The 2010 Buick LaCrosse will go head-to-head against competitors like the Lexus ES 350, which Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays calls a “formidable opponent.” Having already inspected the interior in a separate video, Mays now takes the LaCrosse on the road to see how its ride quality compares to its Japanese counterpart. Watch his full video review for the verdict.
2010|Buick|LaCrosse
“Vitality” recently purchased a 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS and has become a big LaCrosse fan. As GM tries to build Buick into a heavy hitter in the luxury market, it will need fans like “Vitality” singing the brand’s praises. However, there’s always room for improvement, and this reviewer points out the flaws — both inside and under the hood — that Buick overlooked. He also mentions getting rebates on the brand-new model. Read the full review and then post your own here.
To win the award, a vehicle must earn a “Good” rating, which is the highest, in all three of IIHS’ crash tests, which include frontal-offset, side-impact and rear crash tests. The vehicles also must have electronic stability control.
Stability control is optional in the Versa, so only models equipped with the option received the top rating. It’s standard on the LaCrosse.
2010|Nissan|Versa
2010|Buick|LaCrosse
As we reported earlier, GM deep-sixed a new crossover model just weeks after announcing it would join the Buick lineup. We asked Susan Docherty, general manager of Buick-GMC, what that leaves for Buick. She said the five-seater — which was never named — failed in the eyes of media and Buick owners because of execution, not concept. “I do think we need a vehicle that size," she said, "but it can’t be a rebadged Saturn Vue.”
Docherty said Buick plans to build a “baby Enclave,” which will have five seats but is different than the mothballed Vue clone. Her crystal ball says Buick's lineup circa 2011 will include, at minimum the following three sedans and two crossovers.
"I'm not saying we can't bring other things into the portfolio," Docherty said, "but in terms of the transformation taking place at this brand, I think this is an awfully good start." One of four remaining GM brands, Buick takes the premium space between Chevrolet and Cadillac, with Acura and Lexus as stated target competitors. "We need to hit every entry out of the park," she said. "It needs to be world-class. That [Vue-based crossover] wasn't perceived as being world-class, so we made the decision to take it out."
If Buick wants to be known as more than your grandpa’s brand, it’s going to have to design a car that won’t raise those associations for younger buyers. They may have hit the nail on the head with the new 2010 Buick LaCrosse. Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays took the LaCrosse around town to decide if it could appeal to a crowd that wants nothing to do with the early-bird special.
GM will use LED daytime running lights as a way to add visual distinction to its vehicles, according to a conversation Car and Driver’s Steve Siler had with Jim Federico, GM’s vehicle line executive for midsize cars like the Chevy Malibu and Cadillac CTS.
The LEDs appear in the new Buick LaCrosse and give the headlamps an opportunity to distinguish GM products. It’s a design strategy that can be seen on most Audis, and will now be a trend across GM’s four remaining brands.
What do you think of vehicle designs that incorporate LED taillights and headlights? Will it help?
GM Design Future Looking Bright Thanks to LEDs (Car and Driver)
GM announced today that its all-new LaCrosse will get 30 mpg on the highway thanks to the direct-injection four-cylinder from the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain. Via webcast, GMC-Buick vice president Susan Docherty said that makes it the “most efficient premium sedan” in its segment — including cars like the Acura TL, Lexus ES 350, Lincoln MKZ and Toyota Avalon, she later added.
The four-cylinder, which makes 182 hp, will come only on the base LaCrosse CX, with the midlevel CXL and top-dog CXS getting 255-hp or 280-hp V-6s. All three engines have six-speed automatics. GM estimates EPA certification of about 20/30 mpg city/highway for the four-cylinder, chief engineer Chris Meagher said. Once the four-cylinders hit dealership lots, it could be responsible for 25% of all LaCrosse sales, GM says.
Pricing for the four-cylinder model hasn't been announced, but the 2010 LaCrosse CX with the V-6 starts at $27,085; given the $1,500 cost difference between the same two engines on the Chevy Equinox, we’d estimate the four-cylinder will start in the $25,000 range. All three recommend regular unleaded gasoline, vehicle line director Jeanne Merchant said; several would-be competitors sip premium. Here’s how the trims stack up:
At GMC’s New York auto show display last week, we asked spokesman Randy Fox for more details about the automaker’s latest engine, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that helps the GMC Terrain and Chevy Equinox achieve 21/30 mpg city/highway with front-wheel drive, according to preliminary EPA estimates. If the numbers pan out, that means the Terrain and Equinox will beat the thriftiest versions of the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4 (both 22/28 mpg), as well as the Nissan Rogue (22/27) and Honda CR-V (20/27).
That’s just the beginning. The four-cylinder is a modular engine that will also make its way under the hood of the redesigned Buick LaCrosse, Fox said. How about the Chevy Malibu? Fox said it’s a possibility.
With fuel-saving — and power-increasing — direct injection, the engine makes 182 hp in the Equinox and Terrain. If that means the Malibu could make equivalent power (its four-cylinder currently makes 169 hp), that could help with highway passing — and bump mileage beyond the car’s current 22/33 mpg EPA rating. Unlike the horsepower wars, the mileage wars are something we can get behind. Ford stole the title of thriftiest non-hybrid family car with the 23/34 mpg Fusion. Can GM leapfrog that? We’ll have to wait and see.
Buick announced that the base 2010 LaCrosse luxury sedan will start at $27,085. Other trim levels include the CXL FWD for $29,645, the CXL AWD for $31,820 and the CXS for $33,015. We guessed at a $28,000 starting price when the car debuted in January.
The LaCrosse looks to offer a lot of value at that price. The Acura TSX is one of the few entry-level luxury cars that competes in the price range, starting at $29,160. The new VW CC is another new model that offers similar power and amenities. It starts at $27,100 and is selling well.
The 2010 LaCrosse is scheduled to begin production this summer.
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