If you’ve been wishing someone would come out with a compact SUV that didn’t have to sacrifice style, comfort, and convenience to remain affordable, then your wait is over. Buick’s 2024 Envista delivers all that and more while easily remaining budget-friendly. It has dramatic good looks inside and out, plenty of room for everyone to be comfortable, excellent tech, and even advanced safety features.

5 Key Features of the 2024 Envista

Affordability

The Buick Envista has so much to offer at such a low price that it almost seems too good to be true. There are standard features on the lowest trim which cost extra on much more expensive vehicles. Best of all, it’s not only the purchase price that’s so affordable. With an estimated 28 mpg on city streets and 32 mpg on the highway, the Envista is also inexpensive to own.

Design

The Buick Envista’s exterior is truly exciting, with dramatic flowing lines and a wide, low grille. Add 17-inch aluminum wheels painted bright silver, plus lights that are shaped and placed for maximum visual impactand you’ll be proud to take this car anywhere.

The interior is equally impressive. Sharply-angled futuristic housing for an infotainment display and instrument panel stands upright and stretches halfway across the dashboard.

Performance

A 1.2-liter turbocharged engine with a six-speed automatic transmission is standard on the lowest Preferred trim. Its handling is agile, with steering nimble enough to maneuver in tight spots and brakes strong enough to inspire confidence. The Envista’s well-damped suspension smooths out rough roads to provide a gentler ride.  Hill Start Assist is standard, which South Dakota drivers will appreciate.

Technology

The dashboard sports an enormous high-tech glass panel with an 8-inch color gauge cluster and an ultrawide 11-inch infotainment touchscreen display running Buick’s most recently updated software. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, as is a three-month trial subscription for SiriusXM Platinum.

More impressive is the three years of OnStar Remote Access Plan. You can use the myBuick mobile app to remotely lock and unlock your car doors, find your parked car on a map, check your tire pressure, and more.

Safety

The Buick Envista base model has standard safety and driver’s aid features such as Teen Driver and an HD rear vision camera. Additionally, Buick makes its Driver Confidence package standard across the entire line. It includes:

  • Forward Collision Alert
  • Front Pedestrian Braking
  • Lane Keep Assist With Lane Departure Warning
  • Following Distance Indicator
  • Automatic Emergency Braking
  • IntelliBeam Auto High Beams

Visit Granite Buick GMC in Rapid City, SD to see our new Buick Envista inventory, or contact us at 605-593-4676 for more information.

The 2024 GMC Acadia is a mid-size SUV with brand-new tech features and safety additions. Prepare for the Acadia’s release by checking out this comprehensive guide.

Your Complete Guide to the 2024 GMC Acadia

Power

The new GMC Acadia comes with a 2.5L Turbo engine that delivers 328 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 326 lb.-ft. of torque at 3500 rpm. The 2.5L Turbo engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission for the ideal performance.

Exterior

The GMC Acadia has 20-inch Bright Silver aluminum wheels with 20-inch all-season blackwall tires. The deep-tinted glass creates a private cabin while the AutoSense power liftgate makes loading cargo easier. Another interesting exterior feature is the solar-absorbing glass, which protects you from the sun’s harsh rays and keeps your cabin cooler.

Interior

There’s room for seven passengers in the 2024 GMC Acadia, with an 8-way power driver seat and 6-way power front passenger seat. Active Noise Cancellation with Engine Noise Control helps keep your cabin nice and quiet, even in the most chaotic of environments. The Bose Premium audio system amplifies all of your favorite music evenly throughout the Acadia’s cabin.

Connectivity

The 2024 GMC Acadia comes with a 15-inch diagonal GMC Premium Infotainment System with Google Built. You can make hands-free phone calls, use GPS navigation, and stream new music through this system. The Infotainment system also provides access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for pairing your smartphone with your SUV.

