2010 Buick LaCrosse vs. 2009 Lexus ES 350 Comparison Test Video

2010 Buick LaCrosse vs. 2009 Lexus ES 350 Comparison Test Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published October 14, 2009

4:6 min

The impressive new 2010 Buick LaCrosse takes on the 2009 Lexus ES 350 in this comparison test. The result is likely to surprise you.

2010 Buick LaCrosse vs. 2009 Lexus ES 350 Comparison Test Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published October 14, 2009

4:6 min

Admit it, each time you see a Buick or Lexus sedan, you instantly think of wine bars and smooth jazz. Granted, a comparison of the new 2010 LaCrosse CXS and the 2009 ES350 won’t include Nurburgring lap times or dyno testing but that doesn’t mean these cars don’t have their place.

Think these cars not as a penalty box but instead a sanctuary from the outside world. Suddenly, a car like the Lexus ES 350 makes a lot more sense. It isn’t the sexiest or most capable Lexus but it has typically been one of the company’s best-selling models. It’s also gone somewhat unchallenged – until now.

Spend just 5 minutes behind the wheel of the all-new 2010 Buick LaCrosse and it’s obvious that the Lexus and GM’s newest sedan are very similar – It’s also obvious the Buick is better.

First of all, the standard heated/ventilated leather front seats in the LaCrosse CXS are far more comfortable and supportive than the ES 350's optional seats. Plus, Buick’s seats look better too with handsome double stitching.  Meanwhile leather isn’t even standard for the Lexus.

Those seats are just the beginning of a long list of standard and optional features on the CXS. And even with a navigation system, real-time traffic information, premium audio, and dual-zone climate control, the Buick is about $4600 LESS EXPENSIVE than the Lexus with very similar features inside. The Lexus, however, does offer one high-tech audio feature you just can’t get with the Buick.

When it comes to driving dynamics, the Lexus has one subtle but distinct advantage over the Buick, because its 3.5 liter V6 is simply quieter and feels more powerful.

With 272 hp, the Lexus V6 is, in fact, NOT more powerful, but it feels like it because the Buick’s 280 hp direct injection V6 has almost 500 extra pounds to carry around. So where the Buick takes 7.5 seconds to get from 0-60, the Lexus needs only 6.9, and that’s a noticeable advantage when it comes to passing on the highway.

The Lexus ES 350 also returns better combined fuel economy too – 18.5 mpg for the Buick against 21 for the Lexus.

Buick strikes back in terms of ride and handling. Its controlled ride is far more soothing than that of the squishy Lexus. The LaCrosse CXS also has standard self-adjusting shocks and they do an excellent job of damping out impacts. By comparison, the Lexus feels alternately soggy and bouncy.

The Buick might have the advantage here because our LaCrosse CXS includes the $800 Touring Package – a smoking deal that includes bigger wheels plus transmission, steering and suspension upgrades.

At first, this comparison appeared to be a put-up-or-shut-up proposition for Buick. Instead, it has resulted in an embarrassment for Lexus. The two entry-level luxury sedans effectively tied in our performance tests but everyplace else—evaluation scores, feature content, and especially price—the all-new Buick LaCrosse walks away from the 2009 Lexus ES 350 with a decisive victory.

Not so long ago, a Buick/Lexus comparison would have been pointless, and frankly we even questioned Buick’s need to exist at all. Sure, Buick owners will still have to endure jokes about easy-listening music or borrowing their dad’s car, but not for long. And that’s because the 2010 Buick LaCrosse is nothing less than a game-changing, brand-defining automobile that will forever change the way Buick is perceived.