Resurrection: GMI Drives 2011 Buick LaCrosse CXL
Buick jumps into the luxury segment to tackle the Japanese
www.GMInsidenews.com
January 16th, 2011
By: Alexander Villani
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It was not long ago that Buick was considered to be a dead brand. I myself even claimed that this brand was on its last leg, as that every car, even the newest models, were already so far behind the competition that it seemed as if it was a graveyard. With most cars wearing the Buick badge being based on decade or older chassis, using engines that you can trace beyond the Nixon Administration, it almost as if there was no hope for this brand. Sure, some really great looking concepts debuted at auto shows such as the Velite convertible, but that never made it to the sales floor. That changed in 2006 when Buick displayed a very production looking crossover vehicle, the Enclave, in Detroit. The cars design was very bold, compared to the boring and bland cars that took up floor space around it. The smooth body lines, the intricate head lights, and chrome trim really caught the eyes of many. The interior of this luxury ute was just as impressive, with high definition wood grain and supple leather covering most of everything else.
This crossover struck a chord with auto critics and when the light was given for production, Buick brought us the Enclave, mirroring the concept almost exactly. At the same time, Buick also saw a massive increase in sales from its Chinese buyers, slowly becoming one of the top selling brands in the country. Was it possible that Buick had a chance to be reborn? If it was, it would need a flagship sedan, something that could stand out on its own. It needed to tackle the well entrenched Japanese luxury cars here at home, but remain an American brand. This car also had to appeal to Chinese buyers. With the help of a true global engineering and design team, Buick launched the Lacrosse. This car was to be Buick’s entry back into the luxury sedan market, a market that it dominated for so long. Could this get the job done? Well, we got a chance to drive it, so let us see what its all about.
![Image]()
A cold winter day brings us the Buick Lacrosse, just in time for Christmas. What a better color to bring Christmas cheer than in the beautiful Red Jewel Tincoat that really ties it in with the holidays. The sweep spear that highlights the side of the car pops, giving the sexy sedan a sultry stance. This line ties in the jeweled headlights up front with the ruby red tail lights outlined in chrome out back. Up front, the chrome and brushed metal-look grille gives this luxury car a beautiful face. The car stands on 18 inch alloy wheels, but they look too small for this car, and that is due to this cars visual heft. The car looks solid and heavy, and that is reinforced every time you close the door and are greeted with a solid seal as if you were closing a large Oak door to an old house. This is not nearly as sporty looking as its smaller sister, the Regal, and that is a good thing. Great in fact, because this car is not supposed to be a sports sedan, but a luxury cruiser. The integrated side repeaters merge right into the side view mirrors without looking like an afterthought. Even the chrome strip at the bottom of the door is very classy without being too much. It helps break up the brilliant red color. Same goes for the detailed vent ports in the hood. While this car was equipped with the 2.4 liter four cylinder direct injection engine, it was wearing the three-pot trim. Nevertheless, they help accent the hood lines as well as add a little visual delight.
![Image]()
Inside is really where the fun begins. It is the main focus of this car, honestly. The car we have here is just about as fully loaded as one could get this car. Starting with the keyless entry, it sets the tone that this car is nothing like you have seen from Buick before. The car senses the key-fob in your pocket, and will unlock the door for you as you pull on the chrome-trimmed door handle. The fob is still the GM switchblade one found in almost every new GM car now and even it has a very quality feel to it, as well as some heft. You never have to remove it from your pocket or purse. Some might think this is a bit of a gimmicky doo-dad but on a cold day, you do not want to be fumbling around for a key. Once you open the door, you are greeted with glowing interior lighting that invites you to sit down, and enjoy your surroundings. Enjoy you shall, as glancing around the interior just puts a smile on your face. The dash is covered leather, and it culminates into the sloping center stack. All of this speaks of luxury that no other Buick has in a long while. The center stack is full of buttons that cover everything from radio, navigation, the on-board hard drive, as well as the dual zone HVAC system and heated seats and steering wheel. That last bit was especially handy in the weather conditions we received after Christmas. For a quazi-techno geek like myself, I fell in love with every bit of it. The part I liked the most was that now when you sync some new smart phones to the car, via Bluetooth, the car uploads your contact list. Unlike systems like Ford’s Sync, you cannot access it via voice commands, but if your phone is equipped with a voice control, you can still use that. To access your phonebook via the car, you push the phone button, select your cell phone on the list, select “Phone Book” and you can scan through all your contacts. It is a lot easier then fumbling for you phone out of your pocket, then looking down and away from the road to make a phone call. The gauge lay out is very beautiful, and at night time the whole ice-blue interior comes alive, bathing the dash board area in light.