Browse the web on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop with Wi-Fi hotspot capability. You can turn your GMC Acadia into a powerful hotspot that’s powered by AT&T. This function offers a secure internet connection for up to ten different devices within fifty feet of your vehicle.

Safety

Enhanced safety features can put your mind at ease in the 2024 GMC Acadia, including the Assistive Driving Package. This package includes Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking, Speed Limit Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, Rear Pedestrian Alert, Side Bicyclist Alert, HD Surround Vision, and Traffic Sign Recognition.

With OnStar and GMC Connected Services capability, you can get fast help from first responders during an emergency on the road. If you’re in an accident or have a medical emergency behind the wheel, simply hit the OnStar button to be connected with an Emergency Advisor who will send help your way. Other impressive safety features include Teen Driver, StabiliTrak, and Blind Zone Steering Assist.

Has the new GMC Acadia caught your eye? Find out more about it by seeing it firsthand at our dealership! Visit Granite Buick GMC in Rapid City, SD, to take the new Acadia for a test drive.

Does your Buick’s steering wheel drift to one side when you let it go while driving? This is one of the signs that your car has become misaligned. Schedule a wheel alignment at your local Buick dealership before your ride becomes compromised.

What Can Affect Your Buick’s Wheel Alignment?

Driving habits like hitting speed bumps, curbs, and potholes, off-roading, and overloading your vehicle will cause wheel misalignment. But you don’t have to do these things to have alignment issues. Even if you’ve been careful, your car may still lose alignment over time. An alignment adjusts the angles of the suspension components to make sure all the tires rotate at the same speed.

Why Should You Get a Tire Alignment at Your Buick Dealership?

Extend the Life of Your Tires

Misalignment causes the tires to rotate at different speeds and make uneven contact with the road surface as you drive. This causes uneven and premature tire wear on one edge of the tread. Alignments ensure that the tires make even contact with the road, which prevents uneven tread wear and extends the life of the tires.

Improve Steering and Stability

Misaligned wheels make it harder for your vehicle to track straight and respond to steering inputs. That’s why the steering wheel doesn’t centralize as it should. The drifting of the steering wheel can make your Buick feel unstable on the road. Tire alignment restores stability and handling, allowing you to feel in control of the vehicle.

Enjoy a Smoother Ride

If your wheels are misaligned, you may start to experience steering wheel vibrations, shaking, and an overall rougher ride quality. This forces you to drive at low speed, which doesn’t do much to resolve the problem. Aligning the tires ensures that the wheels and entire suspension system operate smoothly. This leads to a smoother ride with no jarring motions.

Increase Your Buick’s Fuel Economy

Tire alignment and uneven tread wear are notorious for affecting a vehicle’s fuel economy. If the tires aren’t making even contact with the road, rolling resistance increases. This causes the engine to work harder and consume more fuel. Aligning your tires reduces the strain on the engine and restores your Buick’s fuel economy.

How Often Should You Get an Alignment?

We generally recommend you get a tire alignment every 6,000 miles, but this isn’t a rule. Driving habits and environmental conditions determine the right frequency for this service. Stay on the lookout for these signs that it’s time to get a tire alignment:

  • Pulling to one side
  • Uneven tire wear
  • Steering wheel vibrations
  • Squealing tires
  • Loose handling

During an alignment, our technicians check and service the suspension components and steering as well. You will be surprised at how smooth and enjoyable the ride feels after the service.

Don’t wait for suspension problems to get a tire alignment. Contact Granite Buick GMC in Rapid City, SD to schedule an alignment as soon as you notice signs of trouble.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX is a luxury subcompact crossover that comes in three exceptional trims. It also boasts a refreshed exterior look and several new tech features for the new model year. Review the amenities and features of each of these premium models, then visit your neighborhood Buick dealer to experience the Encore GX for yourself.

