Buick LaCrosse review

Buick goals with every new car seem to be the same: Get less indigestible and attract younger buyers. TV commercials do not help dull LaCrosse revised May, the cause, but the car that they should work. The grip is comfortable, luxurious and simply the best looking Buick since the Clinton administration. Above all, Buick has not happened in a sports sedan - something that nobody asked for the brand, and the temptation, I am glad not to be GM.

As General to carry out its mission? I would like to think so. I'm in my 20s and I want one.

Equipment options for the LaCrosse, including the base CX, CXL and CXS powerful. Four-wheel drive optional on the CXL. With this redesign, to beat LaCrosse to a new platform for Chevrolet Impala last year model. I test three equipment versions of the 2010 version performed, you can compare the 2009-version here.

A Better-Looking Buick

Especially in China, developed at the Buick strong sales, the stock is a good exercise is to be proportionate. The front far enough advanced that they give the car an appearance, awkward pancakes, but GM always comes away with it. I can not explain exactly say how, except that hides the face of the cars in front of a bulbous nose, so that it could not post the LaCrosse. Not an aesthetic I am, I only know when a car looks right, and not the new LaCrosse. You may not agree, but $ 10 says that most of you will not be. (In fact, I pay a journalist. Let's make that five dollars.)

All versions of LaCrosse have chrome accents on door handles, trunk and grille. Unfortunately, they also get the signature Buick portholes, mounted on a pole at the top of the hood on the left. Most of the audience agreed - these engines fake vents an otherwise sharp design undermined.

On the road

The LaCrosse leaves when you push him, but his skills from a brief stop, all-out sport sedan - fine by me, because nobody wanted to build the next BMW Buick. The LaCrosse CXS, the 3.6-liter V-6 from three GM SUV crossover line pack is also moving quickly from red lights like Lexus ES 350 ", ie, its power is strong, but not quite effortlessly.

The CXS "six speed automatic transmission upshifts smoothly takes over, it starts with a slight delay, but chooses a course and will remain so for the uninterruptible power supply, in passing, when you need it. In comparison, the ES 350 will appear automatically for the to hunt in the right speed.

The CX and CXL LaCrosse received a smaller 3.0-liter V-6, also with six-speed auto. Highway to power twice that much as we bring up the CX, but it takes a bit longer, because less power is immediately available when the light turns green.

The most striking difference is with all-wheel-drive. It is only on the CXL, and it adds only 180 pounds - light enough, like all-wheel-drive Systems Go - but enough to significantly reduce power on the fly. Buick says the four-wheel-drive CXL obtained with the introduction of the car, because it is the LaCrosse's best-selling trim level. I would like to see the CX and the larger V-6 now offers all-wheel-drive buyers can certainly be the sex appeal booster.

A four-cylinder engine later this year on the lacrosse CX. If the media preview of GM, there were no four-cylinder engine available for testing, but if we invite I'll be able to record my impressions. Buick EPA says fuel economy will develop at approximately 20/30 mpg city / highway - better than any competitors, but none of them offer the four-cylinder engines.

With front-wheel drive, the 3.0-liter V-6 is an EPA-estimated 17/26 mpg. This is comparable to the mileage in an Acura TL and Lincoln MKZ, albeit a little behind the ES. On the other side says, Buick, that his drives good race on regular fuel. The ES recommends premium and the TL have. This will save the drivers at the pump.

The EPA has not in the list of official figures for the other versions, but estimates have all-wheel-drive Buick LaCrosse mileage decreased compared to 16/26 mpg (with all-wheel-drive TL and MKZ) and the 3, 6-liter V -- 6 come in at 17/27 mpg. Buick also estimated that the 3.0-liter to 17/27, but not surprised when it came to be 17/26, when the carillon with its EPA rating.

Cruise, turning & Case

Ride comfort is still king Buick, and GM is a formula that should not change. The leaves behind LaCrosse manhole covers and steel plates with the kind of measured Wumpa you will notice, but do not care much. Taut suspension are rolling in vogue these days, cars like the Lincoln MKS, Nissan Altima and the Mercury Milan farm. It's nice to see, instead of the Buick line.

The wheel turns with Lexus-like softness, in parking lots, turning a two-finger case.

There are still playing in driving significant 12 hours on the road, but then you have to get used regular course corrections. On curvier roads, handling is not as sharp as razor blades as a true sport sedan - there's no steering slop and can roll on twisty roads, for example in a TL or Infiniti G37 - Buick, but fans in the sporting sense, this step can.

The LaCrosse CXS has a $ 800 Touring Package that replaces 19s for an adaptive suspension and standard 18-inch wheels added. It also includes a sports mode. While the players will be fitted in a group LaCrosse touring ride comfort was not significantly better than non-touring suspension. Road noise is more noticeable from ultra-quiet operation with lower estimates for "17 - and 18-inch wheels with significant 19-inchers with Touring Package.

Turn the sport in LaCrosse with the Touring Package, and select Automatic suspension in solid media at slow speed to maximize the speed and direction to help reduce power. On winding roads, the LaCrosse is much flatter in the corners, but in town you want to move the lever back on the road, otherwise the patches of rough pavement find their way to your back a little easier.