![Image]()
To cap it off, Buick brought in the heads-up display that was made so famous from cars like Pontiac and the Corvette. The HUD system has three settings, but the one I chose was the one that gave me a tachometer and my speed read out. It is a sporty looking lay out, even if the car is far away from sport. The HUD system is something that you have to get used to. At first, you constantly want to look at it, and it is a bit distracting. But after the first few times driving it, it stops being a distraction, and becomes a tool. The HUD system also displays directional information for navigation, displaying arrows and distance tools. Do not think that only the people sitting up front are allowed to be bedazzled with technology, as there is an optional dual screen DVD entertainment system that is built into the seat backs. To complete the movie-going experience, the back seat room is huge, thanks to the long wheel base. Even when tall passengers sit up front, the rear still offers ample seating room. Steering the car, the wheel is the same unit that is in the Regal, and just like the Regal, its covered in a soft leather, but this one has a little wood in it to kick it up a notch. The leather is very soft, and stretches back behind the spokes, and does not just end where your eyes cannot see. As you are sitting in the car, the heated seats and steering wheel turned on, everything glowing in the cool blue hue of the ambient lighting. Press the starter button, and we get on our way.
![Image]()
Buick has preached its Quiet Tuning technology that it applies to all its cars, and so far that silence has kept Buick in the luxury game. Now that it is put into a car that can coddle the driver with other luxury features, it is a match made in heaven. Since this car was designed by Chinese and engineered by Americans, do not expect the handling to be Regal-esque, but the car is not a sloppy Roadmaster by any means. The electric steering offers great range from low speed to high way cruising levels. The car holds its own in turns, as most of the American Epsilons can. Body roll is apparent, but nothing that would cause you lose control. The car can be hustled through the back roads alright, but will not be nearly as fun as its Germanic sister car. This car is elegant to drive on the highway, gliding over pot marked roads and expansion joints. The sound deadening does quell lots of noise, but it is hard to remove it all. See, due to the massive cabin, whatever noise makes its way inside, echoes off the walls. The noise is muffled, almost as if you had on a pair of ear-warmers. If that random muffled thumping has you bothered, you can always crank up the Harman/Kardon 384 watt 11 speaker 5.1 concert hall. The clear, crisp sound also takes advantage of the cavernous passenger space, filling it with some great holiday concerts via XM/Sirius radio. All of this has to make you wonder though. Why is this some of this equipment not available in Cadillac?
![Image]()
It hits me as I went to change lanes, and the little blind spot alert popped up in my side view mirror. Why did I not see some of this equipment in the two CTSs I had? Changing lanes also brings to your attention the fact that this car is powered by the 2.4 liter four cylinder engine, pushing 182 horsepower. The 2.4 has been the work horse in GM’s midsized line up for a while, but this one receives the same direct injection system as the Regal, Equinox, and Terrain does. The little four does its best to scoot you around town, offering a surprising amount of power to move this robust vehicle around on the highway. Engine noise is near non-existent, and there is a small burble that is generated through the exhaust. Lots of you guys and gals asked about the engine and how it worked well with the car, and for most drivers of the car, it will get you through your daily activities. It would be very odd to have a car this highly optioned without having a V6 engine, but I am glad to see that Buick offers it. In an age of fluctuating gas prices, the 2.4 offers a great efficiency advantage over the 3.6.