Explore 3 Trim Levels of the 2024 Buick Encore GX

1. Preferred

The base Encore GX model is equipped with 18-inch bright silver aluminum wheels, a 137-horsepower turbocharged engine and a selectable stop-start feature. Front-wheel drive models come with a continuously variable automatic transmission while the all-wheel drive versions include a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Preferred trim incorporates heated power outside mirrors, an 11-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a six-speaker audio system, an 8-inch driver information center, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Standard active safety features in the Encore GX Preferred include front pedestrian braking, automatic emergency braking, Buckle to Drive, a following distance indicator, front pedestrian braking, forward collision alert, lane change and lane keep assist, automatic headlights, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear seat reminder. You’ll also be able to use the Teen Driver system to set speed and volume limits with certain keys.

2. Sport Touring

When you select the Sport Touring model, you can enjoy a boost to 155 horsepower with a larger version of the turbo engine. It also has a distinct look with 18-inch gloss black aluminum wheels, and the front and rear bumper add a silver-painted insert designed to give it a rugged, athletic appearance.

The Encore GX Sport Touring is the only trim you can get with the sophisticated Black Roof package, which includes black roof rails and roof as well as black mirrors. If you select this appearance package, you can choose from Moonstone Gray Metallic, White Frost Metallic, Cinnabar Metallic, or Copper Ice Metallic exterior paint hues.

3. Avenir

The Avenir trim features 19-inch premium pearl nickel aluminum wheels, power-adjustable front seats, a cabin air filter, and a 120-volt power outlet. You’ll notice the unique exterior appearance created by the front and rear fascia.

You’ll also gain access to Avenir-exclusive options. The Convenience package gives you a hands-free power liftgate, a premium 7-speaker Bose audio system, rear parking assist, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Technology package adds an HD surround-view camera, rear camera mirror, adaptive cruise control, and wireless charging.

You can upgrade any of the Encore GX trims with trailering equipment for weekend adventures or add high-end amenities like a panoramic moonroof. If you choose an all-wheel drive model, you can adjust the car’s performance with selectable drive modes. Visit Granite Buick GMC in Rapid City, SD today to test drive the model of this refined crossover that best fits your lifestyle. 

The engine air filter is housed in a box situated just inside the radiator grille. Its job is to filter the air before it passes into the engine. As time passes, this filter will become blocked with debris and needs to be replaced. As your GMC dealership, we’d like to tell you about some of the signs that you need a new car air filter.

Signs It’s Time for a New Car Air Filter From Your GMC Dealership

Black Exhaust Smoke

Black exhaust smoke is never a good sign. It means that your engine is expelling large quantities of unburnt fuel. Your engine requires 14x more air than fuel for combustion, and all this air must pass through the air filter. If your air filter is blocked, the ratio of air to fuel will drop dramatically, and your engine will become fuel-rich.

Once combustion occurs in a cylinder, the cylinder opens and dumps the residue into the exhaust system. In a fuel-rich engine, the spark plugs can’t ignite the mixture correctly, and only a small amount of fuel will burn. Most of the fuel in the cylinder is forced out of the exhaust pipe, and you may even see small sparks as fuel molecules touch the hot exhaust. We can quickly fix this issue by replacing your air filter.

Check Engine Light

The check engine light illuminates in response to any problem that affects your engine. As we saw above, a blocked air filter will turn your engine fuel-rich. In a fuel-rich engine, the plugs must work harder than they should due to the lack of air. This will cause them to wear out faster. In addition, the large quantities of fuel cover the plugs in sticky black carbon, which further reduces their effectiveness.

Sensors in the engine will detect the overworked plugs, and they’ll also identify the high fuel concentration. The sensors will inform your computer, which logs these problems with error codes and then lights up the check engine light. Our technicians will replace your air filter, and they’ll check each plug for signs of damage. Damaged plugs will be either cleaned or replaced depending on the extent of the damage.

Dirty Filter

Unlike many other important engine components, the air filter is easy to check and doesn’t require any specialized knowledge or equipment. The air filter is housed in the air filter box, and the location of this box can be found in your car manual. Once you’ve located the box, you can easily open it to check the filter’s condition.

