Buick Lucerne packed with power, luxury, performance
2006 Buick Lucerne CXS luxury sedan
Published: Aug 22, 2006
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THE RIDE: Four-door, five- or six-passenger 2006 Buick Lucerne CXS luxury sedan.
DOWN THE ROAD: The all-new Lucerne, which replaces the Buick Park Avenue and LeSabre, gets tuning throughout the cabin. This ensures a virtually pin-drop silent ride, with road and powertrain noise kept to the minimum. The front-wheel-drive car accelerates quickly and smoothens the rough surfaces and bumps on the city streets with poise and confidence. And best of all, there is a choice of at least four trims.
TECH & PERFORMANCE: The 4.6-liter Northstar V-8 engine pumps out 275 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 292 pounds-feet of torque at 4400 rpm. Mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, the Lucerne is equipped with an independent MacPherson strut coil-over-spring and stabilizer bar in the front and a multilink independent suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar in the rear. Add the Magnetic Ride Control — which continuously adjusts a synthetic fluid to varying road conditions — coupled with StabiliTrak to the mix, and you have a smooth, luxurious ride. The rack-and-pinion steering, also a magnetic variable, lends further credence to the sedan's plushness and comfort. Four-wheel-disc brakes, vented in the front at 17.7 inches and solid rear at 11.5 inches, carry the Lucerne to safety on standard and powerful 18-inch aluminum wheels.
LOOK & FEEL: A perfect giveaway that this is indeed a Buick is the traditional waterfall grille, with its jeweled, chromed headlights. What caught my eye are the four chromed portholes on the front fenders on both sides of the car. Also noticeable is a 60-degree rakish windshield, which meets up at a 70-degree rear-window angle. The cabin conveys an airy feel with ample headroom for the driver and front passengers and loads of legroom for rear-seat passengers. Leather and wood trim deck the door panels, dashboard, seats and of course the four-spoke steering wheel. The ebony interior was particularly appealing and a perfect match for the shark-skin color of my test-drive Lucerne. Indeed, all the materials in the cabin are first rate.
SAFETY FIRST: The dual front and side airbags, as well as a head curtain for all seats, is standard. So are the rear child seat anchors, remote keyless entry, tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights.
OUT THE DOOR: $34,265, plus tax, tag, delivery and destination charges. The driver confidence package, which gets you a remote vehicle starter system, theft deterrence system and rear parking assist, is worth the $595 cost. So are the cooled and heated driver and front passenger seats for $500.
BY THE NUMBERS: Tires, 245/50R18; wheelbase, 115.6 inches; length, 203.2 inches; weight, 3,764 pounds; fuel capacity, 18.5 gallons; highway, 25 mpg; city, 17 mpg.
WHY DIG IT: Buick lovers will fall in love with the Lucerne for its power, performance, luxury and safety features. And those who have considered buying a Buick may want to take a second look at this sedan. It will be well worth it.
Nitish S. Rele is an Advertising Staff Writer for The Tampa Tribune.
