Ann Arbor — The entry-level, subcompact Encore redefined the Buick brand. The Envista makes it a contender.

I mean, just look at the thing. A lot of folks did as I flogged my Ocean Blue Metallic tester across the winding roads of Livingston County. Taking design cues from the elegant Buick Wildcat concept, this SUV enters the highway with a bullet-train nose framed by stylish peepers — then leaves you with a fastback view that’ll have you pedaling to catch up so you can remember her name.

Elle? Electra? Ember? Envista.

OK, got it. Why Buick didn’t stick with Encore is surprising since rebuilding badge equity in a competitive market is a daunting task. But Buick marketing chief Sam Russell said that the Envista’s dramatic evolution from the Encore necessitated a new name. Hard to argue.

Not only does Envista’s design put it in league with premium subcompacts like the BMW X1, Mercedes GLA and Cadillac XT4, but it does so for a startling $15,000 less. Like the original Encore that invented the subcompact SUV segment, Envista has found its sweet spot with a $26K subcompact SUV.

There is no Acura in the segment. No Infiniti. No Lincoln. That leaves still formidable competition from upwardly-mobile models like the Mazda CX-30 and VW Taos, which will test the Buick’s premium aspirations — especially as they offer an all-wheel-drive option. But they can’t match the Buick’s style and interior room.

Rather than equip Envista with AWD, Buick has paired the front-wheel-drive Envista with the all-wheel-drive Encore GX that also sports Buick’s new face. The Encore and Encore GX were similarly paired in the last generation. Curiously, though, Encore GX remains on the old cramped 102-inch wheelbase while Envista gets the new 106-inch wheelbase shared with the Chevy Trax, which has become a mainstream class contender in its own right.

Think of the Buick siblings the way BMW pairs its X1 and X2 coupe designs. But save for the AWD option, Envista is superior in every way to its more expensive stablemate. Despite its coupe-like roof, Envista still managed to fit my giraffe neck comfortably in the rear seat.

Rear legroom is palatial — nearly three inches more than GX and just half-an-inch less than the compact-class Buick Envision that starts — ahem — at $15,000 more than Envista. Maybe they should have called Envista the Envalue.

In due course for Buick, Envista comes with an upscale leather-bound Avenir model starting at $29,695, and a mid-level ST version at $25,195. I’d recommend the base Preferred model.

All trims come standard with state-of-the-art, eight-inch instrument and 11-inch infotainment displays sharing a lovely 19-inch curved dash screen. It’s paired with wireless Android Auto (and Apple CarPlay) that I used to navigate across the winding, hilly roads of southeast Michigan.

But the part I appreciated most was that my jumbo Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphone — sheathed in a ZeroLemon battery case — fit easily onto the console’s fore charging cubby. Subcompact ute consoles are inherently compact, but Buick engineers have taken the time to make sure that any phone could fit the space so that it wouldn’t run out of charge while navigating. Take a bow, engineers.

This ergonomic attention to detail is impressive — and expected as the Buick uses the same parts bin as Cadillacs, GMC Sierras and other GM products.

That means my hands didn’t need to leave the wheel during my day’s drive. I managed adaptive cruise control with my left thumb (dancing across a pad of keys on the left steering wheel). I adjusted radio volume with my right forefingers (using twin pads on the right backside of the steering wheel). And for my favorite radio stations? I used my left forefingers to toggle the UP/DOWN tabs on the steering wheel’s left backside.

Envista sits confidently on the same chassis that undergirds the new Trax. In addition to the expanded wheelbase, the Envista grows in length by 14 inches over Encore and adds two cubic feet of cargo space. That package comes with the Envista’s greatest limitation: the drivetrain.

The Bimmers, Audi and Merc are more expensive in part because they provide substantially more power than Envista. A BMW X1 packs 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque from its perky, 2.0-liter turbo-four while the Buick uses the same 1.2-liter turbo-3 cylinder as the Chevy for, um, just 137 horses and 162 torque. Even the Mazda CX-30 buries the Buick with 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque from its 2.5-liter 4-banger. Upgrade to the Mazda’s 250-horse, 320-torque Turbo model and it’ll leave a Bimmer in its tracks with 5.4 second 0-60 run and nimble handling.

Buick figures its customers care more about fuel economy (30 mpg compared to the BMW’s 24) and a handsome dashboard than a 60-mph dash. “Quiet tuning” is the brand’s new mantra.

But with its compact size, Envista is hardly a wet noodle in the twisties. As I pushed hard across Livingston County, Envista proved tidy and its low-end torque adequate for jumping off corners — or merging into traffic on I-94. Where the three-banger gets winded is in the higher-rev ranges and its pokey, 8.8-second 0-60 mph time.

I’ve touted the $36K Mazda CX-30 Turbo as the best all-around SUV in the subcompact class for its combination of affordability, style and performance. But if the latter is not a priority, then my Envista Preferred weighs in at $26,295 — 10 grand below the Mazda while sporting comfortable power cloth/leatherette seats and all of Mrs. Payne’s must-have goodies: heated seats, heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist, wireless smartphone.

And all-wheel drive, hon. It’s gotta have all-wheel drive for Michigan winters.

Oh, right. In that case, the smaller, $29,350 Encore GX would be your choice for northern climates. My guess is that the Encore GX will adopt the Envista’s longer wheelbase in a couple of years, offering a more complete package. And who knows, maybe Buick will get a performance engine option — that 2.7-liter turbo-four in the GMC Canyon looks tempting — to rival the Bimmer and Mazda.

If Buick can be remade as an SUV brand, a performance model isn’t too much to ask, is it?

Next week: 2023 Toyota GR Corolla

2024 Buick Envista

Vehicle type: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive five-passenger SUV

Price: $23,495 base, including $1,095 destination ($26,295 Preferred as tested)

Power plant: 1.2-liter turbocharged inline-3 cylinder

Power: 137 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Performance: 0-60 mph, 8.8 seconds (est.)

Weight: 3,030 pounds (Preferred) as tested

Fuel economy: est. 28 mpg city/32 mpg highway/30 mpg combined

Report card

Highs: Saks Fifth Avenue looks, Target price; superb interior ergonomics

Lows: Engine doesn’t match its looks; no AWD option

Overall: 4 stars

Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.