Buick has a crossover problem here in the United States. Despite the continued popularity of the aging Enclave three-row, as well as the tiny Encore’s surprising market traction, the automaker is leaving sales on the table by selling only those two crossovers. And if you’re thinking the chasm between the subcompact Encore and the full-size Enclave is colossal, you’re not alone. As the saying goes, if a hole is deep enough, it could reach all the way to China. The pit between the Encore and the Enclave, it turns out, is almost literally that deep?because to help fill it, Buick dug all the way to China and grabbed the mid-size 2016 Envision crossover.
If this news sounds familiar, it’s because for more than a year rumors have swirled that the attractive, right-size Envision already on sale in China would be sent to the U.S. Just a few weeks ago, these reports seemingly were confirmed, but now Buick has come out and set the record all official-like. The 2016 Envision is to go on sale next summer, and Buick has handed out preliminary details to feast upon.
For starters, yes, the newest American Buick is to be built in Yantai, China. If you don’t know where that is, according to Google Maps, it’s an 18-hour flight west from Detroit. TripAdvisor.com lists among the top attractions Kunyu Mountain, a whale shark aquarium, and the “Huanghai Amusement City.” And to recap, it’s in China. That makes the Envision only the...