Buick LaCrosse Test Drive Reviews
2017 Buick LaCrosse
The 2017 Buick LaCrosse is all-new for the model year and it really shows. Especially inside. In years past, it's been little more than a Chevrolet Impala with lipstick, but it's now definitely differentiated from the Chevy, at least on the inside. Our chief complaint about the LaCrosse is its plain and fairly boring exterior look.
Once inside the LaCrosse, that impression changes immediately. This sedan has one of the more well-done interiors we've seen in any sedan segment. That's backed up with a confident drive dynamic and smart fuel economy thanks to the tried-and-true drivetrain underneath the car.
The 2017 LaCrosse is now truly competitive with both top-level sedans and entry-level luxury models and finally hits the sweet spot Buick has long aimed for. This is an excellent car that definitely deserves our high rating.
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2016 Buick LaCrosse
The 2016 Buick LaCrosse full size sedan is the quintessential lame duck. This is the last year for the current shape LaCrosse as a sexy, svelte and game changing 2017 model is waiting in the wings as "the new face of Buick." In fact, the future is looking quite rosy for Buick thanks to the new Cascada convertible, upcoming Envision midsize crossover and exciting concepts like the Avista coupe which was unveiled at this year's Detroit Auto Show.
But in a world where pre and post-bankruptcy GM are known as the "Old GM" and the "New GM," the current LaCrosse sedan manages to have its feet planted firmly in both eras with design and engineering elements that were disappointingly old school but with quality controls much more in keeping with the competition. Beyond roominess, comfort and a general level of competence on par with its low key competition, the 2016 Buick LaCrosse lacks any real X-Factor or draw to make it stand out in the marketplace.
No mention of "old GM" can be made without a vehicle naming mishap story. As was true with the Chevy Nova sold for decades in Latin American countries with the name "Chevy doesn't start" in Spanish, LaCrosse apparently means "to pleasure oneself" in the parlance of French speakers in Quebec, Canada where the car is built. How General Motors, which calls this sedan something else now in Quebec, missed this fact is still a mystery perhaps only someone at "Old GM" could explain.
As the 2016 Buick LaCrosse has been on sale now in its current form for quite a long time now, our fair to middling response to it could only be expected when such an exciting and sexy redesign is just one model year away.
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2013 Buick LaCrosse
The 2013 Buick LaCrosse is doing a lot toward changing Buick's image as strictly a vehicle for your grandpa and grandma. After making its debut for the 2005 model year it is now in its second generation of production. It now receives a beefier body and sleeker roof than its predecessors. The windows have narrowed, which has limited rear driver visibility slightly; but the front end now features a wider, more dominant grille, giving it a much more aggressive look.
The 2013 Buick LaCrosse is a midsize luxury sedan that deserves serious consideration by all those shopping in this segment. This year's model is unchanged from the 2012 version, but does feature Buick's new IntelliLink communications system.
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What to consider in buying a used Buick LaCrosse?
The Buick LaCrosse is a large premium-segment sedan that was introduced in the 2005 model year. Serving as the flagship for the premium brand's lineup, the LaCrosse is already in its third generation. The first-generation LaCrosse is a midsize sedan that briefly replaced the Regal and permanently replaced the Century in Buick's lineup. LaCrosse models from 2010 forward are considered full-sized sedans rather than midsize, though they fit somewhere in between the two designations.
The first-generation LaCrosse was introduced in 2005 and offered with a 3.8-liter V6 or a 3.6-liter V6 engine option, both with a four-speed automatic transmission. Canadian versions of the LaCrosse were called the Buick Allure in this generation. A light facelift was given to the LaCrosse in 2008 and a Super trim model was offered for that year only as a sportier build with a beefier 5.3-liter V8 borrowed from the Chevrolet Impala SS and Monte Carlo SS models.
The second-generation LaCrosse, introduced in the 2010 model year, saw the car significantly changed as it grew in size and improved in both fitment and refinement. Still called the Allure in Canada, this new-generation Buick LaCrosse was sportier, more visually striking, and had a much more upscale interior. A four-cylinder engine (2.4-liter) was introduced as a base option with a 3.0- and 3.6-liter V6 being also available on certain trim levels or as upgrades. The transmission remained a six-speed automatic no matter the engine choice. The 2010 model year also began the Buick LaCrosse's assembly at the Kansas City, Kansas plant, moving from the Canadian plant it had been built in before.
The 2017 model year begins the third generation of the LaCrosse, featuring a lighter platform and more European-ish styling. Aimed at a global market, especially the Chinese market where it is a best seller, the LaCrosse has a new look, new power plant options, new transmission, and a renewed emphasis on technology. It also introduces the new tri-color Buick emblem to the North American market.
The Buick LaCrosse has always been noted for its safety in crash tests. Most problems are reported in the first-generation car, especially the 2005-2008 model years, with high-mileage transmission issues and low-mileage starting electronics failures. Competitors to the LaCrosse include the well-received Toyota Avalon and Lexus ES, and the sportier Chrysler 300.
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