MSRP: $25,640 - $33,805
Invoice: $24,486 - $32,284
MPG: 17 City / 28 Hwy
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U.S.News Scores

Overall:7.4
Performance:7.4
Exterior:7.3
Interior:7.2
Safety:7.2
Reliability:10.0
Research we analyzed for this review
Pros and Cons

 

  • Quiet highway cruiser
  • Easy-to-use, well placed gauges
  • Good cargo space for the class

 

  • Boring design elements for the standard LaCrosse
  • Outdated four-speed transmission
  • High price tag for Super Lucerne model

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Buick LaCrosse - What the Auto Press Says

The LaCrosse is a comfortable but unexciting car in its last year of production. There are many fuel-efficient cars that are more entertaining and safer to drive than the LaCrosse, for a similar, if not lower price. As a result, much of the automotive press finds it hard to recommend this Buick.  The 2010 LaCrosse that will replace it, however, is a drastic improvement.

Automobile Magazine sums up the attitude of most reviewers when it says "the LaCrosse is still a vehicle best appreciated by those with fairly conservative automotive tastes." Its interior is quiet and offers a reasonable level of luxury, and in its highest trim it rivals the price of many more luxurious offerings. Its performance is fairly conservative. The more powerful Super Lacrosse makes up for some of the limitations of lower-end models, but it still doesn't equal the class leaders. And its exterior won't attract much attention.

Shoppers who are interested in a LaCrosse might find that they can get more car for their money with some of its competitors, such as the Toyota Camry our Best Midsize Car for the Money Award winner.  Even some entry-level luxury cars, like the Cadillac CTS, can be found for a price equal to that of some LaCrosse trims.

GM has introduced an entirely new 2010 Buick LaCrosse, a vastly better car in almost every measure that counts as one of the best in its class.  That creates an opportunity for buyers of the 2009 model, however -- You may be able to negotiate a good deal on a 2009 LaCrosse.

For 2009, only small changes have been made. Heated mirrors are now standard on all trim levels.  Bluetooth is now available as an option, as is a split-folding rear seat.

The LaCrosse is available in base CX, more upscale CXL, and more powerful Super trims. 

  • "For traditional Buick customers, the 2009 Buick LaCrosse should prove comfortably familiar, with its calm but isolated motoring experience. Sadly, it lags behind most other family sedans when it comes to handling, cabin space, feature content and overall refinement." -- Edmunds
  • "There's nothing wrong with the LaCrosse, but nothing leaps out as superb, either -- in other words, there is little to get excited about." -- AutoWeek
  • "The LaCrosse is ready to move from benchwarmer to first-string. If you're looking for a comfortable family sedan with good power, subtle style and a clean interior, the 2009 Buick LaCrosse should be at the top of your list. The 2009 Buick LaCrosse's interior shows a continuing evolution toward better quality, design and comfort.." -- Kelley Blue Book
  • "LaCrosse generates more division among our testers than most cars. All agree that no LaCrosse model matches any import-brand midsize sedan for overall value. Some testers say the CX and CXL versions suffer poor road manners and have steep prices. Conversely, other testers like the CX and CXL for their traditional Buick room and comfort." -- Consumer Guide
  • The LaCrosse "has a powerful heart and some nice touches, but its poor handling and uninspired interior leave it on the side of the road while more sophisticated vehicles pass by." -- Detroit News
  • "LaCrosse is the Buick of mid-size sedans. So, as you would expect, it's quiet, pleasant-mannered, and demands little of its driver or passengers." -- New Car Test Drive

LaCrosse Performance - 7.4 (Good)

The 2009 LaCrosse provides a soft ride for comfortable cruising, but nothing to accelerate the pulse. A Detroit News reviewer writes, "I found the ride palatable, as long as I didn't push it." But unlike some less powerful cars, the LaCrosse does not make a significant impression for its fuel efficiency, either. Read More

LaCrosse Exterior - 7.3 (Good)

If your style preference leans toward the conservative, the 2009 LaCrosse could be a good car for you. Kelley Blue Book says its "streamlined sheetmetal will offend few." Super LaCrosse models are notable for a classic touch right out of the 1950's -- portholes alongside the engine compartment. Read More

LaCrosse Interior - 7.2 (Good)

Buicks are a step up from Chevrolets in interior comfort, but the 2009 LaCrosse suffers from an aging interior design that many reviewers found unexceptional. It is, however, exceptionally quiet. "The interior is very quiet, except for some wind noise at highway speeds," says MSN.  Read More

LaCrosse Safety - 7.2 (Good)

The 2009 LaCrosse achieves mixed scores in government and insurance industry crash tests. While it earns solid scores for frontal crashes, it's below the midsize class average in side impacts. Read More

LaCrosse Reliability - 10.0 (Excellent)

The 2009 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 offers a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on the 2009 LaCrosse -- coverage a year longer than what some rivals offer. Read More

Review Last Updated: 9/25/09