2007 Buick LaCrosse/Allure
The Buick brand has long been associated with Grandpa and Grandma’s car, and rightfully so. With uninspired, boat-like cars such as the LeSabre, Century and Regal, most people don’t think of Buick when they are looking at their options for a family car. The Buick brand was also attributed to cars with a sticker price slightly higher than what you would expect to find from a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. General Motors was well aware of these perceptions when they designed the LaCrosse (Allure in Canada, since “LaCrosse” has an offensive meaning in Quebecois slang).
Engine and Drive
The LaCrosse/Allure debuted in the 2005 model year and for 2007 it has gone through a refresh. The base CX and midlevel CXL (our test model) uses the ever so trusty 3.8 Liter V6 engine that has been used in many GM vehicles for around 20 years now. It is one of the most reliable engines around, which may be surprising to some folks that only expect high quality from the Japanese. It boasts 200-horsepower and 225 lb.-ft of torque which is definitely felt when passing other cars on the highway. This car has kick and the engine feels stable at all times. The gears on the LaCrosse/Allure’s 4-speed automatic transmission always shift crisply and predictably. This is something that cannot be said for the competing Ford Fusion whose gear shifting is erratic and quite detrimental to the overall performance. The only problem we found with the Buick’s engine was that a modern engine that generates 200-hp should come in a smaller version than a big and heavy 3.8L. This does not help fuel efficiency and at today’s exorbitant gas prices, that surely hurts the wallet. Fuel efficiency ratings for the LaCrosse/Allure are 12.2 L/100km in the city and 7.4 L/100km on the highway.
The top of the line LaCrosse/Allure CXS comes with a 3.6L V6 engine that produces 240-hp and 225 lb.-ft of torque. It has only slightly worse fuel efficiency ratings than the CX and CXL because it is performance geared. It also has more bells and whistles and a few extra styling features. It will however, set you back an additional $5,000-$7,000 or so.
Interior and Features
We found the midlevel CXL to have adequate features such as a satellite radio (XM), heated front seats, dual zone climate control, and sunroof, as well as descent quality materials for the dash, seats and controls. Not all the features came standard on the CXL but, our test model had all those features and cost about $31,000 CAD.
The car itself has lots of cabin room in the front and back, as well as, accommodating trunk space. The seats are comfortable, even for the pickiest of passengers and the sound system is good too. Not great, but definitely not for Grandpa. Also, the cockpit is attractive and functional. The one major flaw this vehicle has, as do many other GM vehicles is the On Star system. It has what GM calls Turn-by-Turn Navigation, which is only a tiny bit useful in the U.S. because it does not operate in Kilometers, only Miles. Even aside from that, it is apparent that this technology is completely pointless and obsolete if you have a GPS system (which can be purchased for as little $100-$150). GM’s so called “navigation” is a computer voice that tells you when to turn. There is no visual aid and if you miss the turn it recalculates but, you are not able to see the new route and from our experience, it did not do the greatest job of re-routing us. I highly recommend you don’t renew your On Star subscription once the free trial expires. On Star has other “safety” features as well, but again, they are mostly redundant and largely useless.
Exterior
The exterior styling of the LaCrosse/Allure is a much needed evolution from the Buicks’ of years past. The stance of the car looks similar to that of the Pontiac Grand Prix, which is a compliment. The lines and curves are modern enough yet, subtle and still conservative like all the cars it competes against. It has a chrome package option that makes the car look better. However, even without that, this car does look good and gives Toyota, Honda and Ford a serious run for their money.
Verdict
Overall, the LaCrosse/Allure gives you a lot more bang for the buck than its competitors and the quality fears are no longer applicable to all GM vehicles. In fact, GM has made a lot of progress regarding quality and although not all cars are up to the level they should be yet, most of them are and as of now, cars produced by the Big Three should be judged on a case by case basis. In this case, the LaCrosse/Allure has a quality level that is equal to Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. If you are looking for a family car in the $30,000 CAD range, you should check out the Buick LaCrosse/Allure. It will offer more value than the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord and is superior to the Ford Fusion.
Ride: 7.5/10
Interior: 7/10
Exterior: 7.5/10
Reliability: 8/10
Value: 8.5/10
Overall: 8/10
Immediate Competitors:
-Toyota Camry
-Honda Accord
-Ford Fusion