![Image]()
This same engine will be tied in with GM’s brand new eAssist system that will push the miles per gallon to an estimated 37, an impressive number for not only its class, but for a car of its size. For me though, doing mostly city driving, and at one point heavy snow city driving, I managed to pull down 23 mps. I almost did not publish it, because I did spend a lot of time warming the car up, as well as trying to get out of two snowed in spots (damn snow plows), but with that said, the car did perform very well once it made it out on to the road. If anyone has ever driven in heavy snow, it is a very quiet drive, as you hear the snow crunch under the tires as you roll over it. The silence in the car was almost eerie as I drove past abandoned vehicle left and right. The transmission continues to prove that GM makes one of the best six-speed automatics in the world. Shifts were smooth, with no issues. While you can slip it into the manual shifting mode, I found myself just leaving it in drive, and enjoying the view. At night time, the articulating headlights are really a fantastic invention. The bright light of the high-intensity lighting shines up blind corners at night so you do not become surprised with what lurks beyond the bend.
![Image]()
There are only a few blemishes about this car. It is tough to really find something that really makes you hate this car. Or even just not like it as much as I do. Sure, you could gripe about the door handles, or the fact that it does not have some of the options as some other vehicles, but even those complaints are not enough to put this car down. If I had any problem with the car, it would be its overall weight, in which effects its efficiency, as well as handling, braking, and acceleration. It is a common problem with any modern GM sedan now a days, and it is something that I hope GM will address, because despite the fact that the cars are heavy, they are still pulling down some top numbers when it comes to miles per gallon. This weight problem is compacted by the large window pillars that can block out whole cars if positioned right. They almost seem comical in the way that they can shut off your vision in the corners. The other problem is the size of the trunk. It is a bit of a mess there, with the goose-neck hinges, and rather small opening. The opening is very narrow, and due to its short deck, makes it hard to place things in there like Christmas presents. The trunk space starts to narrow as you get closer to the rear seats, and then there are these little buttresses that pop out on each side. Once you get things into the trunk there is plenty of space. I was able to place a large wheeled 40 gallon cooler along with a handful of other gifts into the trunk once I figured out how to position it to place it through the opening.
![Image]()
There is nothing else to say but that this is now GM’s finest car, put together with pride, and offering any consumer an array of luxury features and amenities. It was only a few years ago that Buick was on its death-bed, begging for attention. Buick has produced a fantastic car inside and out, with everything people come to expect from a luxury brand. As Buick moves forward with the Lacrosse, its new eAssist system as well as a possible GS trim, it can only help make this car better. The eAssist system will make a lot of the optional equipment, standard and add some additional equipment such as full color driver information screen as well as the main screen in the center stack. It is only depressing that GM’s true flag ship brand, Cadillac, does not offer this level of quality and refinement. Buick needs to keep this up, and make sure that the Lacrosse remains to be one of the top luxury sedans in the market, as the Koreans and Japanese as well as its American competitors will not stop to let Buick pass them by. As Buick continues to improve, it can only force Cadillac to move faster to keep ahead of the pace set by this one prestigious brand. When that happens, Buick will have its hand in yet another resurrection.
