2006 Buick Lucerne Review

Specifications

A Step in the Right Direction
 
I was born to a Buick lover. My dad is a devoted GM client who owned more Buicks than any other brand. My brother and I saw a lot of North America from the back seat of a Buick.   There were what I call “the Regal years”, because we owned three in row. Throw in a couple LeSabres and you pretty much have my family car history.

A few months back my personal car was crushed by a truck. The insurance company gave me a new LaCrosse to tide me over as a loaner. My dads reaction, once he found out that his girl child was fine, was that at least now I was driving in style. Needless to say when I called the “Old Man” to tell him I would be test driving the Lucerne, he was ecstatic.
 
The latest addition to the Buick line up is based on the Cadillac DTS platform, which by todays standards makes the new Lucerne a land yacht. Its about 6 inches longer than the Chrysler 300 and Toyota Avalon, and 2.5 inches longer than the Ford Five Hundred. However, what a handsome boat it is. The designers brought back the signature Buick portholes over the front fenders on each side. In the late forties through to the late fifties, Buicks sported “VentiPorts” as a type of status symbol. If you were driving the lower priced Special or Century you had three holes on each fender. If you were the owner of the higher priced Super or Roadmaster you got four per fender. Well today the V6 Lucerne sports three portholes while the V8 has four. Back in the olden days they would also to light up; thankfully current versions do not. Oh and by the way, they are completely ornamental.
 
Ornamental isnt necessarily bad, though, as the fashionable Lucerne is a much more contemporary looking vehicle than the LeSabre and Park Avenue it replaces. While it doesnt stand out like the 300, its far more handsome than the Five Hundred. The front is very Buick, with an almost oval grille, however from the sides or behind it seems kind of European-like. It wouldnt look out of place parked amongst BMWs at the golf course. For styling, it got two thumbs up from Dad.
 
On the lower end of the price range are the CX and CXL models, both standard with GMs 3.8-liter 3800 V6 engine, which has proven reliable for the brand. However, the 197 horsepower pushrod mill seems as if its been around since the Leafs won a Stanley Cup. My Pops was quick to remind me that it is somewhat fuel efficient. I say somewhat because while 23 miles per gallon in the city and 39 miles per gallon on the highway is not bad, the Avalon gets 26 miles per gallon in town and 39 miles per gallon   on the highway. Comparable for sure, but the Avalon has 268 horses kicking in at 6,200 high-flying rpm. The Lucernes little brother, the LaCrosse, also sports the same engine, but due to its lighter weight I find it to be slightly more responsive.
 
If you are looking for more power the more upscale Lucerne CXS may be for you. It comes with a Northstar 4.6-liter V8, taken from its big cousin Cadillac. Yes, gone since the mid-nineties in Buick cars, the V8 is back. With prices soaring at the pump, you may want to feed the 275 hp engine regular fuel, but premium is recommended.  I tested the CXL model with the base 3.8-liter engine, and it had adequate power. After all, lets be honest here, the average Buick driver is in his or her sixties, and therefore hot-rodding around town is not necessarily their top priority.  

All Lucernes come with a standard four-speed automatic transmission. Im sorry, but in this class I expect at least five forward speeds, with six quickly becoming the norm. That being said, the transmission shifted smoothly enough. While you wont be kicked back in your seat by the rapid acceleration, my testers ride was smooth and quiet. Outside sounds, plus wind and engine noise was kept to a minimum, which is nice. On the highway, the CXL was only slightly “floaty” over bumps, much better than some of its predecessors. Standard on all models are front and rear stabilizers. The CX comes with twin-tube airlift control dampers, while the CXL and CXS are equipped with monotube shocks in the rear. The CXL had some body roll, but overall it reacted predictably to steering input.  Steering wise all V6 models come with a hydraulic variable-ratio rack-and-pinion system, while V8s come with a magnetic variable assist rack-and-pinion setup and a slightly tighter turning ratio.

Inside, the primary instruments are made up of three round gauges that are easy to read.  The fake wood trim is well done, and the climate and audio controls are much better than what was available to its predecessors. The leather upholstery is also nice.  The cars rather large steering wheel is clad in plastic, with cruise and audio controls on each side. Additionally, the Lucerne features rain-sensing wipers with heated fluid, a definite bonus on cold days. While I prefer the interior of Toyotas Avalon, Buick has definitely stepped up its game.
 
This big car is great for large people, a quality that made itself very apparent when I had to shuttle around three of my friends; two at well over six feet. They loved the space, commenting on the rear benchs great thigh support. Their only beef was that the middle console had a pair of rear facing, adjustable-angle HVAC vents, but no rear climate controls. I found the seats comfy, and nicely finished in rich leather. But its a big persons car without pretense; no adjustable pedals or telescoping steering wheel.
 
Sound systems are very important to me, and this one sounded wonderful. My tester came with a 6-disc in dash CD changer with the all-important jack for MP3 players. The audio quality was extremely clear. Even with the bass up to max, no rattles just clarity. Audio controls, also positioned on the steering wheel, can be easily used without looking downward. Overall, a delightfully clear sounding, albeit booming system.
 
In the rear you will find a big car big trunk with weird hinges. The problem is, despite the trunk being huge, its U-shaped hinges slide down into the trunk cavity pressing down on whatever is stored below them. Some other GM vehicles, like the Impala, have better hinge designs, which should have been used on the Lucerne.
 
One of the strong points about the Lucerne is its safety features. They are abundant, and with respect to the airbag deployment system, quite impressive. This in mind, a new generation of dual depth and dual staged airbags deploy in different ways depending on the seat location and severity of the crash. Six airbags are standard on all models. Rear seat passengers are not forgotten, with front to rear side head curtains. Also standard is ABS brakes and electronic stability control.  

Overall the Lucerne is a roomy, comfortable, smooth, quiet ride, with nicer than nice styling. Will a new generation of dads and moms discover the joys of owning a Buick thanks to this competent four-door? Only time will tell.

And dont write off its little brother, the LaCrosse which is a solid car for the money.  While my GM faithful Dad likes the newest offering from Buick, he also took a second glance at the Avalon (who says you can teach an old dog a new trick or two). Still, this safe, dependable and stylish new Buick is definitely a step in the right direction.