IT’S A BEST BUY BECAUSE:
LaCrosse offers a spacious, quiet, luxurious cabin; up-to-the-minute technology features; a strong-yet-economical V6 engine; and a comfortable ride with surprisingly engaging road manners.
BUT…
All-wheel drive is available only on the top-line (read priciest) trim level, and some testers find the non-traditional electronic shift lever a bit awkward to use.
WORTH NOTING:
Optional on front-drive Essence and Premium models is a $1625 electronic Continuous Damping Control active suspension (with driver-selectable Touring and Sport modes) that provides sharper cornering moves.
WHAT IS IT?
The LaCrosse is Buick’s largest car, and it’s been redesigned for 2017. It comes solely as a four-door sedan, riding a stronger-yet-lighter platform that’s also a bit longer, lower, and wider than its predecessor. A 2.5-inch-longer wheelbase improves rear-seat legroom. The sole powertrain is a 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The model lineup ascends through Base, Preferred, Essence, and Premium trim levels. Standard features include a rearview camera, remote engine start, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality, 4G LTE Wi-Fi Internet hotspot, keyless access and starting, and GM’s Teen Driver monitoring and control system. Wireless device charging, heated and massaging front seats, heated steering wheel, automatic park assist, and auto-dimming adaptive headlights are among the available features. Available safety features include forward collision warning and intervention with pedestrian detection, blind-spot alert, lane-departure warning, lane-change alert, lane-keep assist, and rear cross-path detection.
WHAT’S NEW?
LaCrosse is all-new for the 2017 model year.
FUEL ECONOMY
EPA ratings are 21 mpg city/31 mpg highway with front-wheel drive and 20/29 with all-wheel drive. A fuel-saving stop/start system and Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) are standard.
VALUE IN CLASS
The fact that the new Buick LaCrosse is exceptionally quiet, sumptuously trimmed, and offers generous passenger- and trunk space is not surprising. What’s less expected is its composed ride, confident handling, and rakish-yet-classy styling. Prices jumped a bit with the redesign, so the LaCrosse is now one of the pricier vehicles in the large car category … but it’s also easily one of the best.
2017 Buick LaCrosse Best Buy
| BASE PRICE RANGE | $32,065 – $43,265 |
| BODY STYLES | 4-Door Sedan |
| AVAILABLE ENGINES | 310-Hp, 3.6-Liter V6 |
| DRIVE WHEELS | Front Or All-Wheel Drive |
| BUILT IN | USA |
| EPA FUEL-ECONOMY RANGE | 20-31 MPG |
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