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Buick Reviews
Impressions and critiques of
Buick products. Recommended vehicles are printed in
blue in the list of models, any
model shown in bold blue
was judged to be the best vehicle in its class.
(Model names printed with the reviews will not be colored
whether a vehicle is recommended or not.
See all Top Picks and Recommended
models by class.
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Buick Enclave
Available As: Midsize SUV
Base
Price Range (MSRP): $32,790-$37,040
Pros:
Interior space, ride, handling, refinement.
Cons:
Visibility, price.
Overall: A spacious and luxurious midsize
SUV that
Rating:
7/10
Recommended: YES
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Characteristic: |
Compared to Midsize SUVs |
Compared to All Vehicles |
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Seat
Comfort |
7/10 |
7/10 |
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Luxury |
7/10 |
7/10 |
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Practicality |
10/10 |
9/10 |
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Performance |
6/10 |
6/10 |
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Fuel
Economy |
8/10 |
4/10 |
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Safety |
Unknown |
Unknown |
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Price |
5/10 |
5/10 |
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The
Enclave is an uplevel version of the
GMC Acadia
and Saturn Outlook. All are comfortable,
spacious, and refined, and for a higher price
tag, the Enclave adds a touch more refinement,
ride comfort, and interior quality. None are
particularly powerful, however, and rearward
visibility could be better. But most
significantly, while the three SUVs are largely
similar, the Enclave has by far the highest
price. Look to the other two before buying one,
and come back to the Enclave only after deciding
that its slight upgrades were worth it.
Another
excellent midsize SUV to consider is the
Ford
Taurus X, which is quiet but otherwise
un-luxurious, but is well-priced, comfortable,
safe, and spacious, though it doesn't have quite
as much cargo space as the Acadia. The
Hyundai Veracruz has a luxurious interior and a very
quiet ride, and is roomy and comfortable, but
isn't as agile or spacious as the Acadia, and
lacks a price advantage. The
Honda Pilot is a
roomy, somewhat utilitarian SUV that lacks the
Acadia's luxury but is all-around competent. The
Mazda CX-9 is the class leader for consumers
interested in nimble handling, and the
Chrysler
Pacifica is a good value alternative, but
neither are as roomy as the Acadia. And, for
those willing to consider them, minivans are
excellent alternatives to FWD car-based midsize
SUVs. Note that these vehicles do not do the
same off-road or towing duty as good truck-based
models, like the Nissan Pathfinder or larger
models like the
Dodge Durango and
Ford
Expedition.
See all Midsize SUVs |
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Buick LaCrosse
Available As: Midsize/large sedan
Base
Price Range (MSRP): $23,940-$32,070
Pros:
Interior quality, refinement, ride comfort.
Cons:
Rear seat space, seat shape, fuel economy, safety ratings.
Overall: A large car with a small back seat
needs more redeeming qualities than the LaCrosse
offers.
Rating:
5/10
Recommended: NO
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Characteristic: |
Compared to Midsize Sedans |
Compared to All Vehicles |
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Seat
Comfort |
5/10 |
6/10 |
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Luxury |
8/10 |
8/10 |
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Practicality |
5/10 |
6/10 |
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Performance |
5/10 |
5/10 |
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Fuel
Economy |
3/10 |
6/10 |
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Safety |
3/10 |
4/10 |
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Price |
3/10 |
6/10 |
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The
LaCrosse is an improvement over the huge floaty
barges that represent the stereotypical Buick,
but it has lost too much in the transition. The
soft, comfortable, quiet ride remains, the
quality of the interior has been upgraded, and
handling has improved dramatically, particularly
for the top-of-the-line CXS version. But sit in
the rear seat of this car, and you'll find a
startlingly small amount of leg and head space
on a low, uncomfortable seat. The LaCrosse needs
something to offset the compromised agility, gas
mileage, and price that comes with the larger
size, and a rear seat that is no more
comfortable than a Honda Civic's is the opposite
of what it needs.
A good all-around
large family car is the
Ford Taurus, which is very roomy and handles well, and
is priced comparably to the LaCrosse, but lacks
some of this Buick's refinement and interior quality.
Consumers willing to spend a bit more to get a
much nicer car should look at the
Hyundai Azera
and
Kia Amanti,
which offer the same benefits as the LaCrosse
with much more spacious and comfortable
interiors, more power , and better
safety ratings and more safety equipment. And
consumers looking for comfort on a budget should
consider the
Hyundai
Sonata and
Kia Optima, which have more interior
space than the LaCrosse and can be purchased
reasonably equipped for under $17,000.
See all Midsize
Cars
See all Large
Sedans
See
the 2008 LaCrosse CXL in the IFCAR Premium
Family Sedan Comparison Test
See
the 2007 LaCrosse CX in the IFCAR Inexpensive
Family Sedan Comparison Test
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Buick Lucerne
Available As: Large sedan,
Entry-lux sedan
Base
Price Range (MSRP): $26,925-$38,630
Pros:
Interior comfort, ride comfort, refinement.
Cons:
Fuel economy, acceleration (V6).
Overall: Comfort, quiet, quality, and space
without excess handling slop.
Rating:
7/10
Recommended: YES
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Characteristic: |
Compared to Large Sedans |
Compared to All Vehicles |
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Seat
Comfort |
9/10 |
8/10 |
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Luxury |
8/10 |
8/10 |
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Practicality |
7/10 |
6/10 |
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Performance |
6/10 |
6/10 |
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Fuel
Economy |
3/10 |
4/10 |
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Safety |
6/10 |
7/10 |
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Price |
4/10 |
5/10 |
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The
Lucerne is one of the better large sedans on the
market. With particularly well-shaped seats, a
very comfortable ride and acceptable handling,
good interior quality, and excellent sound
insulation, it is passable not only in the
mainstream large sedan class with its base
versions but also in the entry-lux class where
fully-loaded models compete. (The Lucerne shares
its mechanicals with the Cadillac DTS.) A V6 and
V8 are available, but the Lucerne is too heavy
for the V6 to offer sufficient power, the V8 is
still outgunned by some competing 6-cylinders,
and neither engine returns particularly good gas
mileage. The top-of-the-line (V8-only) CXS model
includes GM's "magnetic ride control" which
reduces body roll at the expense of some ride
softness. Overall, the Lucerne is a very strong
car, particularly with the optional V8.
However,
the Lucerne isn't cheap. For comfort and luxury
on a budget, consider the Hyundai Azera
and Kia Amanti,
which also offer more power and better fuel
economy than the V8 Lucerne for a much lower
price, though they do not offer the Lucerne's
navigation system. For a focus on comfort and
fuel efficiency in a large luxurious sedan at a
similar price point, consider the Toyota Avalon,
which offers excellent power and surprising gas
mileage, along with most of the Lucerne's strong
points. However, the Lucerne has better-shaped
seats and is slightly more agile, particularly
in the CXS version. And for a lot of space on a
tighter budget, consider the Ford Taurus,
which is very roomy but lacks a luxury feel.
See all Large
Sedans
See all Entry-Lux
Cars
See the 2006 Lucerne CXL
V6 in the IFCAR Large Sedan Comparison Test
See the 2006 Lucerne CXL
V8 in the IFCAR Large Sedan Comparison Test
See the 2006 Lucerne CXS
V8 in the IFCAR Luxury Un-Sport Sedan Comparison
Test
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