A healthy filter is white or cream, but this color changes as it accumulates dirt. If your filter is brown or black, it needs immediate replacement. We’ll confirm the filter’s condition and replace it in minutes while you wait.

A filter replacement is very inexpensive and it will boost your vehicle performance. Call our service department today at Granite Buick GMC in Rapid City, SD.

Your Buick’s tires are subject to constant friction when you are driving, and maintaining the right pressure is vital for your tire’s lifespan. Under or over-inflated tires wear out faster and can even lead to accidents. As your Buick dealer, we’d like to tell you the easy steps to check tire pressure.

Advice From Your Buick Dealer: Easy Steps To Correctly Check Tire Pressure

Before You Start

Always allow several hours to pass before checking the pressure if you’ve been driving. A tire generates friction with the surface as it moves, and the air inside the tire heats up. As the air gets hotter, the pressure in the tire increases. Allowing the tire to cool will prevent a false pressure reading.

The internal pressure of a tire is measured in Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI). On a hot day, the pressure will rise by 1 to 2 PSI per 10 degrees of external temperature, even if you haven’t been driving recently. In winter, the pressure will drop by the same amount.

Pressure Gauge

You’ll need a pressure gauge to check the pressure. They’re available at the gas station, but we advise you to buy a gauge. The pressure gauges at a gas station can suffer excessive wear over time, which makes them less accurate. There are two basic types of pressure gauges: an analog gauge and a digital gauge.

An analog gauge has a section that slides out to reveal the pressure in a tire, while a digital gauge displays the pressure on its screen. Either gauge will work perfectly, so choose a good-quality version of the gauge that you feel more comfortable with.

Checking the Pressure

Now we’ve covered the testing tool, and the tires are “cool” enough to check, let’s test them in three steps.

Find the Correct Pressure

You can find the correct operating pressure for your tires in two places. Firstly, the pressure for the front and rear tires is listed in your Buick manual. You can also find this information on a metal plate or sticker on the inside door jam of the front passenger door.

Test The Tires

Remove the valve cap from the first tire, and connect the pressure gauge. The gauge will display the pressure within seconds. Write down the pressure, replace the valve cap, and move on to the next tire. Repeat this process until you’ve checked all four tires and the spare if you have one.

Compare Readings

Compare the readings from your tires against the correct pressure for your tires. All you need to do now is use a compressor to increase or reduce the pressure in the tires to match them.

You can also get the pressure checked by visiting our service department at Granite Buick GMC in Rapid City, SD. Our Buick-trained experts will check your tires and correctly inflate them in minutes.

The 2024 GMC Terrain is a well-built SUV equipped with modern technology. Drivers love its spacious cabin, generous driver assistance technology packages, and excellent trim options. Read on for an in-depth introduction to the Terrain from your GMC dealer.

Your GMC Dealer Introduces the Spacious 2024 GMC Terrain

A Roomy Cabin

Your spacious SUV will comfortably seat five passengers. Your guests will enjoy a generous 39.7 inches of legroom in the second row.

Behind the second row, you’ll have 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space, making big grocery runs a lot easier. When you need to maximize your cargo space, you can easily fold down the second-row seats. This doubles your cargo volume, offering you 63.3 cubic feet of cargo space for all of your belongings.

Excellent Trims

There are four well-packaged trims for the GMC Terrain, starting with the SLE. This entry-level option is equipped with a standard rear vision camera for improved visibility, and standard LED headlights and LED taillights. The SLT adds a hands-free programmable power liftgate to your Terrain, as well as a heated steering wheel.

The AT4 is a great option for drivers who love all-wheel drive. If you’re going off-roading, you’ll also love the added protection of the front steel skid plate for this trim. The top-tier Denali makes some high-tech features standard, including a head-up display. You’ll also have a premium sound system with seven speakers in this trim.

