Friday, August 2, 2013
2006 Buick LaCrosse Reviews
Pros: Buick has moved into another league upwards, with this 3.6L VVT V6, finally matching the asian V-6s with power, refinement, and fuel economy.This has to be one of the best engines made. And the taught suspension and roomy interior on the CSX suprised me. when I made a comparison with the Avalon, the Toyota seemed a big sloppy boat in highway and lane change and entrance ramp driving.
Make mine a Buick now that this great fit and finish car is available. Luxury and fine road manners, to compete with the best Merc/Volvo feel.
Cons: The suspension is very comfortable but sometimes too loose, especially when driving over bumps, dips and anomalies on the surface of the road. Could use a bit more "tightening" to give the car a more "sporty" feeling.
This was actually a rental for me for the last two weeks. I was quite surporised the car was rented under the full size choices. The interior ammenities made me feel that I was nearly in a luxury auto.
New for 2006
The 2006 Buick LaCrosse offers ABS and side-curtain airbags standard on all trim levels. Silver Convenience Package is changed to Comfort and Convenience Package and Gold Convenience Package is changed to Driver Confidence Package. Luxury Package is available on CX, new 16-inch wheels with polished spokes are offered, and a single combination antenna is used for OnStar and XM Satellite radio. New exterior colors are Slatestone Metallic, Sandstone Metallic, and Platinum Metallic.
Different Driving Experiences
While the LaCrosse comes in three trim levels, it gives two different driving experiences. One experience is provided by the CX and CXL, which have an old-style 200-horsepower pushrod V6 and Buicks traditional soft feel.
The European-style CXS provides the other experience; it has a modern dual overhead camshaft V6 with more punch and sharper handling—thanks to a sporty "Gran Touring" suspension with thicker anti-sway bars to reduce body lean in curves, sharper variable-rate power steering and 55-series tires on 17-inch wheels; the CX and CXL have smaller (16-inch) tires and narrower (60-series) tires.
Buick calls the LaCrosse "all new," but the car rides on the familiar "W" platform also used by GMs Pontiac Grand Prix.
Old and New Engines
The CX and CXL have the third-generation version of GMs 3.8-liter pushrod V6, but the CSX has GMs new V6, also used by Buicks Rendezvous sport-utility vehicle. The 3.8 V6 provides 200 horsepower, while the 3.6 delivers 240 horsepower and more torque.
Both engines work with a 4-speed automatic transmission, although a more modern 5-speed unit would be preferred.
Estimated fuel economy is 20 mpg city and 29 highway with the 200-horsepower V6 and 19 and 28 with the 240-horsepower engine, which has variable valve timing for better throttle response.
Interior
The Buick LaCrosse features a roomy, comfortable cabin with a general look of quality. The standard front bucket seats, clad in leather in the CXL and CXS, feature a new type of stitching, and newly developed silk-impregnated vinyl on the seat side panels emulates the look and feel of leather.
Rear-seat legroom is generous, thanks to a relatively long wheelbase of 110 inches. My 6-foot, 4-inch frame can sit behind a 6-foot, 4-inch driver with plenty of room to spare.
Interior quality and appearance are enhanced by reducing the number of individual trim pieces, which makes everything fit better and gives the cabin a richer, higher grade look. The instruments and controls are white on black, and each of the three round dials is wringed in chrome and set into a deeply tunneled instrument panel. Its all very nicely presented, and relatively sporty looking.
The center stack is finished a mica-flecked flat black, with a trip computer and driver information system thats easy to put through its menu. However, the information panel is so glossy that its hard to read in early morning or late afternoon light. The entire dashboard is decorated with a very good imitation woodgrain.
Buick uses its Quiet Tuning program to reduce, tune out, absorb, cover up and mask noise sources all through the car. Quiet Tuning uses specially engineered parts and adds sound insulation in the engine, on the firewall, under the toeboard, inside the wheel wells and in the roof. Buicks Quiet Tuning has made LaCrosse one of the quietest cars in the class.
Optional features upgrade this car to a cut above, making for a truly complete, safe, all-weather family car. Among them are a remote starting system that will work from up to 500 feet away, OnStar, XM Satellite Radio, and StabiliTrak; if we were ordering a LaCrosse, we would add all of these excellent systems.
Exterior
While the Buick LaCrosses understated styling doesnt set any new design standards, it does look classy and is an improvement over the bland Regal and Century models it replaces. Swollen, creased fenders combine with elliptical themes in the grille, the chrome-framed window area and the rear of the car for an elegant look. Its upswept haunches are particularly attractive.
But certain aspects seem derivative — like headlights reminiscent of the previous-generation Lexus GS and a rear end that looks like a Ford Taurus. Even so, by incorporating subtle elements — like the thin ellipsis bisecting the rear of the trunk lid, whose ends are formed by the parking lights — Buick has achieved the visual refinement it was aiming for, even if the overall effect remains a bit bland.
