2010 LaCrosse breaks new ground for revived Buick brand.

Two V6 engines now offered with a four-cylinder on the way

MONT TREMBLANT, Que.- To paraphrase the old General Motors advertising slogan, "this sure ain't your grampa's Buick!"
While the slogan actually referred to the Oldsmobile and it was father and not grandfather, but I think you get the point.
The saying would apply equally well to Buick's new 2010 LaCrosse, which like the Volkswagen Passat CC has a coupe-like exterior styling in a four-door, five-passenger mid-size sedan.
I'm sure many people will be pleasantly surprised when they get behind the wheel of this first-ever "global" Buick.
Buicks have been upscale models over their 100-year plus history, but in the glory days of the brand they were referred to as the 'doctor's car' or the 'banker's car'. That has long since passed and of late, Buicks have earned a reputation, and rightfully so, of appealing only to an older crowd.
GM is hoping to dispel that notion with this new offering, meant to appeal to a much wider, worldwide audience.
"We expect we'll have a whole host of new customers because this car is so different," said Fred Dixon, product manager with General Motors Canada
"We are aiming at a younger crowd," he added, noting that traditional Buick customers are among the General's most loyal so they will be drawn to the new LaCrosse as well.
The LaCrosse name has been used in the U.S. since 2004 for what we in Canada have called the Buick Allure. But for 2010 the LaCrosse is totally new, and while priced up to $5,000 more than the outgoing Allure depending on the trim level, the menu of standard features has been significantly improved.
And while the car itself is shorter than the old Allure, the wheelbase is longer. It is built on a platform from GM Europe, with interior design and engineering from China and an exterior design from North America. Now that's global and the car is destined for sale in North America, China and Korea.
GM hopes this new design and focus on luxury will lure professionals like doctors and bankers back to the brand, but also attract a younger, hipper audience. It is aimed at entry luxury buyers, like those who currently move into cars like the Lexus ES 350, the Toyota Avalon or the Acura TL.
However, clearly, the Lexus is the chosen target and the LaCrosse has a lot to offer, including a mid-level CXL trim with all-wheel drive. This is something that should be very appealing to drivers in northern climates like ours and is not offered on the ES 350.
However, even at the base CX level starting at $32,745, the LaCrosse is well equipped and adequately powered with a 3.0-litre V6 with variable valve timing and direct injection, producing 255 hp and 217 lb/ft or torque. The mid-level CXL ($34,745/ $38,245) is available in front- or all-wheel drive with the same 3.0-litre V6, that makes three less hp and 215 lb/ft of torque in all-wheel drive mode. Top-line is the CXS ($40,745), which has a 3.6-litre V6 making 280 hp and 259 lb/ft of torque.
All come with a six-speed manual transmission with adaptive shift controls and tap up/down capability.
A third powertrain option, a 182 hp 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine will be available later this year. This is the same engine currently in the Equinox/Terrain models.
What sets the 2010 LaCrosse apart from Buicks of the past is the ride and handling. The MacPherson struts up front and a four-link setup on the rear handle even the biggest potholes, while an optional real-time damping suspension has sensors to monitor body, wheel and lateral acceleration.
The result is a smooth, quiet ride without the usual body roll and floaty feeling found on Buicks of old.
We know this for a fact after spending the better part of a day, driving through the Laurentians north of Montreal on roads that were just plain bad in many parts.
The LaCrosse handled everything we threw at it, including twisty sections to and from the beautiful resort area of Mont Tremblant.
Both V6 engines are peppy enough, but I particularly like the 3.6L V6 that makes 25 more hp and interestingly is more fuel-efficient.
The anti-lock brakes, ventilated discs up front and solid discs on the rear work equally as well as we soon discovered on the steep, winding mountain roads.
The CX and CXL feature 17-inch wheels as standard, while the CXL AWD gets 18s (optional on the CXL FWD). The CXS also has 18s with 19-inch wheels optional as part of an $895 Touring Package that includes the real-time damping suspension.
Another highlight of the LaCrosse is the quietness in the cabin- "library quiet" as Buick calls it. Design wise, the interior is nicely finished with good use of faux wood, soft touch plastics and chrome trim. The comfortable front seats are bolstered just enough to keep you snug on those tight corner. The cabin has a refined, upscale look to it and the blue ambient lighting adds a nice touch in the evening hours.
Designers paid particular attention to the back seat area, which has plenty of leg and headroom and comfortable seating because the car is expected to be a big seller in China where many business executives are chauffeur driven.
If you want to nitpick about something, trunk capacity could be better and the small trunk opening makes access difficult.
In addition to the Touring Package, the options list is a long one. A navigation system with back-up camera will set up back $3,465, while also available is adaptive forward lighting, side blind zone alert (available in November), head-up display, dual seat-mounted DVD screens and rear thorax airbags.
On the safety front, six airbag are standard (front, side curtain and front thorax) along with front passenger air bag suppression.
While the 2010 LaCrosse uses an existing Buick nameplate and carries a couple of old Buick design clues like the waterfall grille (dating back to the '30s) and the porthole vents on the hood (dating back to the '40s), this is a car that breaks new ground for Buick.
Just as Cadillac has been able to attract a younger audience with its hipper, more up-to-date styling and performance on par with German and Japanese competitors, General Motors hopes LaCrosse will do the same for Buick.
Only time will tell, but once customers get behind the wheel, they'll see this is a Buick like none other in recent memory.

BODY STYLE: four-door, mid-size sedan.
DRIVE METHOD: front engine, front- or all-wheel drive
ENGINE: 3.0-litre direct injection V6 (255 hp, 217 lb/ft; 252 hp, 215 lb/ft with AWD);
3.6-litre direct injection V6 (280 hp, 259 lb/ft).
FUEL ECONOMY: 3.0-litre V6 FWD, 12.7L/100 km (22 mpg) city, 7.7L/100 km (37 mpg) highway; 3.0-litre V6 AWD, 13.3L/100 km (21 mpg) city, 8.0L/100 km (35 mpg) highway; 3.6-litre 12.2L/100 km (23 mpg) city, 7.3L/100 km (39 mpg) highway.
PRICE; $32,745 to $40,745