The 2017 Buick LaCrosse is the first major redesign of General Motors’ mid-luxe sedan since it was introduced in 2009.
The new second-generation LaCrosse is only slightly longer than its first-generation predecessor, by 15 mm, but the wheelbase is significantly greater, stretched out by 65 mm. The front driving wheels are pulled forward and all the wheels are pulled out, improving the car’s handling.
There’s a Sport button now, which you can press for a more responsive drive. It tightens the steering, firms the suspension, quickens the throttle response, and adjusts the shift pattern of the eight-speed transmission.
The engine is all-new – the second generation version of General Motors’ 3.6-litre V-6, which makes 305 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque. Buick used the 3.7L Infiniti V-6 engine as the benchmark for its power.
Most owners won’t really care about the engine and its power, though. They want a smooth and quiet and comfortable ride, and the LaCrosse delivers.
It’s very, very quiet inside the cabin of the new LaCrosse. Buick targeted the Lexus ES350 as the car to beat for keeping out road and engine noise.
You cannot hear or feel the engine running at idle. Its noise is muted by triple-sealed doors, and new sound-absorbing materials inside the cabin, including special floor mats, and by acoustic glass in the windshield and front windows.
There’s a Bose noise-cancelling system, too, similar to that in the Buick Encore, which listens for noise through microphones in the cabin and then mutes it with soundwaves transmitted through the sound system.
Road noise is also muffled by using a quieter five-link suspension setup, and by special noise-absorbent material that’s sprayed under the car and inside the wheel wells.
It’s important for Buick that the passengers in the back seat are as comfortable as the driver, so there’s plenty of legroom and headroom in the rear, and outside noise is as muted back there as in the front of the car.
There’s more cargo space, too. It’s been increased by seven per cent over the previous generation, and will now fit four golf bags.
There’s more storage space in the front now, because the new electronic transmission uses just a small box beneath the lever instead of a manual shift mechanism. This leaves room for a central storage cubby under the floating console.
There’s wireless charging available for your phone in this little pocket, if it has that capability, and two USB connections that will also do the job if you have to plug it in.
All LaCrosses now come as standard with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles, in case you choose to change gears for yourself.
The front console is less cluttered by buttons because the central display touchscreen now has many of the controls that used to take up space on the instrument panel.
Visibility is improved for the driver – a criticism of the previous generation – by making the A-pillars thinner and less obtrusive.
The entire car is considerably lighter than before – about 135 kg was saved by using lighter materials in its construction. There are six different types of steel, of varying strengths and rigidity, and the front bumper is made from aluminum.
Less weight means lower fuel consumption. The official Canadian rating for the new LaCrosse is 11.1 L/100 km in the city and 8.4 on the highway, for an overall rating of 9.9.
All-wheel drive is only available with the loaded Premium edition, and costs an extra $2,450. It’s slightly thirstier on fuel, consuming an official 11.6 L/100 km in the city and 8.1 on the highway, for an average of 10.0.
The new LaCrosse will be available in Canada this September. Pricing for the base model starts at $35,345 and it comes with “leatherette” seats.
If you want full leather seating, the “Preferred” edition starts at $39,370 and rises through the “Essence” edition to the “Premium” edition, which starts at $44,950 in front-wheel drive.
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