Best Deals On 2012 Buick Lacrosse Leather Group Mild Hybrid Sedan
MSRP: $31,895
The Buick Lacrosse has only been around since 2005, but it is already in its second generation. It was originally built to replace the discontinued Century model. It is classified by Buick as a mid-size, entry-level, mild hybrid luxury sedan. It was named the LaCrosse after the sport, because Buick was trying to capture a younger, more active demographic with it. Ironically enough, they had to call it the Allure in Canada, because in Quebec, LaCrosse is the rough equivalent to what “double cross” means in the US.
The 2012 Buick LaCrosse Leather Group Sedan is the third of seven trim levels, and the one whose name sounds the most like a boyband gone awry. It comes with a mild hybrid engine called an eAssist. It combines a 2.4 liter inline 4-cylinder engine with a lithium-ion battery pack, and together, they produce 182 horsepower. It has 17-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission. It is rated at 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, which is the best mileage in its class.
The LaCrosse Leather Group comes with an incredible amount of conveniences for a less than middle trim level. It has leather-covered, tilt-telescope steering wheel that houses the audio and cruise controls, heated 8-way front seats with height adjustment, driver lumbar support, memorized settings for two drivers, a split-folding rear seat, leather upholstery, keyless entry, full-power accessories, 2-zone climate control divided between driver and front passenger, and rear ventilation ducts.
It also has simulated wood and alloy trim on the doors, console, and dash, wood trim and leather on the shift knob, turn signals in the mirrors, 12-volt outlets in the front and rear, a rear spoiler, a rear defogger, automatic headlights, foglights, an external temperature display, and a trip computer. The audio system has 7 speakers, AM/FM/satellite radio, a CD/MP3 player, an audio jack, a USB/iPod input, and bluetooth.
The Lacrosse also has antilock brakes with brake assist, stability control, traction control, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, and the GM OnStar emergency communication system. The Lacrosse hasn’t been tested by the US government yet, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it their best grade of good for front-impact, side-impact, rear-impact, and roof strength tests.
Conclusions and driver feedback:
Make no mistake about it; the LaCrosse is a beautiful car, both inside and out. GM is spending as much money advertising this car as they are any car in their lineup, and they have pulled out all the stops to make it one of the best US cars on the market. The design is sleek and modern, and the dash is almost futuristic. There are a lot of conveniences, and a lot of conveniences means a lot of controls. These seem to confuse the older driver, but the computer generation doesn’t even think twice about them. The overall feel is definitely luxury. GM has done a great job of making this a visually-pleasing American car.
There is a ton of cabin space for a midsize. Both the front and rear seats have enough headroom and legroom to fit driver and passengers as tall as 6-5 comfortably. The front seats are especially comfortable because of their 8-way power adjustment combined with so much room. The trunk is the only part that isn’t spacious, with only 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space because of the eAssist Lithium ion battery.
The Lacrosse also manages to pull off something that is usually reserved for European luxury cars: it drives sporty but produces a luxury ride. The handling feels like that of a much smaller car. The steering is very responsive, the suspension is very athletic, and the acceleration is much better than what you would expect from a hybrid.
The ride, though, is pure luxury. Besides being visually attractive, the LaCrosse is very comfortable and the ride is “like butter.” The cabin is also very quiet, allowing a passenger to fully detach if he or she wants to.
All in all, GM has done it right this time. Last year’s model was perfect except for the drivetrain. This year’s model is perfect.
The verdict: very highly recommended.
Other trims, options, and various caveats…
There are a total of seven trim levels. Since it is not a goal of this review to put anyone to sleep, we won’t fully describe all seven trim levels. But we will tell you about the base trim and the highest trim.
The Base trim is just called the Base, and starts at $29,960. The Base is actually quite well-adorned for a base trim, and is a very good value as it is. The Base trim features the same engine, transmission, and mileage as the Leather Group. You don’t get the remote ignition, power lumbar adjustment, auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, turn signal mirrors, heated front seat, or full-power adjustment in the front seats.
The “big Kahuna” of LaCrosse trims is the Touring Group. It starts at $38,720. It gives you everything in the Leather Group, but substitutes a 3.6 liter V6 that is like last year’s, but a lot better. It produces 303 horsepower, which is more than last year, but is rated at the same 17 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
It also adds an 11-speaker Harmon-Kardon audio system, 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, a blind spot warning system, adaptive headlights, a rear parking sensor, a navigation system, digital music storage, perforated leather upholstery, and a 120-volt house outlet.
There are other options available, like a two-screen rear entertainment system, rear side airbags, or a sunroof. Because the V6 isn’t a mild hybrid, the storage space in the trunk goes back up to 13 cubic feet.
The other trims are various combinations of what is listed here. Basically, if you can afford the price, there is something for everyone here.
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