Buick Lucerne

The 2007 Buick Lucerne

The Buick Lucerne is a full-size automobile sold by the Buick division of General Motors that replaces the Park Avenue and the LeSabre in 2006. Although the rear-wheel drive GM Zeta platform was considered, the production Lucerne introduced at the Chicago Auto Show on February 9, 2005, is a front-wheel drive derivative of the G-body Buick LeSabre. Initial sales of the Lucerne have been strong, with the car claiming 24% of the full-size sedan market in the United States.

See Wikicars' comprehensive Buick Lucerne Review.

Recent Changes

The Lucerne was brand new for the 2006 model year, and little has been changed for 2007. Gold Mist Metallic and Light Quartz Metallic were added to the lineup of exterior colors, and interior options have been upgraded to include items such as a new navigation package and new colors.

Styles and Major Options

The 2007 Lucerne is available in three trims: the CX, CXL, and CXS. They share two engines among them, with the CXL being the only trim to offer a choice between the two, and all are equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and front wheel drive. Other features include:

Lucerne CX

3.8L 197hp V6 engine
16" machined alloy wheels
8-way (6-way power) driver's seat
Cloth seating and door trim
Manual front air-conditioning
6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system
Cruise Control
OnStar
Power windows, locks, mirrors

Lucerne CXL

Adds to or replaces CX features with:

4.6L 275hp V8 engine
Available 3.8L 197hp V6 engine
17" painted alloy wheels
8-way (6-way power) front bucket seats
Leather seating and leatherette door trim
Leather shift knob and steering wheel
Dual zone automatic climate control
HomeLink Wireless Control System
Rainsense rain detecting wipers

Lucerne CXS

Adds to or replaces CXL features with:

4.6L 275hp V8 engine
StabiliTrak electronic stability control
Adaptive sport suspension
18" painted alloy wheels
8-way power heated front bucket seats
9-speaker harman/kardon AM/FM/XM/CD audio system

Pricing

Today's actual prices for the Buick Lucerne can be found at CarsDirect.

Lucerne Trims
CX	CXL V6	CXL V8	CXS
MSRP
$25,660	$28,675	$30,685	$34,690
Invoice
$24,248	$27,097	$28,997	$32,782

Gas Mileage

As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Trim
V6 auto	V8 auto
MPG
19/28	17/25

Reliability

As a brand new model in 2006, the Lucerne has yet to establish any reputation for reliability. However, Consumer Reports states that "first year reliability has been above average."

Safety

The 2007 Lucerne performed well in safety tests carried out by the NHTSA. For side-impact crash tests, the Lucerne received 4-Star ratings, and for all front-impact and rollover tests, it received the highest 5-Star rating. Some of the standard safety equipment found on all models of the Lucerne includes:

ABS and driveline traction control
Front and rear anti-roll bars
Four wheel anti-lock brakes
Driver/passenger front- and side-impact airbags
1st/2nd row overhead airbags
Occupancy sensors
Side impact bars

Photos

Colors

Colors for the 2007 Lucerne will vary by trim, and a complete list is viewable at CarsDirect.com. Some of the available combinations include:

Exterior

Black Onyx
Crimson Pearl Tintcoat
Gold Mist Metallic
Ming Blue Metallic
Platinum Metallic
Sharkskin
White Opal

Interior

Cocoa/Cashmere
Cocoa/Shale
Ebony
Titanium

Main Competitors

Hybrid Models

Unique Attributes

Resale Values

According to Kelley Blue Book, "In terms of resale value, the Lucerne is projected to fare about as well as its domestic competitors, but do considerably worse than its more expensive import-brand competitors."

Criticisms

"Though standard features are plenty, common near luxury items like full one-touch windows, a split fold-down rear seat and either a telescoping steering wheel or power-adjustable pedals aren't available." - Edmunds.com
"I'm disappointed that you can't get adjustable pedals or a rear-seat DVD entertainment system." - Cars.com
"Buick styled the Lucerne to have a clean and attractive look. It's nothing too exciting?" - Edmunds.com
"If you can't get comfortable with the idea of picking a domestic brand versus a higher-image import, you may not care for the new Lucerne. This cleanly-crafted four-door looks good enough to earn more youthful (read fiftyish) buyers than the previous Park Avenue, but it's still no kids' cool cruiser." - Kelley Blue Book
"...fuel economy is not much better than mediocre." - Cars.com

Current Generation: (2006–Present)

Like the similar 2005 Pontiac Bonneville, the Lucerne uses a Cadillac Northstar V8 engine in addition to the standard Buick 3800 V6. The Lucerne also became the first V8-powered Buick car since the demise of the Roadmaster in 1996. The Lucerne is also available with the Corvette's Magnetic Ride Control, an active suspension technology.

The Lucerne's base price is lower than that of the LeSabre, its predecessor, though the V8 option causes the price to reach Park Avenue levels. Thus, the V6 options are considered LeSabre replacements, while the V8 option is meant to replace the Park Avenue.

In keeping with Buick tradition, the Lucerne features "Ventiports" on the front fenders corresponding to the number of cylinders in the engine — three on each side for the V6 or four on each side for the V8 Northstar.

Buick intends the new vehicle to compete with the Toyota Avalon and Mercury Grand Marquis in the near-luxury segment, while it is also expected to compete with the Hyundai Azera.

Some similarities exist between the Lucerne and GM's last representative in the near-luxury segment, the Oldsmobile Aurora: In 2001, the Aurora was upsized, and replaced both the Eighty Eight and Ninety Eight/Regency as the flagship Oldsmobile. It was also available with 3.5 L V6 and 4.0 L V8 engines. However, unlike the Lucerne, the Aurora could only be had with five-passenger seating. The Lucerne can be ordered in either five or six-passenger configurations.

Engines:

3.8 L 3800 V6, 197 hp and 227 ft·lbff
4.6 L Northstar V8, 275 hp

Worldwide

Design quirks and oddities

In the December 2005 conclusion of The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, winner Dawna Stone was admitted into Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to work with the company's Body + Soul magazine. At the celebration, Stewart refused to give Stone champagne, instead giving her the keys to a Buick Lucerne for hers to keep. Promotion of the vehicle had been a task for teams earlier in the competition.

Awards

External links

This page uses content from Wikipedia; see Buick Lucerne, which includes these contributors.