Price As Tested: $38,380
Distance Traveled: 365 miles
Average MPG: 22.5 mpg
Options: Luxury package, Adaptive headlights, Blind-spot Detection, Harmon/Kardon Stereo with Navigation system, 40 gig hard drive, Heated and Cooled seats with Heated Steering Wheel, Red Jewel Tincoat paint, Rear Entertainment System, Spoiler
Pros: Fantastic quality, library silent interior, tons of features
Cons: Tight trunk opening, goofy door grabs, Low MPG's for a 4 cylinder due to heavy weight
![Image]()
Buick jumps into the luxury segment to tackle the Japanese
www.GMInsidenews.com
January 16th, 2011
By: Alexander Villani
It was not long ago that Buick was considered to be a dead brand. I myself even claimed that this brand was on its last leg, as that every car, even the newest models, were already so far behind the competition that it seemed as if it was a graveyard. With most cars wearing the Buick badge being based on decade or older chassis, using engines that you can trace beyond the Nixon Administration, it almost as if there was no hope for this brand. Sure, some really great looking concepts debuted at auto shows such as the Velite convertible, but that never made it to the sales floor. That changed in 2006 when Buick displayed a very production looking crossover vehicle, the Enclave, in Detroit. The cars design was very bold, compared to the boring and bland cars that took up floor space around it. The smooth body lines, the intricate head lights, and chrome trim really caught the eyes of many. The interior of this luxury ute was just as impressive, with high definition wood grain and supple leather covering most of everything else.
This crossover struck a chord with auto critics and when the light was given for production, Buick brought us the Enclave, mirroring the concept almost exactly. At the same time, Buick also saw a massive increase in sales from its Chinese buyers, slowly becoming one of the top selling brands in the country. Was it possible that Buick had a chance to be reborn? If it was, it would need a flagship sedan, something that could stand out on its own. It needed to tackle the well entrenched Japanese luxury cars here at home, but remain an American brand. This car also had to appeal to Chinese buyers. With the help of a true global engineering and design team, Buick launched the Lacrosse. This car was to be Buick’s entry back into the luxury sedan market, a market that it dominated for so long. Could this get the job done? Well, we got a chance to drive it, so let us see what its all about.
A cold winter day brings us the Buick Lacrosse, just in time for Christmas. What a better color to bring Christmas cheer than in the beautiful Red Jewel Tincoat that really ties it in with the holidays. The sweep spear that highlights the side of the car pops, giving the sexy sedan a sultry stance. This line ties in the jeweled headlights up front with the ruby red tail lights outlined in chrome out back. Up front, the chrome and brushed metal-look grille gives this luxury car a beautiful face. The car stands on 18 inch alloy wheels, but they look too small for this car, and that is due to this cars visual heft. The car looks solid and heavy, and that is reinforced every time you close the door and are greeted with a solid seal as if you were closing a large Oak door to an old house. This is not nearly as sporty looking as its smaller sister, the Regal, and that is a good thing. Great in fact, because this car is not supposed to be a sports sedan, but a luxury cruiser. The integrated side repeaters merge right into the side view mirrors without looking like an afterthought. Even the chrome strip at the bottom of the door is very classy without being too much. It helps break up the brilliant red color. Same goes for the detailed vent ports in the hood. While this car was equipped with the 2.4 liter four cylinder direct injection engine, it was wearing the three-pot trim. Nevertheless, they help accent the hood lines as well as add a little visual delight.
Inside is really where the fun begins. It is the main focus of this car, honestly. The car we have here is just about as fully loaded as one could get this car. Starting with the keyless entry, it sets the tone that this car is nothing like you have seen from Buick before. The car senses the key-fob in your pocket, and will unlock the door for you as you pull on the chrome-trimmed door handle. The fob is still the GM switchblade one found in almost every new GM car now and even it has a very quality feel to it, as well as some heft. You never have to remove it from your pocket or purse. Some might think this is a bit of a gimmicky doo-dad but on a cold day, you do not want to be fumbling around for a key. Once you open the door, you are greeted with glowing interior lighting that invites you to sit down, and enjoy your surroundings. Enjoy you shall, as glancing around the interior just puts a smile on your face. The dash is covered leather, and it culminates into the sloping center stack. All of this speaks of luxury that no other Buick has in a long while. The center stack is full of buttons that cover everything from radio, navigation, the on-board hard drive, as well as the dual zone HVAC system and heated seats and steering wheel. That last bit was especially handy in the weather conditions we received after Christmas. For a quazi-techno geek like myself, I fell in love with every bit of it. The part I liked the most was that now when you sync some new smart phones to the car, via Bluetooth, the car uploads your contact list. Unlike systems like Ford’s Sync, you cannot access it via voice commands, but if your phone is equipped with a voice control, you can still use that. To access your phonebook via the car, you push the phone button, select your cell phone on the list, select “Phone Book” and you can scan through all your contacts. It is a lot easier then fumbling for you phone out of your pocket, then looking down and away from the road to make a phone call. The gauge lay out is very beautiful, and at night time the whole ice-blue interior comes alive, bathing the dash board area in light.
