Yahoo Autos 2018 Buick LaCrosse in Depth: What’s Old Is New
Overall Rating:
Old-school Buick luxury isn’t evident in every vehicle bearing the tri-shield badge, but, for better or worse, the LaCrosse has it in abundance. Its plush ride, heavily cushioned seats, and spacious interior provide plenty of comfort, but its run-of-the-mill driving dynamics play to its role as the near-luxury sedan of choice for the uninvolved driver. Technology offerings are comprehensive, and active-safety gear makes a strong showing here, too. The LaCrosse is a handsomely styled large sedan with a capacious cabin and a long list of features, but it’s that old-school Buick softness that may keep it off some shopping lists.
What’s New for 2018?
Changes to the LaCrosse for 2018 create new bookends to the lineup. A mild-hybrid powertrain-consisting of a 2.5-liter inline-four paired with an electric motor-joins the roster as the base engine option and boosts fuel efficiency. On the other end of the spectrum, the new range-topping Avenir trim adds visual flourishes to the LaCrosse’s interior and exterior. A new nine-speed automatic transmission replaces the eight-speed unit from last year but is exclusive to V-6–powered models; all-wheel drive is still available and now can be ordered on the midrange Essence model in addition to the Premium and Avenir. Three new colors-Satin Steel Metallic, Dark Slate Metallic, and Red Quartz Tintcoat-join the party.
What Was New for 2017?
Buick’s flagship sedan was all new for 2017 and benefited from a modernized chassis, a more comprehensive list of standard and optional luxury features, and the latest infotainment offerings while maintaining its classically handsome styling and all-American image.
Trims and Options We’d Choose
Our pick of the range is still the mid-level Essence trim, which sees a $2295 price drop to $37,295 for 2018 due to the introduction of a new entry-level mild-hybrid powertrain. The Essence trim adds some desirable luxury features to the LaCrosse’s spec sheet, including leather seats with memory function for the driver, adaptive headlamps, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and heated front seats. After driving a LaCrosse without the optional Dynamic Drive package, we’d be sure to include that here, as it provides a more agile driving experience; it includes:
• 20-inch wheels
• Adaptive suspension
• Sport mode
This package requires $1625 and the addition of the 3.6-liter V-6 and new nine-speed automatic transmission for another $2500. Our front-wheel-drive LaCrosse Essence wears an MSRP of $41,420.
You Might Also Like
