The 2011 Buick LaCrosse is turning lots of heads with its sharp, flowing style. It’s also turning minds with a combination of luxury, performance and quality that many thought only came with a luxury-brand price tag. The starting MSRP is just the first of the LaCrosse’s many impressive figures.
Ultimately, a memorable car needs to be more than just a collection of impressive numbers. But when a car has numbers as impressive as those of the 2011 Buick LaCrosse (MSRP starting at $26,995), it’s a good place to start. The starting MSRP is an eye-opener for a sedan with this much style, room and comfort.
And how about the number 30? That’s the highway fuel economy (in miles per gallon) of LaCrosse CX and CXL models with the standard 2.4-liter Ecotec engine. Then there’s the number 280 – that’s the horsepower of the smooth and refined 3.6-liter V6 engine with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) that’s standard on the LaCrosse CXL all-wheel drive model and LaCrosse CXS and optional for the others. The 27 mpg highway fuel economy that accompanies this world-class powerplant is just as impressive.
Jumping back to that standard Ecotec engine for a moment, it’s a high-tech DOHC 182-hp four-cylinder unit with Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI). As with the V6, it’s teamed to a standard electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control. The combination of strong low-end torque with the six-speed makes the four-cylinder LaCrosse a responsive driver.
The $33,070 MSRP for the V6 LaCrosse CXL AWD is still thousands less than a comparably equipped Lexus ES 350, which is not available with all-wheel drive. Here are two more interesting numbers: LaCrosse offers an expansive 40.5 inches of rear legroom, which is 4.6 inches more than a Lexus ES 350. It’s the kind of room you’d associate with much more expensive premium luxury models.
The LaCrosse CXL, whether in front-wheel or all-wheel drive form, offers standard leather-appointed heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, foglamps, XM Satellite Radio, heated exterior mirrors with integrated LED turn signals and puddle lamps and 18-inch alloy wheels, among many other comfort and convenience features. It’s luxury without the luxury price.
Buick recognizes that different types of drivers prefer different driving experiences; the 2011 LaCrosse accommodates. All models feature Buick’s signature QuietTuning®, a process that blocks or absorbs noise at its sources. Every LaCrosse gets standard four-wheel antilock disc brakes, electronic stability and traction control systems, tire pressure monitoring and rear parking assist. From there, you can choose your level of handling.
The LaCrosse CXS comes equipped with an advanced HiPer Strut front suspension, which is more sophisticated than the basic MacPherson strut designs found in other vehicles. It simultaneously yields more responsive handling and a more refined ride. It also reduces “torque steer,” the tendency to pull to one side under hard acceleration. The CXL AWD comes standard with a locking rear differential.
Buick’s chassis engineers went even further for the driving enthusiast. The rear suspension, a sophisticated four-link design, provides a super-smooth ride. Stepping up to the optional Touring Package on the CXS model brings 19-inch wheels and a different H-arm suspension design that further smoothes the ride. Finally, the Touring Package includes an advanced automatic damping adjustment that “reads” the road and firms or softens response in mere milliseconds. That’s another technology you’d expect on a more expensive luxury model.
Advanced, yet easy-to-use technologies inside the LaCrosse help you keep connected and enjoy your music your way. Standard or available features, depending on trim, include ventilated front seats, push button start, remote start, in-dash navigation with a 40GB hard drive (10GB reserved for music), Bluetooth wireless connectivity, an auxiliary audio input and a USB port. Remember that expansive rear-seat legroom (40.5 inches, in case you forgot)? Lucky rear-seat passengers can also enjoy an available DVD entertainment system with two display screens integrated into the front seatbacks. The available power rear-window sunshade cuts glare, making viewing more comfortable.
The driver, meanwhile, gets a boost for visibility with an available head-up display, which projects vehicle speed onto a portion of the windshield. Adaptive lighting directs the high-intensity discharge (HID) headlight beams into the curves as you steer. When the navigation system is chosen, a rearview camera is also available. And on the road, the available Side Blind Zone Alert feature warns you if a vehicle in adjacent lanes enters your blind spot.
Six months of OnStar’s Directions and Connections plan is standard in the LaCrosse. In addition to OnStar’s Automatic Crash Response, Remote Door Unlock, Stolen Vehicle Assistance and other emergency services, LaCrosse offers Hands-Free Calling, Remote Ignition Block, Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Destination Download and OnStar eNav as standard features.
By now, you’re getting the idea that the 2011 Buick LaCrosse was designed to entice drivers and passengers alike. That’s the mark of a premium sedan, but with the value and proven quality of a Buick. Come in for a test drive, and bring a rear-seat passenger or two.
Source: IMN