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2011 Buick Lucerne Review - What the Auto Press Says

The Buick Lucerne is simply not as up-to-date as the competition, but if you’re looking for a quiet, smooth ride and not much else, it may fit the bill.

Like an embarrassing old uncle, the Buick Lucerne, with its soft ride, bland style and clumsy handling, is a reminder of the hole Buick used to be in.  And, compared to newer Buicks, a reminder of how far the brand has come. Still, affordable large cars tend to prize comfort over everything else. In that respect the 2011 Buick Lucerne is a decent choice.

Of course, “decent” doesn’t mean “best.” Reviewers say others in the class are more affordably priced and come with more standard features – not to mention more style.  Kelley Blue Book says the Lucerne “looks good enough to earn more youthful (read fiftyish) buyers than the previous Park Avenue, but it's still no kids' cool cruiser."

If you’re looking for a car that’s quiet and comfortable, with a reasonably nice interior and conservative styling, the Lucerne will work just fine.  But if you want something that’s stylish, a good value, fun-to-drive and has high-tech bells and whistles, you’ll want to shop the competition.

Other Cars to Consider

The 2011 Buick Lucerne has one of the highest starting prices in the affordable large car class. For that reason alone, it pays to shop the competition. The Ford Taurus has been winning great reviews for its sharply-tailored looks and high-tech cabin.  That cabin has Ford’s SYNC system, which allows you to control connected phones and music devices with voice commands, as an option. Plus, reviewers say the Taurus drives better than the Lucerne does and it starts at almost $4,000 less.

If you’re a Buick fan, it may be worth passing over the Lucerne in favor of the Buick LaCrosse.  All-new for 2010, the LaCrosse impresses car reviewers with its luxurious cabin, easy-to-use electronics and competent performance. While it’s slightly smaller than the Lucerne, the LaCrosse also starts at about $3,000 less and gets better gas mileage.

Buick Lucerne: The Details

The 2011 Buick Lucerne has four available trims: CX, CXL, EXL and the top-of-the-line Super. The X, CXL and EXL trims are powered by a V6 engine; the Super gets a V8. For 2011, GM’s StabiliTrak electronic stability control system is standard on all trims.  The Lucerne comes with five-passenger seating standard, though you can get a bench seat in the front, which increases the capacity to six.

• "You know about a car after 1,000 miles. You certainly know if you'd like to spend another 1,000 miles in its driver's seat. When it comes to the Lucerne CXS, I'd say 'Yes' to that one in a hurry." -- Washington Post
• " Less nostalgic buyers will be better served by this segment's more capable competitors." -- Edmunds 
• "I can't see why anyone would pay $38,980 for a Super, especially when it comes with some tradeoffs, not the least of which are gas mileage and ride quality." -- Cars.com

Lucerne Performance - 7.2 (Good)

If you’re looking for a performance car, keep looking.  The 2011 Buick Lucerne is meant to be a comfortable cruiser.  Reviewers say its engines are underpowered and thirtsy.  It’s handling gets similar complaints. Automobile.com calls the turning radius "huge -- bordering on ridiculous." Read More

Lucerne Exterior - 7.8 (Good)

The Lucerne has been passed over by the design forces that have updated newer models like the LaCrosse and Regal. Despite a more staid, conservative appearance that other Buicks, reviewers say that for a buttoned-up large car, the Lucerne looks just fine. View Photos

Lucerne Interior - 8.2 (Very Good)

The 2011 Buick Lucerne is one of the only cars in the class that can seat up to six people, and reviewers say the Lucerne is roomy enough to accommodate them all.  Still, there’s little else in the interior that makes it stand out. Competitors offer more upscale, modern designs and interior features. Read More

Lucerne Safety - 8.0 (Very Good)

With newly-standard safety features like electronic stability control, the 2011 Buick Lucerne has safety features on par with what the competition offers. The Lucerne earned an overall score of three out of five stars in government crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2011 Buick Lucerne a score of “Good,” in frontal-offset crash tests and a score of “Acceptable,” in side impact crash tests. Read More

Lucerne Reliability - 4.5 of 5

The 2011 Buick Lucerne reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. Buick protects all of its cars with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and a five-year/100,000-mile warranty. Within the class, only the Hyundai Azera offers a longer warranty, though of course you get the same warranty on the Buick LaCrosse. Read More