Confident Performance

The GMC Terrain is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This powerful system generates up to 175 horsepower and 203 lb.-ft of torque.

Driver Assist Technology

Every Terrain comes with the standard GMC Pro Safety package of driver assist features. Automatic emergency braking, a forward collision alert, and front pedestrian braking are all included. You’ll also have a following distance indicator, making it easier to monitor the gap. IntelliBeam will handle adjusting your high beams automatically for oncoming traffic, allowing you to focus on the road ahead.

There is also an available GMC Pro Safety Plus package, which is standard on the AT4 and Denali trims. This package adds a few more assistive technology features to support you on the road. This package includes a front and rear parking assist, making parking lots a lot easier to navigate. You’ll also have a lane change alert paired with a side blind zone alert, keeping you safer as you change lanes in busy traffic.

Modern Infotainment

The GMC Terrain comes standard with an excellent seven-inch touchscreen this year. Fortunately, it’s easy to wirelessly connect your smartphone to your new system. You can use wireless Apple CarPlay or wireless Android Auto for a smooth connection. Additionally, your system comes with standard Bluetooth for streaming audio from your phone.

Drivers looking for a dependable and sturdy SUV will love the modern Terrain. Visit Granite Buick GMC in Rapid City, SD now to see our wide selection of excellent vehicles.

Brake pads are an important part of your braking system, as they produce the friction that slows and stops your car. These pads slowly wear out as they work, and need to be replaced every 25,000 to 65,000 miles, depending on your Buick model. As your Buick dealer, we want to tell you a few signs that it is time to visit us for new brake pads.

3 Signs You Need New Brake Pads From Your Buick Dealer

Screeching Noises

If you hear screeching noises when you brake, your pads have probably worn thin. Each pad has a special material cover that produces the friction that stops the rotors from turning. Each time you use the brakes, tiny particles of this material wear off. A healthy pad has a 1/2″ thick material cover. When this cover’s thickness drops to 1/4″ thickness, the pad needs replacement.

Pad manufacturers install a metal spike in the pad material, which becomes visible when the pad has worn down. The metal spike will scratch against the rotor surface when you brake and produce the high-pitched screeching you’re hearing. The spike can’t damage the rotor, but it is a warning that we need to replace the pads.

Grinding Noises

Harsh grinding noises from the brakes mean one or more pads are severely worn and could damage the rotors. If a brake pad’s martial cover wears offer completely, only the bare metal of the pad is left. The next time you hit the brakes, the metal on the pad will clamp directly onto the metal rotor. A bare pad has sharp edges, and these will score the rotor surface.

If you hear a grinding noise, it’s important to visit us for new pads ASAP. If you continue to use worn pads, the metal-on-metal contact can cause serious damage to the smooth rotor surface. A smooth surface is essential for allowing the brake pads to easily and efficiently grab the spinning rotors. We’ll replace the pads, and we can resurface or replace a damaged rotor if necessary.

Glazed Pads

Glazed pads look strange, as their surface is smooth and glass-like. The glazing effect is caused by a pad skimming along the surface of a rotor for a prolonged period. This can happen if a damaged caliper doesn’t fully retract when you take your foot off the brake. It can also be caused by riding your brakes.

 A glazed pad can’t generate friction, and this means the affected pad can’t stop its wheel from moving. As a result, your car will turn to one side when you brake. We can quickly replace the glazed pad to fix this problem.

If your pads are worn, visit our service department right away at Granite Buick GMC in Rapid City, SD, and we’ll replace them.

The transmission is part of your Buick that focuses the energy produced by the engine and directs it to the wheels. This energy is controlled using gears and enables your car to always move at the desired speed. The transmission and its components are very tough, but they can still suffer wear or damage. As your Buick dealer, we’d like you to know a few signs that you may need to visit us for a transmission repair.

