What Is It?
2005 Buick Terraza
What's Special About It?
Just what we've all been waiting for; a Buick minivan. OK, all sarcasm aside it isn't such a reach to see Buick in the luxury family van market. Buick has had three new products in the past few years and guess what? None of them have been cars. What does that tell you? Uh huh, SUVs are still big like it or not. And speaking of SUVs, Buick is trying to market the new Terraza as a crossover van rather than just calling it a minivan. Technically they are referring to it as a crossover sport van or, you guessed it, CSV. At first it might seem shortsighted for Buick to field a luxury minivan, but consider the attractive and well-appointed Oldsmobile Silhouette that will soon be going away with the demise of the Olds brand. And consider the rather plush Chrysler Town and Country and the nearly Lexus-like Sienna XLE Limited and suddenly a luxo-van with Buick ride and comfort combined with seven-passenger seating doesn't seem so far fetched. If you like the idea of a Buick family van but find the exterior styling to induce the dry heaves, we can assure you the van looks much better in person than in photos. The front grille is trimmed with chrome and the rear of the car offers plenty of bright work as well.
Sure the Terraza is built off the same platform as GM's other minivans like the Saturn Relay and Chevrolet Uplander, but the addition of Buick's Quiet Tuning should set the van apart. By adding extra sound-dampening material and better isolating engine noise, Buick hopes discerning clientele will feel right at home in the Terraza. The 200-hp, 3.5-liter V6 also boasts a forged steel crank in an effort to improve the Terraza's refinement. To that end, Buick has adorned the Terraza's interior with plenty of leather and wood grain trim. The gauges are set against surrounding dark wood (we don't think it's real wood but it still looks upscale) and each round gauge is trimmed with a thin chrome ring. The double-stitched leather is softer than you'd find on a Pontiac or Chevrolet so the line between product offerings is less blurry and more distinct.
Inside, there is a useful roof rail system that offers a variety of solutions for storage and entertainment with the pieces being easily moved or added as the owner sees fit. Rear seats fold down in a 50/50-split and the second-row seats fold forward. Behind the third-row seats are spacious storage compartments with doors and the second row has storage bins that are built into the rear of the front seats. Increased versatility is found in the collapsible trays between the front seats and second-row captain's chairs — the trays also house cupholders.
Safety features such as traction control, stability control and OnStar are also a part of the Terraza's appeal. An all-wheel-drive version is available but the 200-hp V6 is the only engine choice.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Anyone looking for seven-passenger capacity but doesn't want to sacrifice comfort will find the Terraza interesting. With a loaded Sienna XLE topping $38,000, it only seems logical to seek out alternatives. Vans in the over-$30,000 category have been gaining in popularity, now Buick offers its take on the luxury minivan. — Brian Moody
2005 Buick Terraza
What's Special About It?
Just what we've all been waiting for; a Buick minivan. OK, all sarcasm aside it isn't such a reach to see Buick in the luxury family van market. Buick has had three new products in the past few years and guess what? None of them have been cars. What does that tell you? Uh huh, SUVs are still big like it or not. And speaking of SUVs, Buick is trying to market the new Terraza as a crossover van rather than just calling it a minivan. Technically they are referring to it as a crossover sport van or, you guessed it, CSV. At first it might seem shortsighted for Buick to field a luxury minivan, but consider the attractive and well-appointed Oldsmobile Silhouette that will soon be going away with the demise of the Olds brand. And consider the rather plush Chrysler Town and Country and the nearly Lexus-like Sienna XLE Limited and suddenly a luxo-van with Buick ride and comfort combined with seven-passenger seating doesn't seem so far fetched. If you like the idea of a Buick family van but find the exterior styling to induce the dry heaves, we can assure you the van looks much better in person than in photos. The front grille is trimmed with chrome and the rear of the car offers plenty of bright work as well.
Sure the Terraza is built off the same platform as GM's other minivans like the Saturn Relay and Chevrolet Uplander, but the addition of Buick's Quiet Tuning should set the van apart. By adding extra sound-dampening material and better isolating engine noise, Buick hopes discerning clientele will feel right at home in the Terraza. The 200-hp, 3.5-liter V6 also boasts a forged steel crank in an effort to improve the Terraza's refinement. To that end, Buick has adorned the Terraza's interior with plenty of leather and wood grain trim. The gauges are set against surrounding dark wood (we don't think it's real wood but it still looks upscale) and each round gauge is trimmed with a thin chrome ring. The double-stitched leather is softer than you'd find on a Pontiac or Chevrolet so the line between product offerings is less blurry and more distinct.
Inside, there is a useful roof rail system that offers a variety of solutions for storage and entertainment with the pieces being easily moved or added as the owner sees fit. Rear seats fold down in a 50/50-split and the second-row seats fold forward. Behind the third-row seats are spacious storage compartments with doors and the second row has storage bins that are built into the rear of the front seats. Increased versatility is found in the collapsible trays between the front seats and second-row captain's chairs — the trays also house cupholders.
Safety features such as traction control, stability control and OnStar are also a part of the Terraza's appeal. An all-wheel-drive version is available but the 200-hp V6 is the only engine choice.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Anyone looking for seven-passenger capacity but doesn't want to sacrifice comfort will find the Terraza interesting. With a loaded Sienna XLE topping $38,000, it only seems logical to seek out alternatives. Vans in the over-$30,000 category have been gaining in popularity, now Buick offers its take on the luxury minivan. — Brian Moody
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