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The LaCrosse is a larger
vehicle than most of the other cars in this group, and even handles reasonably
well against its smaller competitors’ standards. Add on a very comfortable and
quiet ride to its list of strong points, as well as a very high-quality
interior, some may wonder what kept it relatively far back in this comparison.
One major issue is that as a larger car, is more expensive than most of the
others here, yet it lacks large-car benefits. The rear seat is neither roomy
nor comfortable, and the trunk is no larger than many cheaper competitors’. An
interior with less space even than most midsize cars combined with a
large-sedan price tag is not a welcome combination, and it was enough to sink
this otherwise capable vehicle in this highly-competitive group.
The LaCrosse has a very
comfortable ride. It’s not as soft as the Buick name would suggest, but is
still very absorbent and well-controlled. Despite its size and ride comfort,
it also handles capably. While reasonably agile, with well-controlled body
roll and accurate, responsive steering, it still feels like a big car, and
isn’t exactly fun to drive. Road, wind, and engine noise are very well
subdued, though what can be heard of the standard 3.8-liter V6 during hard
acceleration isn’t as pleasant as the engine note found in some competitors.
The car’s weight prevents it from being one of the quickest cars in this
class, but it has very good off-the-line acceleration and decent passing
power. Gas mileage is not impressive in this group, not surprisingly.
Inside, the LaCrosse’s
front seats aren’t particularly comfortable. They have good lateral support
and a long seat cushion, though they are a bit low and soft, and there could
be more headroom. And the rear is one of the least comfortable in this group,
despite the LaCrosse’s exterior size. Head and leg room are lacking, and the
low seat cushion is also too short. Feet will fit easily under the front
seats, at least. The interior, which is shared almost unchanged with versions
of the vehicle with sticker prices close to $35,000, is the nicest in this
group, with an upscale appearance, excellent materials quality, and impressive
panel fit. The
gauges are large and very clear, and while the instruments are laid out well,
many buttons are too small and lack contrast against the rest of the center
stack. Drivers sit very comfortably, but rearward visibility is inhibited by
small windows and thick roof pillars. Entry/exit is easy enough to the front
seats, but the sloped roofline and small door openings complicate rear access.
The trunk’s opening could be larger, but it is reasonably large and
well-shaped.
The LaCrosse earned five
stars for both the driver and for the front passenger in the NHTSA frontal
crash test. A LaCrosse tested without the now-standard side airbags earned a
mediocre three stars for both the driver and for the rear passenger in the
NHTSA side crash test, but the car hasn’t been tested with the airbags. The
IIHS awarded the vehicle a Best Pick rating in its offset crash test, but
deemed its head restraints to be Poor. The IIHS has yet to conduct a side
crash test on the vehicle.
The LaCrosse reviewed here
came reasonably well-equipped at $20,955, barely within the price limit for
this group. That price included standard antilock brakes with traction
control, an OnStar accident notification system, a power driver’s seat, and
curtain-style head-protecting side airbags, and an optional remote starting
system. Such items as torso-protecting side airbags and stability control
aren’t offered, but most other features can be added to the vehicle, just not
within this price range.
Overall, the LaCrosse is a
generally impressive vehicle, and is the most upscale vehicle in this class.
It has a very comfortable and very quiet ride, and impressive interior
quality. Fault the car’s seats for its disappointing finish here, particularly
its lack of rear seat space. With an interior volume more in line with the
car’s exterior size, the LaCrosse’s fairly high price would be more easily
justified.
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