel economy set at 22 mpg combined (18 city/26 highway). If you opt for AWD, this will decrease the average gas mileage only slightly. You’ll get around 21 mpg combined (17 city/25 highway). As for towing, the base 2021 Enclave can pull 1,500 pounds as is. If you add the available trailer towing package, you can increase the maximum towing capacity up to 5,000 pounds in total.
Although this vehicle is technically classified as a mid-size SUV, it has available seating for up to seven people. That’s almost unheard of for anything other than a full-size SUV. Although not many details about this model have been released yet, we can speculate about the advanced safety functions. It will most likely come with blindspot monitoring, forward collision alert, rear cross-traffic alert, front pedestrian braking, lane-change alert, and emergency braking as standard safety systems. An HD surround-view camera system may also be available on higher trim levels.
2021 Buick Envoy
As the newest member of the Buick SUV family, the upcoming 2021 Envoy will sit right in the middle of the fleet as a true mid-size model with three rows of seating. However, the third row will probably be best suited for children.
The standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine will make 252 hp. Equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission and FWD, this robust powertrain is ideal for city driving. Another engine option will be the Enclave’s 3.6-liter V6 motor that pushes out 310 hp. It will also come with the same nine-speed automatic transmission and standard FWD. Keep in mind that you can always opt for AWD if you need that type of capability.
Not many details have been released about the upcoming Envoy model. However, advanced safety features such as blindspot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors will most likely be available or even standard. We will just have to wait to see.
2021 Encore GX
The best-selling vehicle in the Buick fleet is undoubtedly the Encore GX. For the upcoming production year of 2021, this model gains 6.5-inches in length and 3-inches in width over its smaller sibling, the Encore. It also features a stylish two-tone color theme that is great for compact crossovers in general.
There will be two engines available with this model. The first is a turbocharged 1.2-liter 3-cylinder motor that pushes out 137 hp. Equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and FWD, this model will be great on gas. The slighting larger 1.3-liter 3-cylinder engine is coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission and FWD. This powertrain makes 155 hp and is only available on higher trims. You can also opt for AWD on the larger engine.
Like the other vehicles for the upcoming production year, not many details have been released by Buick. However, we can expect to see advanced safety options such as lane-departure warning, parking assist, automatic emergency braking, and forward collision alert.
The Future of Buick SUVs
Gone are the days of the sedan. As of 2021, Buick will no longer be producing the Regal Sportback or GS models. Even though two SUVs are also being retired, Buick’s entire fleet will be only crossover models. Seating five to seven people depending on which vehicle you look at, these luxury SUVs are meant to provide families with versatility, safety, and plenty of room.
One exciting thing that Buick is doing is joining forces with Alexa and Amazon for the Key by Amazon In-Car Delivery service. This means that Buick owners who opt-in for the Buick active service plan and Amazon Prime can have their packages delivered to their vehicles. It doesn’t matter where the car is parked as long as the address is provided in your Amazon address book. Participants can track their packages in real-time with shipping notifications.
This service can be activated on any Buick vehicle from 2015 until now. All you have to do is be an Amazon Prime member and have the Buick active service plan in place. Then, you can download the Key by Amazon app and link your Buick vehicle with your Buick Owner Center and Amazon Prime accounts. From this point, any time you order from Amazon, you can select the in-car delivery service. To receive packages, you should park within two blocks on your delivery address on the scheduled delivery day. The delivery driver will be permitted by Amazon to unlock your vehicle and place the package inside. You will immediately receive a notification when your package is delivered. Through this and all of the intricate details of the current Buicks and Buicks to come, it is clear that the future is bright for these vehicles that seem to only get better and better with time.
