First Drive: 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS

Talk about being on the tip of the sword. The “new” General Motors has a lot riding on its new Buick LaCrosse five-passenger sedan, the first vehicle introduced since the company emerged from bankruptcy in early July. Are they in the ballpark, or is this just more of the same for the General?

Designed and conceived using GM’s worldwide resources well before bankruptcy was even on the radar, the LaCrosse, which is nothing like the vehicle it replaces, picks and chooses its styling cues carefully. Channeling the Buick Invicta concept car that was shown at the 2008 New York Auto Show, it has been tweaked to be more functional in the “real world.”

According to GM, “the LaCrosse represents a strong collaboration between GM’s North American designers and their colleagues from the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in China.”

Along the way, it looks like they stopped in Germany, Australia, and Japan, for good measure.

Attention-grabber
Driving through “auto-blasé” Detroit, where everything has been seen at least a dozen times before, motorists in other cars would slow down to ask “is that the new Buick?”

When we nodded the affirmative, they responded with, “it looks really good.” The question is, will these positive vibes translate into immediate sales outside of Detroit? The brass at Buick, and by extension, all of GM, hopes so.

And so do we – it’s an impressive sedan that needs make no excuses.

The styling will not be unfamiliar to Buick’s customers. The waterfall grille, from the Lucerne and Enclave, is back. So too, the non-functional portholes, this time located atop the hood instead of on the side of the front fenders. Below the beltline of the LaCrosse is a cue that might even stir auto-lust in one’s grandfather: a signature “sweep spear” body-side styling that is a direct throwback to the 1954 Buick Skylark and 1956 Buick Century.

It’s a neat touch, but Buick hopes that many of the new LaCrosse’s buyers won’t remember that far back.

The C-pillar area of this newest Buick’s greenhouse reminds us of the GS-series Lexus, a design we have long admired. Here it looks good, as well. Chrome accents help to bling it up a bit, and stylish headlight designs light the way forward. Regardless, you can choose from a bevy of stylish options to find the LaCrosse that suits your taste and your wallet.

Any way you like it
Offered in three trim levels, the CX is the entry model, which at launch will be equipped with a 3.0-liter, 255-horsepower direct injection V6. Look inside for cloth seats and 17-inch wheels. A 2.4-liter I-4 Ecotec engine will join the lineup later as an entry-level base model, and both will send power to the wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

The CXL also features the 3.0-liter but adds a leather interior, dual zone climate control, fog lamps, 18-inch alloy wheels and available all-wheel-drive.

The flagship CXS model is equipped with the 3.6-liter direct injection V6, perforated leather heated and ventilated seats, chrome plated 18-inch alloys and an optional active-dampening suspension. The 3.6-liter engine, also used in the Cadillac CTS, produces 280 horsepower and 259 lb-ft. of torque. While our test vehicle was a front-driver, we can’t wait to put the optional all-wheel-drive model through its paces.

Power was seamless and emitted a slight but refined growl. QuietTuning, long the trademark for Buick ride quality, is once again a main feature of the LaCrosse’s DNA. With acoustically laminated front glass, a liquid applied sound deadener, acoustic dash mat and triple-sealed doors, it will be hard for the outside world’s noises to penetrate the cabin. The magnetically variable assisted power steering gave more road feel than we have ever felt in a Buick, even the more recent ones. MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link rear geometry help to keep the Buick’s suspension firmly planted, while at the same time allowing for real-time active dampening to vary the ride quality according to the road surface.

Targeted towards other mid-level luxury sedans such as the Lexus ES350, Acura TL, Hyundai Genesis, Toyota Avalon, and Lincoln MKS, the LaCrosse attempts to match them – and it does a good job at that.

All aboard
The interior, which features many design cues from Shanghai, emphasizes personal luxury with nice use of woods, stitched leather, soft-touch materials on the dash and innovative use of light tube technology to offer subtle blue ambient lighting around the cabin after dark. The leather, as seen in our CXS test model, was nicely utilized, especially in the seats that were more supportive and bolstered than probably any other Buick ever created.

A two-tone dark/light titanium interior utilizes gray and beige contrasting pieces to set the car apart. A walnut-and leather-wrapped steering wheel offers redundant controls for cruise and audio operations. An optional heads-up-display helps to keep your eyes on the road. Storage is at a premium here, save for a couple of map pockets on the door and a cubby under your right elbow, which also houses a power port and USB/iPod connectivity. We were surprised at the lack of power port at the base of the dashboard, where one would likely plug in a radar detector, GPS, cell phone or other power supply. On the plus side, we love the over-sized dual panel sunroof.

The center stack is right where you’d expect and looks like the Chinese impression of a jukebox. We think many traditional (read: older) Buick buyers will be disturbed by the many buttons that make up this stack of controls, but younger, more tech-savvy customers will feel right at home. The audio system is a premium Harman/Kardon 11-speaker kit that will make any vehicle sound like a rolling concert hall.

Leftlane’s bottom line
Buick has managed to incorporate a new design that reflects on a little bit of its heritage while at the same time looking ahead to a design that will be adaptable around the world, but particularly in the Chinese market, where it is among one of the most popular brands. New technologies and manufacturing capabilities have made it one of the best-built Buicks ever. With the new styling and quality that we have seen, it would be a no-brainer for a new crop of potential buyers to put the LaCrosse on their short list of candidates for personal luxury sedans.

The trouble is that list seems to grow every day. GM has hit a homerun with the new LaCrosse. But what they really need at this point is a game-changing grand slam.

Now, it’s up for the marketplace to decide.

2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS base price, $33,015. As tested, $39,325.
Touring package, $850; Navigation, $1,995; Moonroof, $995; Rear thorax airbags, $350; Heads up display, $350; Red Jewel Tintcoat, $325; Engine block heater, $50; Destination, $39,325.