Buick is hard at work trying to erase its image as a stuffy brand for older buyers. New products like the hotly-selling Encore GX are aiding in this effort, and it looks like the new 2021 Buick Envision should also welcome more new customers to the brand. Buick has already noticed that one in five Envision buyers opts for the top Avenir trim in early sales, and nearly one in three wants the more aggressive Sport Touring Package.

This new Envision looks like a massive improvement over the outgoing model, and the changes are more than skin deep. The second-generation Envision no longer rides on the General Motors Delta II (D2XX) platform. Instead, this car uses the Epsilon (E2XX) platform, which rolls in many notable improvements.

"The new Envision architecture creates vehicle proportions that allow for more dynamic vehicle performance," a Buick spokesperson told CarBuzz. "Those changes include a lower and wider stance, plus a body structure that is 30% stiffer than the previous generation. The new architecture is part of what enables more steering precision, responsive handling, and ride isolation. It's also significantly lighter than the previous architecture while including more features."

Buick says using the Epsilon platform helps shave 63 lbs off the base model and even more weight on the upper trims.

Unlike the Delta platform, which the first-generation Envision shared with the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, the Epsilon platform is only shared with the Cadillac XT4 and the foreign market Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, which is also badged as the Buick Regal in China. Chevy also uses this platform for the Malibu, but that model is rumored to be living on borrowed time.

The 2021 Envision also adopts GM's new vehicle intelligence platform, which will power the next-generation of vehicles, EVs, active safety, infotainment, and connectivity features. This new platform "provides advanced cybersecurity technology and more data-processing power," the spokesperson said. "It works up to 4.5 times faster than the previous platform. The new platform also enables improvements over the lifespan of the vehicle through over-the-air (OTA) updates."