2010 Buick LaCrosse: Just a change in name?

That's just the start in assessing the allure of GM unit's luxury sedan

Sep 26, 2009

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Special to the Star

MONT-TREMBLANT, QUE.–My father had a Buick. My grandfather had a Buick. My great-grandfather probably would have had one too, except that the automobile hadn't been invented then.

I think everybody's grandfather had a Buick; the brand has one of the oldest owner demographics in the industry. GM wants to change that, and the 2010 LaCrosse has what it takes to do it – if the company can convince younger shoppers to get behind the wheel to see for themselves.

First things first: the name. This car is the all-new version of the Allure, and it went by that when the company first announced it. The model was always called LaCrosse in the U.S., but it's apparently a naughty slang term in French and was changed for the Quebec market. It costs a boatload of money to produce, advertise and sell a car under two names, and the company should have called it that from the very beginning. At least it's finally smartened up.

It's also smartened up about putting the right stuff in front of the buyer. Allure – which was made in Oshawa, but production has now moved to Kansas – was an okay car. LaCrosse is a really good one.

Two engines are currently available. A 3.0 L V6 powers the base CX, which starts at $32,745, and the mid-range CXL, starting at $34,745. The middle trim line is also the only one that adds all-wheel-drive, at $38,245. The top-line CXS uses a 3.6 L V6 and starts at $40,745. All come with a six-speed automatic transmission, and all run on regular-grade gasoline.

In December, there will also be a 182 hp, 2.4 L four-cylinder engine, price to be announced. I'm a little leery of the idea, since LaCrosse is heavy – the models range from 1,791 to 1,904 kg – but it's the same four-banger that powers the all-new Chevrolet Equinox, and I actually prefer it to the V6 in that vehicle. It will also share the six-speed transmission.

At 255 horsepower, the 3.0 L isn't as strong as the 280 hp 3.6 L, and you can feel a few shift points where the transmission is tuned more for economy than for performance. Still, in everyday use, especially in the city, this will probably be more than enough for most drivers; the company expects the front-wheel CXL to make up the bulk of sales.

If your wallet can take it, though, the top-line CXS offers the greatest driving pleasure. You can load it as high as $50,340 when you throw in every available option, including navigation, a rear-seat DVD with head-restraint-mounted screens, sunroof and rear-seat side airbags.

They're fine, but it's the $895 Touring Package that you really want. It adds 19-inch wheels, H-arm rear suspension (also used on the AWD model) for better stability, and a continuously variable automatic suspension that adapts for road conditions. A CXS so equipped hugged the curves on a winding road, soaked up bumps without floating, and basically outperformed a 2009 Lexus ES 350 that GM brought along for comparison.

I preferred the Lexus's more linear throttle tip-in; it feels more "on the muscle" than the Buick on acceleration. But for handling, brake pedal feel and interior quality, I found the Buick far better, and its seats were also considerably more comfortable. The Lexus is also more expensive than the top-line CXS starting price, at $41,900 for the 2010 ES350, although it racks up better fuel economy than the much heavier LaCrosse.

There's also solid competition from the Acura TL, Nissan Maxima and Toyota Avalon, all of which are more expensive, as well as the rear-wheel-drive Chrysler 300, Hyundai Genesis and Infiniti G37. And while I haven't yet driven the new Ford Taurus, I've been in one. It looks like a serious contender, starting between $29,999 and $40,699.

LaCrosse is also built in Korea and China for those markets. Buick is considered serious luxury in China, where executives are often chauffeur-driven. Designed specifically for that reason, the back seat is a very nice place to be, with considerable headroom and legroom, and supportive seats.

The attractive interior blends traditional and modern, with wood accents, blue ambient lighting, and several available technology features, including a side blind zone alert, rearview camera, adaptive headlights that turn with the wheels, and a head-up display that projects the vehicle speed and other select information onto the windshield.

There is some room for improvement. More soft-touch plastics would be nice, and the A-pillars are very wide and create a blind spot. A semi-circle of white stitching over the instrument cluster reflects annoyingly on the windshield (although it looks great everywhere else), and the centre console box is too high to be a comfortable armrest.

My biggest complaint is with the shift lever, which pulls back too far, making it tough to use the manual shift mode.

But it's bank-vault quiet, it handles better than any Buick I've ever driven, and it's got a great ride. If your grandfather buys one, ask to borrow it. You might just end up buying one of your own.

Toronto Star