What Is It?
2005 Buick LaCrosse
What's Special About It?
Although it has little in common with the concept car introduced four years ago at the 2000 North American International Auto Show, the 2005 LaCrosse production car should do much for Buick's fortunes in the cutthroat family sedan segment. It's a direct replacement for the Regal and its budget-oriented Century twin, but a new engine, a higher-quality interior, a longer equipment list and a reworked suspension should allow it to move uptown in image if not in price.
On the outside, the LaCrosse blends traditional Buick styling cues — a softly curved hood and a vertical-slat grille — with current-day trends. The twin headlamps call to mind the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, while the pull handles on the doors make the LaCrosse look like a contemporary of competing midsize sedans — always a plus for a Buick. Inside, designers have equipped the new sedan with a modern control layout, interlocking analog gauges and liberal amounts of wood grain trim. The LaCrosse also benefits from the same kind of "QuietTuning" that went into the 2004 Rainier, and to that end, it has plenty of sound-deadening material in all the key areas, acoustical laminate on the glass and tightened body panel gap tolerances, according to Buick. Improving materials quality was another priority, and the company proudly points out that the woven fabric used for the headliner was benchmarked against European sedans. As in the Century, buyers will have a choice between front buckets and a bench seat, yielding either five- or six-passenger capacity. The LaCrosse lineup will include an entry-level CX model, a luxury-oriented CXL model and a sporty CXS model. The CX starts out with the basics — cloth upholstery, a power driver seat and a six-speaker CD stereo — while the CXL and CXS come with soft, gathered leather upholstery. Among the available equipment are a remote start feature (as on the Chevrolet Malibu), an MP3-compatible stereo and satellite radio.
Although Buicks aren't normally known for their inspiring performance, the LaCrosse should rise above its brethren. The 200-horsepower, 3.8-liter (3800) V6 returns to the lineup as the base engine, but the company says that engineers took extensive measures to ensure smoother, quieter operation. Additionally, adoption of electronic throttle control should make it more responsive underfoot. Best of all, it meets the stringent Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) standard. Exclusive to the CXS model is a new 3.6-liter DOHC V6. Aided by continuously variable valve timing, it should make about 240 hp and 230 pound-feet of torque. We've already sampled this V6 in the rear-drive Cadillac CTS and have found it to be a refined and potent motor. For better or for worse, a four-speed automatic remains the only transmission choice.
The LaCrosse rides on the same front strut/rear trilink suspension as the outgoing Regal and Century, but approximately 80 percent of the components have been retuned to balance the supple ride quality that traditional Buick buyers expect against the controlled handling that mainstream midsize sedan buyers expect. CX and CXL models wear 16-inch wheels; the CXS has 17s at each corner. The StabiliTrak stability control system is available on the CXS, and when selected, the LaCrosse scores the second-generation Magnasteer system, which takes steering angle (in addition to vehicle speed) into account when apportioning power assist. Other than StabiliTrak, safety equipment includes full-length side curtain airbags and a reverse-sensing system — both are optional.
What's Edmunds' Take?
In recent years, the Regal and Century have ceased to be major players in the family sedan segment — outside of rental car fleets, anyway. Although the LaCrosse won't be in a position to knock off the Toyota Camry, its attractive styling, modern cabin design, available overhead cam V6 and more composed handling should do their part to increase Buick's presence in this segment. And if the new sedan's build and materials quality really is as good as the company claims, even dedicated import buyers will have reason to test-drive a LaCrosse. - Erin Riches
2005 Buick LaCrosse
What's Special About It?
Although it has little in common with the concept car introduced four years ago at the 2000 North American International Auto Show, the 2005 LaCrosse production car should do much for Buick's fortunes in the cutthroat family sedan segment. It's a direct replacement for the Regal and its budget-oriented Century twin, but a new engine, a higher-quality interior, a longer equipment list and a reworked suspension should allow it to move uptown in image if not in price.
On the outside, the LaCrosse blends traditional Buick styling cues — a softly curved hood and a vertical-slat grille — with current-day trends. The twin headlamps call to mind the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, while the pull handles on the doors make the LaCrosse look like a contemporary of competing midsize sedans — always a plus for a Buick. Inside, designers have equipped the new sedan with a modern control layout, interlocking analog gauges and liberal amounts of wood grain trim. The LaCrosse also benefits from the same kind of "QuietTuning" that went into the 2004 Rainier, and to that end, it has plenty of sound-deadening material in all the key areas, acoustical laminate on the glass and tightened body panel gap tolerances, according to Buick. Improving materials quality was another priority, and the company proudly points out that the woven fabric used for the headliner was benchmarked against European sedans. As in the Century, buyers will have a choice between front buckets and a bench seat, yielding either five- or six-passenger capacity. The LaCrosse lineup will include an entry-level CX model, a luxury-oriented CXL model and a sporty CXS model. The CX starts out with the basics — cloth upholstery, a power driver seat and a six-speaker CD stereo — while the CXL and CXS come with soft, gathered leather upholstery. Among the available equipment are a remote start feature (as on the Chevrolet Malibu), an MP3-compatible stereo and satellite radio.
Although Buicks aren't normally known for their inspiring performance, the LaCrosse should rise above its brethren. The 200-horsepower, 3.8-liter (3800) V6 returns to the lineup as the base engine, but the company says that engineers took extensive measures to ensure smoother, quieter operation. Additionally, adoption of electronic throttle control should make it more responsive underfoot. Best of all, it meets the stringent Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) standard. Exclusive to the CXS model is a new 3.6-liter DOHC V6. Aided by continuously variable valve timing, it should make about 240 hp and 230 pound-feet of torque. We've already sampled this V6 in the rear-drive Cadillac CTS and have found it to be a refined and potent motor. For better or for worse, a four-speed automatic remains the only transmission choice.
The LaCrosse rides on the same front strut/rear trilink suspension as the outgoing Regal and Century, but approximately 80 percent of the components have been retuned to balance the supple ride quality that traditional Buick buyers expect against the controlled handling that mainstream midsize sedan buyers expect. CX and CXL models wear 16-inch wheels; the CXS has 17s at each corner. The StabiliTrak stability control system is available on the CXS, and when selected, the LaCrosse scores the second-generation Magnasteer system, which takes steering angle (in addition to vehicle speed) into account when apportioning power assist. Other than StabiliTrak, safety equipment includes full-length side curtain airbags and a reverse-sensing system — both are optional.
What's Edmunds' Take?
In recent years, the Regal and Century have ceased to be major players in the family sedan segment — outside of rental car fleets, anyway. Although the LaCrosse won't be in a position to knock off the Toyota Camry, its attractive styling, modern cabin design, available overhead cam V6 and more composed handling should do their part to increase Buick's presence in this segment. And if the new sedan's build and materials quality really is as good as the company claims, even dedicated import buyers will have reason to test-drive a LaCrosse. - Erin Riches
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