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Not long ago, Bob Lutz (then "Car Czar" at General Motors) told me that the Buick LaCrosse was one of his prouder achievements, and that he always thought the car was underrated. For 2010, Buick is rolling out an all-new LaCrosse, and now that the General has trimmed down to just four brands, the spotlight is on this new mid-size Buick. Is the 2010 LaCrosse a car that will make Bob and GM proud? And is it one you'd actually want to buy? Read on. Price range $27,835 - $41,895, preliminary EPA fuel economy estimates 16-20 MPG city, 26-30 MPG highway.
First Glance: I'm lookin' at you, Acura
Larger photos: Front - rear - all photos
When Acura introduced their all-new TL in 2009, I complained bitterly about the complex controls, lousy navigation system, bizarre styling, lack of options, and a dashboard that looked like it was designed by a committee of 7th graders.
For 2010, there's a greatly improved Acura TL. It looks better, has a better electronics package, and it's even a little bit more user friendly.
Unfortunately for Acura, it's a Buick.
Granted, the idea of a Buick going head to head with an Acura sounds a little far-fetched. (Okay, a lot far-fetched.) Frankly, I'd hesitate to even call the TL and the LaCrosse direct rivals. But from the moment I laid eyes on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, and all during our one-day press preview, I couldn't help but think that Acura could learn a thing or two from Buick.
It started when I approached the LaCrosse from the rear. (Settle down, settle down.) The taillights, the deeply sloped roof, the small trunk lid -- they all reminded me of the TL, except without the ugly factor. That said, there's nothing TL-like up front. The LaCrosse draws on 60+ years of classic Buick styling -- kind of ironic, when you consider how hard they're trying to shake the brand's old-timer image -- with details like a waterfall grille, deeply-dipped body side crease, and classic Buick portholes (link goes to photo), which now reside on the hood rather than the fenders. Overall, the LaCrosse a good looking car -- not as visually stunning as Buick's Enclave, but not as bland as the Lucerne... and certainly not as homely as the Acura TL.
In the Driver's Seat: Part Lexus, part Acura
Inside, the LaCrosse is more Lexus than Acura, with its two-tone cabin and elegant (and sparing) use of wood and chrome trim. But the center stack is disturbingly Acura-like with its field of look-alike buttons. Cars with navigation have even more buttons, but the nav system can be programmed with a dial, touch-screen or voice commands; would if Acura offered such variety.
I found both front and rear seats comfortable and roomy, though I had to duck my head under the low roof overhangs to get in -- keep in mind that I'm only 5'6" tall. Visibility is just OK; the hood drops away out of sight and the back window is pretty small. So is the trunk, and its odd shape, space-cutting hinge design and small opening further limit its usefulness.
The LaCrosse line starts with the $27,835 CX, a fleet-car-special that's actually pretty well equipped aside from its cloth seats and plastic wheel covers. The $30,395 CXL is much more appealing, with leather seats, alloy wheels, Bluetooth and dual-zone climate control. There's also the $33,765 CXS with a bigger engine and heated and cooled front seats.
The LaCrosse's option list is long, useful, and laden with value. I sampled several LaCrosses, including a CXS model with navigation, backup camera, giant sunroof, headlights that turn with the wheels, and a fighter-jet-style head-up display that projects useful info onto the windshield, all for under $40k, as well as an all-wheel-drive CXL with all of the above plus a heated steering wheel and power-operated rear sunshade for just over $40k.
On the Road: Built for comfort, not speed
Wheeling the LaCrosse through Detroit's rural suburbs, my thoughts turned from Acura to Lexus and Mercedes. The LaCrosse is built for comfort, not speed, something I appreciated as I negotiated the crater-laden and boulder-strewn strips of pavement that pass for roads in Michigan. Buick engineers have declared a holy war against road noise, and for the most part, they're winning. Comfy as it is, the LaCrosse is far from a rolling waterbed. Though I didn't get to press the car as hard as I would have liked, I found that it gripped the road well and remained fairly flat in the corners, though the steering doesn't offer much feedback.
Most LaCrosses will be powered by a new 255 horsepower 3.0 liter V6 engine with direct fuel injection. It's a great motor -- quiet, smooth, and just powerful enough for the front-wheel-drive LaCrosse's two tons of bulk. Buick offers an all wheel drive (AWD) version that adds a few pounds and loses a couple of horsepower, dulling the engine's edge. For those who need more, more, more, the CXS model gets a 280 hp 3.6 liter engine. (Too bad AWD models can't be had with the 3.6.) And for those who need less, less, less, Buick plans to introduce a 172 hp 2.4 liter 4-cylinder for the LaCrosse CX later in the 2010 model year. All engines drive the wheels through a smooth and modern six-speed automatic transmission. EPA fuel economy estimates haven't been finalized, but are expected to come in around 17 MPG city/27 highway for 3.0 and 3.6 front-drivers, 16/26 for the AWD 3.0 and 20/30 for the four-cylinder.
Journey's End: LaCrosse catches up, but doesn't pull ahead
A day of tooling around in the LaCrosse made it clear that it was designed to target the Lexus ES350 rather than the Acura TL. Still, I can't help but think that if the Acura TL had the LaCrosse's more cohesive styling, more luxurious interior, and better electronics package, it would be a hit. Does that mean the Buick LaCrosse will be a hit? Frankly, I'm not sure.
The LaCrosse is an exceptionally well-executed car. It's handsome, roomy, smooth and quiet, reasonably priced, and has a long and useful option list. And Buick's build quality has always been a step above most domestic cars. All in all, it's a very nice set of wheels.
But as nice as the LaCrosse is, I'd have a hard time choosing it over my favorites in this segment, which are the Lexus ES350, the Hyundai Genesis Sedan, and the Lincoln MKZ. All three stand out in some way: The Lexus has a first-class cabin and brand cachet; the Genesis has lots of space, rear-wheel-drive, and V8 power; and the MKZ has an excellent infotainment system, Lexus-like cabin, and buy-American appeal (although it's actually made in Mexico).
What does the Buick have that they don't? Aside from a thin veneer of plasticky cheapness that seems to pervade most General Motors products, nothing much. The Buick LaCrosse can run with the pack; it just doesn't lead. I'd buy the Lexus, the Hyundai or the Lincoln before I bought the LaCrosse. But if I had to choose between a Buick LaCrosse and an Acura TL, there's no question -- I'd take the Buick. -- Aaron Gold