To cap it off, Buick brought in the heads-up display that was made so famous from cars like Pontiac and the Corvette. The HUD system has three settings, but the one I chose was the one that gave me a tachometer and my speed read out. It is a sporty looking lay out, even if the car is far away from sport. The HUD system is something that you have to get used to. At first, you constantly want to look at it, and it is a bit distracting. But after the first few times driving it, it stops being a distraction, and becomes a tool. The HUD system also displays directional information for navigation, displaying arrows and distance tools. Do not think that only the people sitting up front are allowed to be bedazzled with technology, as there is an optional dual screen DVD entertainment system that is built into the seat backs. To complete the movie-going experience, the back seat room is huge, thanks to the long wheel base. Even when tall passengers sit up front, the rear still offers ample seating room. Steering the car, the wheel is the same unit that is in the Regal, and just like the Regal, its covered in a soft leather, but this one has a little wood in it to kick it up a notch. The leather is very soft, and stretches back behind the spokes, and does not just end where your eyes cannot see. As you are sitting in the car, the heated seats and steering wheel turned on, everything glowing in the cool blue hue of the ambient lighting. Press the starter button, and we get on our way.
Buick has preached its Quiet Tuning technology that it applies to all its cars, and so far that silence has kept Buick in the luxury game. Now that it is put into a car that can coddle the driver with other luxury features, it is a match made in heaven. Since this car was designed by Chinese and engineered by Americans, do not expect the handling to be Regal-esque, but the car is not a sloppy Roadmaster by any means. The electric steering offers great range from low speed to high way cruising levels. The car holds its own in turns, as most of the American Epsilons can. Body roll is apparent, but nothing that would cause you lose control. The car can be hustled through the back roads alright, but will not be nearly as fun as its Germanic sister car. This car is elegant to drive on the highway, gliding over pot marked roads and expansion joints. The sound deadening does quell lots of noise, but it is hard to remove it all. See, due to the massive cabin, whatever noise makes its way inside, echoes off the walls. The noise is muffled, almost as if you had on a pair of ear-warmers. If that random muffled thumping has you bothered, you can always crank up the Harman/Kardon 384 watt 11 speaker 5.1 concert hall. The clear, crisp sound also takes advantage of the cavernous passenger space, filling it with some great holiday concerts via XM/Sirius radio. All of this has to make you wonder though. Why is this some of this equipment not available in Cadillac?
It hits me as I went to change lanes, and the little blind spot alert popped up in my side view mirror. Why did I not see some of this equipment in the two CTSs I had? Changing lanes also brings to your attention the fact that this car is powered by the 2.4 liter four cylinder engine, pushing 182 horsepower. The 2.4 has been the work horse in GM’s midsized line up for a while, but this one receives the same direct injection system as the Regal, Equinox, and Terrain does. The little four does its best to scoot you around town, offering a surprising amount of power to move this robust vehicle around on the highway. Engine noise is near non-existent, and there is a small burble that is generated through the exhaust. Lots of you guys and gals asked about the engine and how it worked well with the car, and for most drivers of the car, it will get you through your daily activities. It would be very odd to have a car this highly optioned without having a V6 engine, but I am glad to see that Buick offers it. In an age of fluctuating gas prices, the 2.4 offers a great efficiency advantage over the 3.6.
