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2005 Buick LaCrosse Road Test

Vying for Import Buyers and Measuring Up to the Task

When I first saw Buicks new LaCrosse in photos, a model that the brands marketing arm was touting as the first of a new era, I thought to myself, "Whats so different?" I mean, look at it. Does it appear like anything other than a Buick?

Not really. While its round headlight clusters are a bit of a departure, the LaCrosse still sports the now trademark elliptical, vertical-bar "waterfall" grille, flowing Jaguar-like lines and midsize dimensions, somewhere in between the Regal and Century it replaces, that all Buicks have exuded over the last decade or so. No bad thing, its styling is more of an evolution than a revolution.

And now that Ive driven it Im glad I hadnt written off its "all-new" spin as merely another General

The new LaCrosses styling is more of a Buick evolution rather than a revolution. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Motors marketing exercise. This is one formidable contender, easily ready to do battle with any import in the land.

"What have you been smoking in your left-coast office," I hear you saying? Yes, I know Ive been pretty hard on most General Motors products in recent years, and Im not ashamed of the fact. I felt all of my criticism was deserved, and if this particular Buick suffered from the same indecencies as Pontiacs Grand Prix, for instance,

The "all-new" Buick is one formidable contender, easily ready to do battle with any import in the land. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

youd no doubt be similarly suffering through rants and raves ad nauseam while reading this review. Fortunately, for your sake and Buicks, Bob Lutz and his team got this one right.

Id go so far to say that any Camry buyer, if they were to spend an hour or two in the Buick LaCrosse, would question their purchase. Not only is the LaCrosse faster, better handling and arguably more stylish, its fit and finish is superb, interior quality above par and reliability

Id go so far to say that if any Camry buyer spent an hour or two in the Buick LaCrosse, theyd question their purchase. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

rating, at least according to J. D. Powers and Associates 2004 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and 2004 Initial Quality Study (IQS), ahead of the Japanese entry by a fair margin.

Oh, now Ive done it! Ive blasphemed. Who am I to question the sacred name of Camry, especially about reliability? Dont worry Camry owners, your cars arent about to fall apart on your way to the office this morning, its just that Buick, as a brand, rates near the top, in 2nd and 5th place out of 37 nameplates in this

Buick rates 2nd and 5th place out of 37 nameplates in this years J.D. Powers and Associates VDS and IQS respectively. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

years VDS and IQS respectively, while Toyota ranks 8th and 9th respectively. While just one survey, its the most influential one and critical for an automaker to score highly on.

Like Toyotas Camry, Buick offers the new LaCrosse with more than one engine. Unlike the Camry the LaCrosses base lump is a fairly powerful V6 shifted via a standard automatic transmission. The Camry offers a 4-cylinder, 5-speed manual setup for entry-level buyers. While smaller engines and manual actuation may be appealing in the European market, most North Americans

The LaCrosses base engine is a fairly powerful V6 shifted via a standard automatic transmission. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

would rather have the larger V6 if within their price limitations and almost always opt for the automatic transmission no matter the engine choice. This fits in well with Buicks product planning, and should meet the needs of North American buyers who will be able to buy into the new LaCrosse with a V6 for about the same price as a 6-cylinder powered Camry - $22,835 for the base LaCrosse CX compared to $22,380 for a Camry LE V6. While a little more expensive in base trim, if you factor in GMs alluring incentives and even better loyalty programs once you become part of the automakers family, well, the price can tip steeply

Id definitely pick the base Buick LaCrosse over the base Toyota Camry as a daily driver, but its more expensive. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

in Buicks favor.

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