2007 Buick Lucerne Washington

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After a few years of messing around with SUVs and minivans and whatever the heck you call the Rendezvous, Buick has finally decided to get back to what it knows best; great big sedans. The brand made its name in the U.S. auto scene with long, low and luxurious sedans, and for 2006 it returned to the market with the all-new Lucerne.

Replacing the aging Park Avenue, the Lucerne puts Buick back in the full-size sedan game in a big way, no pun intended. A spacious interior, cavernous trunk and available V8 power are just what buyers of traditional American full-size cars are looking for, and the Lucerne's rolling with all of the above. For 2007, the Lucerne adds OnStar's Turn-by-Turn navigation system, and Buick performance fans are eagerly awaiting the just-announced high-performance 2008 Buick Lucerne Super.

This is a good-looking but slightly forgettable car. Some folks will call this car's look "European," but the Lucerne is too long and wide to be mistaken for any car from Europe. This big boy is American through and through. The Lucerne's waterfall grille and stylized front fender portholes are traditional Buick styling cues. In fact, the portholes denote engine size just like they did in the 1950s and '60s; three for the V6 model and four for the V8. Buicks are nothing if not steeped in tradition, and the Lucerne is no exception. The company even insists that the styling was inspired by the Velite show car, but it seems that a lot of the dream-car glamour was lost in transition. Even the flagship CXS model's 18" wheels aren't quite enough to make the Lucerne stand out from the crowd. However, Buick's making tentative forays into the lucrative car-customization market that may change its wallflower status.

The Lucerne looks good inside, and it's spacious as well. That is, of course, what many full-size buyers are after. Available in five- or six-passenger configuration, it's more than roomy enough for four, with generous rear-seat legroom and broad, comfortable seats. Though the car is shorter than the outgoing Park Avenue, the wheelbase is two inches longer. It's safe, too; not just because of its size, but also thanks to the standard seat and roof-rail airbags that add side-impact protection. We didn't care for the cheap-looking dash texture, but otherwise the Lucerne was pleasing to the eye. Heated and cooled seats are available; so is a washer-fluid heater for cold days. Another minor gripe; the seat heaters don't distribute as well as others we've tested, warming only the center portion of the seat. Just like the Buicks of days gone by, the Lucerne can be loaded up like a Cadillac if you choose, with rain-sensing wipers, a Harman-Kardon sound system, ultrasonic parking assist and a navigation system.

The 4.6 liter, 32-valve V8 has 275 horsepower, which is enough to chirp the tires should one be so inclined. It's driving the front wheels, not the rears like in classic Buicks, but the Lucerne responds to a heavy foot on the throttle with a strong, confident push and V8 noises that will be familiar to anyone who ever met a classic LeSabre. A more frugal 3.8 liter V6 is also available, for the more economy-conscious. Buick's obsessive "Quiet Tuning" keeps unpleasant mechanical sounds from reaching the cabin, and electronic throttle control helps to keep the power smoothly manageable. Four-speed automatic transmissions are used with both V6 and V8 models.

The suspension is modern; it's independent, with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear. Out on the open road, the Lucerne shows distinctly different personalities when loaded and unloaded. It's smooth yet harsh at low speeds. Get four people aboard, and the Lucerne smoothes out magnificently however, offering a quiet ride and smooth, soft freeway handling. Plush is the name of the game, though this big Buick doesn't waddle or float the way its predecessors did. Magnetically-controlled variable shock damping is borrowed from Cadillac in the top-of-the-line CXS, and available with StabiliTrak stability control to help keep the big car under control.

Big and bold, the Lucerne is what many Buick customers will consider a "true Buick." It's not trying to be a European or a Japanese car, and that kind of honesty is refreshing. For buyers who love the Buick tradition, it's a good way to carry the torch forward. Lucerne pricing is reasonable too, starting at $25,990. A well-equipped CXL featuring a CD changer, stability control and a luxury package stickers for $32,425.


Specifications:

All specs are for the 2007 Buick Lucerne.
Length: 203.2 in.
Width: 73.8 in.
Height: 58.0 in.
Wheelbase: 115.6 in.
Curb weight: 3869 lb.
Cargo space: 17 cu.ft.
Base price: $26,495 (V6 base model)
Engine: 4.6 liter DOHC 32-valve V8
Drivetrain: four-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 275 @ 5600
Torque: 290 @ 4400
Fuel capacity: 18.5 gal.
Est. mileage: 17/25