2006 Buick Lucerne CXL V8 Sedan

As placid as a lake

Car names are not accidental, nor are they trivial. General Motors is trying to send you a message with the 2006 Buick Lucerne CXL V8 Sedan -- let's see if we can decode it. With a base price of $29,265 ($33,945 as tested) and a 4 year/50,000 mile warranty, the 2006 Buick Lucerne CXL V8 Sedan is elegant and attractive -- kind of like its namesake Swiss city. So far, so good. But Switzerland also conjures up thoughts of neutrality, stuffiness and, let's face it, blandness. How about the Lucerne?

First Glance: It is what it is

I appreciate the exterior of the Lucerne. It's not trying to be the coolest car on the block -- it's a Buick, and it looks like a Buick. There's a hint of the past on each front fender -- a four hole port that looks like it was lifted off of a 1930's streamliner. Very Art Deco and distinctive, yet not so big and gaudy that it'll be controversial. The ports' function as a cooling vent for the engine is minor -- they are all about style.

Lucerne replaces the Park Avenue and LeSabre in the Buick line, and retains a little bit of the Buick design DNA, especially in the front fascia. The big oval opening remains along with a big chromed three-shield emblem over a black grille. The front overhang is a little big, but the car is well-balanced overall. The gently rising shoulder line gives a touch of a forward lean, while the quickly sloping roof emphasizes a windswept look. Tacky-looking bodyside moldings are affixed at mid door, an unfortunate touch. Heavily detailed headlights with multiple projectors dress the corners of the hood -- too bad they're not the High Intensity Discharge units that many luxury cars now feature.

In the looks department, Lucerne lives up to its name: elegant, attractive, bland.

Continued below...

In the Driver's Seat - Comfortable seat, but what's with the driving position?

The Lucerne has the oddest driving position I've encountered in a long while. The steering wheel and dash were so far away from me that I was reminded of riding in my grandfather's lap while he drove his 1962 Cadillac. The wheel, though modern and equipped with the full array of controls, tilts but does not telescope. The pedals do not adjust. So I was stuck with a very unnatural driving position, more appropriate to watching television on the couch than to driving a 3,969 lb vehicle. The seat itself was quite comfortable, in addition to being heated and cooled -- nice.

I will continue to rail against fake wood trim until they drag me away. I hate it. Why does it keep cropping up in American cars? It's cheap and ugly looking, and there are several board-feet of it in the Lucerne. Other plastic choices are not quite up to luxury levels, but not the worst I've seen in GM cars recently. At least the Lucerne's dash is not overworked or overcomplicated -- it's plain to a fault. Three round gauge housings cluster beneath an eyebrow in front of the steering wheel. There are few surprises.

The rear seat is extremely spacious, with ample leg, hip and headroom for actual adult passengers. Three adults can sit comfortably for short trips.

On the Road: An unexpected aural treat

My favorite feature was a pleasant, unexpected surprise. The Lucerne's 4.6 liter Northstar V8 has the sweetest exhaust note -- a low, burbling sound that's beautiful music to a gearhead's ears. 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque driving the front wheels doesn't hurt the impression, either. This Buick isn't going to win any races, but it will certainly rocket off the line at a stoplight, and has power to spare when it comes time to pass another car.

The Lucerne has 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, 4-wheel independent suspension and magnetic variable assist rack-and-pinion power steering. My test car was equipped with GM's Stabilitrack system (a $495 option), and the ride was good, with controlled body roll and good road feel. The CXS version of the Lucerne can be fitted with Magnetic Ride Control, a real-time suspension damping system that should result in an even better, sportier ride.

The most impressive part of the Lucerne's ride is the quiet -- not quite Lexus quiet, but close. A quiet ride adds to the impression of luxury.

The Lucerne is a big car, which is never more apparent than in a parking lot. With a 42.2' turning radius, forget about making a quick U-turn, and watch out for that long overhang when parallel parking.

Journey's End: Go with the lederhosen

Elegance, attractiveness, blandness -- the Lucerne has all the features of its namesake city. If you need a large sedan, the Lucerne can do a very good job of carrying adult passengers in comfort and relative luxury, and get 17 mpg city/25 highway with a spunky V8. You owe it to yourself to look beyond Lucerne at some other choices.

The Toyota Avalon is the odds-on favorite in the field. Not that it's all that exciting, either. While you can't get a V8 in your Avalon, you'll get ample power and a lighter car that gets better gas mileage.

The Chrysler 300 is about as different from the Lucerne as you could get and still be in the same class. It features aggressive, in-your-face styling, rear-wheel drive and monster performance from its Hemi V8. Mercury's Grand Marquis/Ford's Crown Victoria are tired old designs, but still has some big fans.

German luxury is much more expensive for large sedans -- but take a look at the Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-series to see what you're missing.

If you decide on the Buick Lucerne, go all the way Swiss. Go with the cheese, the numbered bank accounts. Go with the Lederhosen. You'll have to be more interesting to counteract the blandness of your car.