When promoting new cars and trucks, all automakers share one marketing trait. Superlatives and slogans reign. New models are “innovative” and “game-changing.” BMW details its vehicles as possessing “raw power.” Genesis says its GV70 “emanates athletic elegance.”

Carmakers’ public relations departments have successes and failures, many of which come to mind since the 2024 Buick Envista is Autopia’s Car of the Year.

During the 1960s, Buick challenged would-be buyers with the proclamation: “Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick?”

The carmaker hasn’t used the pitch for many years. But since its debut, a consensus consumer answer has been “yes” and “no” many times. The Buick GSX (1970), Buick Riviera (1971-1972) and Buick Regal GS (2012) were wanted. The Buick Regal (2010), Buick Cascada (2016) and Buick Encore (2017) weren’t.

With the Envista’s North American introduction in 2023 as a 2024 model, the storied brand (it started in1908) is again offering one of its better vehicles. The compact SUV combines a well-designed, simplistic interior, a handsome exterior, spaciousness and value. It does so as well as any 2024 vehicle.

The Envista is only available with a turbocharged 1.2-liter inline three-cylinder engine with 137 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission. It is also only offered with front-wheel-drive and in Preferred, Sport Touring and Avenir trims.

The vehicle’s appeal is fully appreciated in the top-line Avenir trim. It features perforated leather seats with mixed-color stitching choices, remote start, a power-lift gate and a heated steering wheel.

Active driver assist features include forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance and following distance indicator. It displays the amount of time (at the current speed) the Envista is behind the vehicle ahead of it.

The Envista’s sloping roofline and overall exterior styling outdo many luxury vehicles whose traditional appearances have become staid. The ideally proportioned, four-door SUV stands out with reverence to Porsche designers efforts.

The Envista has only a 106.3-inch wheelbase with 97 cubic feet of passenger volume. Rear-seat legroom and overall head room are ample despite the sloping roof line.

Fitted with a sound-suppressing acoustic windshield glass and other noise-cancellation features, the Envista is quieter than many luxury SUVs and sedans.

With massive recalls, folding manufacturers and management turmoil, 2024 wasn’t the auto industry’s best year. But plenty of fine cars were offered.

The Pagani Utopia debuted in 2024 and the $2.1 million, 852-horsepower hypercar was a rarity among rarities at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering in Carmel Valley in August. The Pagani family gushed over the vehicle and the 99 that will be made and have already been purchased.

Three years after I founded the website TheWeeklyDriver.com in 2004, I debuted a Best-of-the-Year vehicle list. I sold the website this year, but I’ve now been reviewing vehicles for Bay Area News Group and other publications for 10 years. This year’s Best-of-the-Year list, the 18th edition, only includes choices from among the estimated 50 vehicles I drove in 2024. I didn’t drive the Pagani.

Beyond the Buick Envista, the top-10 list for 2024: Ford Mustang, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Hyundai Santa Fe, Genesis GV70, Kia Telluride, Lucid Air, Subaru Crosstrek and Toyota Prius.

The entry-level Preferred trim has an MSRP of $23,497; The top-trim Avenir was slightly more than $32,000 as reviewed. It’s about $16,000 less than the average price of a new vehicle in 2024. A better bargain would be hard to find.

Unfortunately, the Envista’s stellar exterior styling doesn’t translate into performance. It’s the vehicle’s only shortcoming. The 0-to-60 miles per hour standard takes 9.3 seconds. Secondary acceleration approaching highway speeds is appreciably better. Gas mileage estimates are 28 miles per gallon in city driving, 32 mpg on the highway. Seating is listed for five, but four occupants fit better.

The Envista debuted in a tough segment with well-heeled favorites including Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5.

But its quick ascension means more consumers are deciding they would rather have a Buick.

James Raia is a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento. He also contributes business, lifestyle, sports and travel articles to several print and digital publications. E-mail: [email protected].