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Buick LaCrosse - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse ranks 8 out of 24 Affordable Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 15 published reviews and test drives of the Buick LaCrosse, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

When the 2010 Buick LaCrosse first appeared, the automotive press collectively gasped, "That thing's a Buick?!" With a Lexus-like interior, and elegant exterior and better road manners than anything the brand has put out since its heyday in the 1950s, the entirely new LaCrosse is a triumph for GM.

We read thousands of car reviews, but rarely have we seen the automotive press so stunned. They're not speechless - these are journalists we're talking about - but they're universally shocked at the sight, sound and feel of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse.

Buicks have earned a reputation in America as huge, ponderous cars with forgettable bodywork, flat bench seats, and decent engines but the road manners of a cabin cruiser. More than one reviewer has remarked that only senior citizens who can remember the fine Buicks of the 1950s and ‘60s tend to buy them.

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse, by that standard, has left a lot of jaws hanging open. It's a sharply styled sedan that rewards a second look with unexpected, fine details. Its interior is one of the most luxurious available at its price point, with soft leather, French seams, intuitive electronics and edgy, cool blue lighting that appeals to a younger crowd. It offers a choice of two responsive V6 engines, and while it doesn't handle like a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan, it acquits itself quite well on a winding road for a front-wheel-drive four-door.

This car is in close competition, along with the Cadillac CTS, to claim the title of GM's best sedan. It compares well to some of the best entry-level luxury cars on the market. The Los Angeles Times says the LaCrosse "was built to put the cross-hairs on a single bogie, the Lexus ES350, and I'll tell you right now, it blows the Lexus out of the sky. Pow. Parachute. Smoking crater." And the Times fails to mention that the LaCrosse's starting price undercuts the ES by a few thousand dollars.

There are, of course, reasons for shoppers to be cautious. As an entirely new design from the wheels up, the LaCrosse has no reliability history. It's also too new to have crash test scores, and though the press is blown away by the new car, auto writers have a tendency to temper their estimation of any new car after it's been on the market a few months. It's still early for this Buick.

But the new LaCrosse is something anyone looking for a comfortable entry-level luxury sedan should test drive before laying down a deposit on something else.

The LaCrosse is available in base CX, more upscale CXL, and top-of-the-line CXS trims. Patient shoppers might want to note that a third engine, a turbocharged four-cylinder expected to return improved fuel economy, is expected to arrive in the fall. 

• "The 2010 Buick LaCrosse is the best car no one will buy. It's a shame really...People should line up at Buick dealerships in droves to order the new LaCrosse, which arrives this month. It's well-priced, sharp-looking and comes with a stellar interior, perhaps the best inside makeover General Motors Co. has ever completed." -- Detroit News
• "No fair appraisal of this car can conclude anything but that the Buick is as good as or better than the Lexus [ES 350] in every way." -- Los Angeles Times
• "It generally seems like more than it is. More space, better gear, fewer annoyances, more quiet, less total road isolation-and more value. All this Lexus-contending fabulosity starts at $27,835 for the CX, rising to $30,395 for the CXL, and $33,765 for the CXS (similarly equipped, the savings is about $2500 relative to an ES 350)." -- Motor Trend
• "The new LaCrosse is a dramatic departure in both style and technology. It may not be a sports sedan, but it's a very competent sedan that's out to change our perception of Buick from something dad owned, to something you might want to own." -- Road and Track
• "I'm in my 20s, and I want one." -- Cars.com
• "There is a lot that is right with the 2010 LaCrosse, and it's a testament to what kind of car GM can build when it puts its collective worldwide resources into building it." -- AutoWeek

 

LaCrosse Performance - 8.5 (Very Good)

Reviewers don't call the 2010 LaCrosse sporty, but say its road manners should easily please most drivers. While Buick sedans of the recent past have been sluggish, with floaty rides, the 2010 LaCrosse offers sharp handling for a family sedan, and crisp acceleration even with its least-expensive engine. Analyzing reviews, we could never shake the impression that reviewers were grading its performance on a curve because of baggage from previous Buicks - but they were all pleasantly surprised with this car. Read More

LaCrosse Exterior - 9.3 (Excellent)

The 2010 LaCrosse looks sharp in pictures, but reviewers say that pictures don't do it justice. Subtle design touches give it an elegance that belies its price. "The design is penned in sweeping confident strokes," raves the Detroit News. "There's a balance to its profile that denotes luxury without being ostentatious." Read More

LaCrosse Interior - 9.0 (Excellent)

When reviewers get inside the 2010 LaCrosse, they struggle to believe it's a Buick. "The interior is excellent. I parked the LaCrosse next to a new Lexus to compare and it wasn't even close," writes the Los Angeles Times. Soft leathers normally reserved for the Cadillac brand, thoughtful ergonomics and a stylish design capped off by ice blue lighting set the car apart - its cabin seems to belong to a car in a more exclusive class. Read More

LaCrosse Safety - NA

Neither the federal government nor the insurance industry have published any crash test scores for the 2010 Buick LaCrosse. Previous generations of the car did well in safety testing, and the current edition carries a full suite of modern safety equipment. Read More

LaCrosse Reliability - 8.0 (Very Good)

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Buick covers the 2010 LaCrosse with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty - one year longer than what many competitors offer. Read More