The Cardinal Red metallic exterior paint and 17-inch chromed wheels of the CXS model we drove (which starts at $28,335 and had $3,165 in options) dress up the otherwise innocuous design and heighten the LaCrosses visual appeal. Buick emphasizes the cars tight fit and finish in press materials and heralds the styling as a bold, new direction for the company. While it is definitely fresh and represents a welcome change for the ailing brand on the brink of obsolescence, the LaCrosse isnt exactly bold — but then neither are its prime competitors, the Camry and Accord.
Driving Impressions
The commercials showing the pair of matching Buicks doing pirouettes might be pushing it a bit, but the LaCrosse CXS does indeed handle far better than we would have guessed and responds quite well to hard driving though most buyers probably wont drive like that.
Both of the available V6 engines have been tuned to give a nice, healthy growl on full throttle, but disappear into the background in high-gear cruising.
The standard 3.8-liter engine that comes on the CX and CXL is smooth and quiet and is rated to get 29 miles per gallon on the highway. Its a gutsy V6 that generates strong torque, meaning you get good acceleration performance without having to rev it up much. This is an older cast-iron V6, but its been thoroughly upgraded internally to reduce mechanical noise and features electronic throttle control. Its rated at 200 horsepower at 5200 rpm, and 230 pound-feet of torque at 4000.
The newer 3.6-liter V6 that comes on the CXS revs more freely and produces more power despite its smaller size: 240 horsepower at 6000 rpm. Its torque curve is also flatter, peaking with 225 pound-feet at 2000 rpm, but delivering 90 percent of that peak between 1500 and 6000 rpm. What that means is that youve always got good, strong power on tap in any situation. Mash the gas pedal and she goes. A thoroughly modern engine, the 3.6-liter features all-aluminum construction, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder with continuously variable valve timing, and electronic throttle control.
All three LaCrosse models come with a four-speed automatic transmission. It works flawlessly.
As mentioned, the LaCrosse handles quite well. The steering is quite precise, really biting into the pavement when you want to turn. It has terrific body roll control, meaning its not bouncing and yawing around when pushed harder on rural roads. The suspension used in the CX and CXS is about 20 percent stiffer than in the old Regal or Century, with larger stabilizer bars, so the LaCrosse handles better than those cars.
We found the CSX more sporty to drive on winding roads in Northern Michigan. We later pushed one of these cars hard on some tight, bumpy canyon roads outside Los Angeles and found it handles quite well. The grip from the tires is tenacious. Even when squealing around curves, we found it maintained good composure, not losing its poise the way older American sedans tend to do. It offered good transient response, meaning it could change directions quickly in hard left-right-left maneuvers. In short, it could do all the things shown in the Buick commercials. The steering has the same good feel and turn-in power as in the other Lacrosse models, but the ratio is quicker. The CXS gets a special Gran Touring suspension with stiffer front and rear stabilizers, as well as Magnasteer electric power steering. The optional StabiliTrak suspension package comes with more sophisticated Magnasteer II power steering.
For the most part, the LaCrosse rides smoothly, though we admit being a little disappointed in the ride quality on L.A.s Interstate 405. Its a bumpy section of one of the busiest freeways in the world that really tests a smooth ride. Here, the LaCrosse suffered some vibration and the ride quality wasnt nearly as smooth as we think a Buick should be. This is perhaps a trade-off of the responsive handling.
Three different traction control systems are offered: CX and CXL versions use a speed-based setup that works with engine torque and fuel cutoff. This helps eliminate front wheelspin when accelerating on slippery surfaces, providing more stable control. The CXS comes with GMs full-range electronic traction control, which also selectively applies the brakes at one or more wheels as needed to restore traction.
StabiliTrak includes a traction-control function and also improves driver control during emergency or evasive maneuvers. We highly recommend getting the optional StabiliTrak because it can help you avoid an accident. StabiliTrak uses sensors to detect the direction the driver is steering the car, and if the car is not responding adequately, it applies the brakes selectively and precisely to the left and right wheels and reduces throttle to help realign the vehicles actual path with the path the driver intended. This can help the driver maintain control in an evasive maneuver. Just remember to steer where you want to go.
The big four-wheel disc brakes, ventilated in front, with ABS worked well, even when hauling the cars 3500 pounds down from superlegal speeds. They gave good pedal feedback and were easy to modulate, meaning you can bring the car to nice smooth stops in normal driving conditions, ensuring comfort for your passengers.
Remote Start
FeatureLaCrosse options include upgraded sound systems, a power sunroof, a satellite radio, chrome alloy wheels and the first remote engine start feature for a Buick for those want to want to start the engine from the comfort of their home, let it idle and thus get into a warm car in winter and a cool car in summer.
Safety options include side-curtain airbags, although front torso side airbags arent available.
Its an open question if the LaCrosse will draw younger buyers, but older Buick loyalists should be happy with it.
