I’ve been hearing some really good things about Buick’s new Lacrosse and at the NYIAS I finally had the chance to check one out. For the last 30 years I think it was a prerequisite that you needed to be on deaths door before you put down a deposit on a new Buick. Grandparents were generally the only buyers of these things and the only reason they kept coming back was because they’d been driving Buick’s since the 1950’s. This is an image that Buick is desperately trying to shake by offering new models designed for younger buyers.
The Lacrosse is one example of their new strategy. Upon entering the Lacrosse you’ll notice it’s a large sedan and will easily seat 5 adults with no issues. The interior is also top notch and could be compared to anything you’d find in a Lexus or Infiniti. All the controls are accessible and easy to reach and leg room is abundant. What I really like about the Lacrosse though is that it feels like a luxury car. The leather is soft, the fit and finish of the dash panels are great and the materials used have a nice substantial feel to them. Seriously, Buick has put some time into this thing.
The exterior though is simply “ok” in my opinion. Yes, it’s more stylish than say a Honda Accord, but it lacks the visual “OOMPH!” of say a new Ford Taurus. Don’t get me wrong, this car is by no means ugly, I just wish it was a bit more edgy. Power wise you have a choice of 2 engines. A 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, with 182 HP or a 255 horsepower V6. With a car this size, I would definitely opt for the latter.
The Lacrosse can also be offered up with AWD and any list of interior accessories that include navigation, satellite radio, heated seats, etc… it’s got everything if you want it. Keep in mind though that when you start adding on the options the price will climb and at $36,000 this Buick is not cheap. The big question really though is, would I buy one? Honestly… I don’t think so. Yes, Buick is trying to revamp their image and this is a good thing, I just think they have a few more models to go before they hit their intended mark.