This same engine will be tied in with GM’s brand new eAssist system that will push the miles per gallon to an estimated 37, an impressive number for not only its class, but for a car of its size. For me though, doing mostly city driving, and at one point heavy snow city driving, I managed to pull down 23 mps. I almost did not publish it, because I did spend a lot of time warming the car up, as well as trying to get out of two snowed in spots (damn snow plows), but with that said, the car did perform very well once it made it out on to the road. If anyone has ever driven in heavy snow, it is a very quiet drive, as you hear the snow crunch under the tires as you roll over it. The silence in the car was almost eerie as I drove past abandoned vehicle left and right. The transmission continues to prove that GM makes one of the best six-speed automatics in the world. Shifts were smooth, with no issues. While you can slip it into the manual shifting mode, I found myself just leaving it in drive, and enjoying the view. At night time, the articulating headlights are really a fantastic invention. The bright light of the high-intensity lighting shines up blind corners at night so you do not become surprised with what lurks beyond the bend.
There are only a few blemishes about this car. It is tough to really find something that really makes you hate this car. Or even just not like it as much as I do. Sure, you could gripe about the door handles, or the fact that it does not have some of the options as some other vehicles, but even those complaints are not enough to put this car down. If I had any problem with the car, it would be its overall weight, in which effects its efficiency, as well as handling, braking, and acceleration. It is a common problem with any modern GM sedan now a days, and it is something that I hope GM will address, because despite the fact that the cars are heavy, they are still pulling down some top numbers when it comes to miles per gallon. This weight problem is compacted by the large window pillars that can block out whole cars if positioned right. They almost seem comical in the way that they can shut off your vision in the corners. The other problem is the size of the trunk. It is a bit of a mess there, with the goose-neck hinges, and rather small opening. The opening is very narrow, and due to its short deck, makes it hard to place things in there like Christmas presents. The trunk space starts to narrow as you get closer to the rear seats, and then there are these little buttresses that pop out on each side. Once you get things into the trunk there is plenty of space. I was able to place a large wheeled 40 gallon cooler along with a handful of other gifts into the trunk once I figured out how to position it to place it through the opening.
There is nothing else to say but that this is now GM’s finest car, put together with pride, and offering any consumer an array of luxury features and amenities. It was only a few years ago that Buick was on its death-bed, begging for attention. Buick has produced a fantastic car inside and out, with everything people come to expect from a luxury brand. As Buick moves forward with the Lacrosse, its new eAssist system as well as a possible GS trim, it can only help make this car better. The eAssist system will make a lot of the optional equipment, standard and add some additional equipment such as full color driver information screen as well as the main screen in the center stack. It is only depressing that GM’s true flag ship brand, Cadillac, does not offer this level of quality and refinement. Buick needs to keep this up, and make sure that the Lacrosse remains to be one of the top luxury sedans in the market, as the Koreans and Japanese as well as its American competitors will not stop to let Buick pass them by. As Buick continues to improve, it can only force Cadillac to move faster to keep ahead of the pace set by this one prestigious brand. When that happens, Buick will have its hand in yet another resurrection.
GMI Quick Facts:
2011 Buick Lacrosse CXL 2.4
2011 Buick Lacrosse CXL 2.4
Price As Tested: $38,380
Distance Traveled: 365 miles
Average MPG: 22.5 mpg
Options: Luxury package, Adaptive headlights, Blind-spot Detection, Harmon/Kardon Stereo with Navigation system, 40 gig hard drive, Heated and Cooled seats with Heated Steering Wheel, Red Jewel Tincoat paint, Rear Entertainment System, Spoiler
Pros: Fantastic quality, library silent interior, tons of features
Cons: Tight trunk opening, goofy door grabs, Low MPG's for a 4 cylinder due to heavy weight
