At Mainstreet in Motion at the Meadowlands at the end of July, I was already somewhat familiar with the LaCrosse, having driven one for two laps around the Buick circuit in Philadelphia.  But, I took the opportunity to drive the rest of the lineup during the event in New Jersey, so here’s a few thoughts on it.

First, to be fair, the three cars I drove around in were pretty much the same underneath.  All were equipped with the High Feature 3.6L V6 engine, putting out around 280HP.  Each was equipped with leather, navigation, and all the other goodies one could expect from a midsize luxury sedan.  I drove the CXL first, the midlevel model, and probably the softest of the three cars I drove.  It was comfortable, with La-Z-Boy-esque leather upholstery, gorgeous red paint, and 18-inch rims with blinding chrome–if anything, an option I would avoid.  I pushed it about as hard as the other two, and it didn’t respond that well.  The tires screamed for mercy without necessary reason, and body lean was a bit more pronounced than I expected it to be.  The CXL’s suspension and steering seem to be set to “Mr. Softee”, which might be fine for a normal driver, but not for me.

The CXS, even with identical 18-inch rims and tires to the CXL, felt noticeably different.  It didn’t understeer nearly as much, and the tires gripped better.  I also had better control over the steering, due to what felt like more feedback.  The interior was almost identical, and felt nicely upscale–a huge improvement over the fake wood and cheap materials of previous Buick models. Seats are supple yet still supportive enough for spirited cornering–they held well but could have used a little more bolstering on the sides.  The 19-inch rims woke the car up a lot more, with higher grip and much less tire noise while keeping the ride comfortable.  The CXS’s suspension settings are much firmer, but not to the point of pain.  Both models felt nice and big inside, as expected of a car like this.  The trunk’s got plenty of space for a vacation or Buick did a good job of keeping this car comfortable, but Acura may indeed do it better with the TL.

GM also offered a TL to drive.  It felt much more composed on the track than the Buicks, and the interior felt a lot more engaging.  The dials were easier to read, the seat holds a driver much better, and the interior does without the wood of the Buick, but still feels nice to sit in.  The Acura feels much more focused as a sports sedan than the Buick, and it shows.  In addition, it really isn’t that much more money.  If anything, I can’t say that the Buick Lacrosse is a bad car, but it’s not quite up to the TL just yet.  If it were lighter and had less body lean in the corners, then I’d say it’s equal to the TL.  For now, it just misses the mark.  That said, it’s a massive improvement over the previous version of this car.  I’d recommend one to someone without hesitation, but I’d also still tell that buyer to cross-shop a TL, as it is more expensive but worth the extra green.

-Al