Formerly a China-only model, the Buick Envista will soon be available in North America as well – but not without some questionable powertrain changes.
The assembly will take place in South Korea. The U.S.-spec Envista will be nearly identical to its Chinese counterpart inside and out and come in three trim levels to choose from: standard, sport and premium. The latter gets a new radiator grille, assorted chrome décor, its own wheel design and natural leather for the cabin.
Things get interesting in the drivetrain department. In China, the model comes equipped with a decent four-cylinder turbo capable of 184 PS (181 hp / 135 kW) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque. In the United States, it will make do with a turbo three-pot only good for 138 PS (136 hp / 101 kW) and 220 Nm (162 lb-ft). On the upside, the CVT will be replaced with a more traditional A/T in this version.
The company says the production start is scheduled for later this month, with the dealerships set to receive the first cars before the end of summer.