Signs You Need a Transmission Repair at Your Buick Dealer

Noisy Transmission

The transmission shifts gears, based on your speed, according to the decision of the transmission computer. Most gear shifts, except reverse, drive, and park, happen automatically at predetermined speeds. Gear shifts, however, should be soundless. If you hear strange noises when the gears shift, your transmission has a problem.

One of the first sounds is a slight buzzing noise, which grows louder over time and then gives way to a humming noise. You might also hear a whining noise that gradually rises in tempo. The most common reason for these odd noises is a lack of transmission fluid. These noises could also be a sign of trouble with the torque converter or a broken linkage. We’ll investigate, repair the damaged component, or refill the fluid, and the noises will cease.

Transmission Leak

As we saw above, transmission fluid provides the hydraulic power that allows the gears to shift, and it has a cooling effect on hot transmission components as it passes over them. In addition, this fluid protects all the components from friction damage as it surrounds them in a friction-resistant coating.

A transmission leak is usually due to a worn seal or gasket. The main gasket in the transmission is located underneath the transmission and is known as the transmission pan gasket. Over time this gasket can become worn, and fluid will slowly leak out. If you have a fluid leak, gear shifting will become slower and more difficult. Our technicians will check and replace any worn gaskets we find to plug the ​leak.

Slipping Gears

When a gear is shifted, it should stay in that gear until you or the transmission computer shift it again. Slipping gears is a scary situation when a gear shifts and shortly afterward drops back to the previous gear. The movement is very sudden and can damage gears and gear teeth as the transmission is wrenched into another gear.

 A lack of transmission fluid reduces the hydraulic power available to move the gears, which can cause gears to slip. It could also be caused by a blocked transmission filter that restricts the amount of fluid available or by a fault with the transmission computer. We’ll examine your transmission and fix this problem.

If your transmission isn’t working correctly, visit us right away at Granite Buick GMC in Rapid City, SD.

Well-maintained cars shouldn’t have problems too often, but engine problems can still occasionally happen even in the best-maintained cars. When these problems crop up, you should head straight to the Buick dealership to get them fixed. Engine issues require the expertise of a well-trained professional who works on Buick/GMC vehicles all the time.

5 Engine Problems You Should Always Check at Your GMC/Buick Dealership

1. Strange Engine Noises

If your engine is making strange noises, or if it’s making more noise than it usually does, then you should visit the dealer to get it checked out. You might have low oil pressure or old oil cycling through the engine, which is making the metal parts grind against each other. These parts grinding against each other can cause the noise you’re hearing under the hood.

2. Illuminated Check Engine Light

If the check engine light on your dashboard lights up, then you need to head straight to the dealer. Your car may not be symptomatic right now, but it could start causing problems if you don’t get to the dealer and figure out what the problem is soon. You need a professional to take a look under the hood and potentially run an engine diagnostic to figure out why the check engine light has turned on.

3. Overheating Engine

You’ll notice your engine is overheating in one of two ways. The first way is by noticing your temperature gauge is climbing and telling you that your car is too hot. The other way is if smoke or steam comes out from under the hood. Multiple things can cause your car to overheat, so you need a professional to diagnose and repair the problem.

4. Faulty Spark Plugs

Spark plugs may be small, but they play a very important role in your engine. When one or more of them is faulty, you’ll notice engine issues such as hard starting, misfiring, and stalling. You may also find that your engine starts, but it can’t stay running. Spark plug problems should be fixed by a professional. Replacing old spark plugs is part of your car’s required preventative maintenance, too.

5. Contaminated Engine Oil

Your engine oil picks up dirt and debris over time, so it’s normal for it to become contaminated in that way and get darker. However, if your motor oil is white, that’s a sign that there’s water in it. This contamination isn’t normal, and it’s typically caused by a cracked engine block, cracked engine head, all faulty oil cooler, all of which need to be repaired by a professional at the dealership.

If you’re having any of the problems above, then come get them fixed at Granite Buick GMC in Rapid City, SD. You’re in very safe hands with our experienced technicians.