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2013 Buick LaCrosse

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Overview

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2013 Buick LaCrosse Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 7.6

Buick's 2013 LaCrosse is intended to bring younger buyers to what has traditionally been seen as a nameplate for more senior folks. Conservatively handsome, well equipped, capable and polished, the car boasts eAssist, an impressive assortment of efficiency-enhancing technologies developed from GM's mild-hybrid system. A more powerful V6 engine is available, but we actually prefer the progressive spirit of the eAssist powertrain, with its 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, small electric "boost" motor and regenerative braking. In a rare win-win, the system improves both fuel economy and performance, and combines with the car's solid look and feel to create a thoroughly credible alternative to the established imports. After getting its eAssist system last year, the LaCrosse rolls into 2013 with only minor changes to trim and option packages.

You'll Like This Car If...

There are plenty of modestly upscale sedans that offer decent performance with impressive efficiency at a competitive price, but if you are pleasantly surprised to find those qualities from a traditional American brand, the Buick LaCrosse belongs on your short list.

You May Not Like This Car If...

For many up-and-coming car shoppers, the Buick brand, though clearly on the move, is still not an aspirational target, and you might feel more naturally drawn to similar offerings from Lexus, Audi or Acura.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

7.6
Driving Dynamics

6.7
Comfort & Convenience

7.7
Design: Interior & Exterior

7.1
Value

7.1
Safety

9.9

How It Ranks

#5

out of 19

MPG

#15

out of 18

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

8.5 out of 10

View all
consumer ratings

2013 Buick LaCrosse Low/wide front photo

What's New for 2013

After eAssist's debut last year, 2013 is quiet for the LaCrosse. Option groups are arrayed in five packages now (previously seven), ranging from the base LaCrosse to the Touring package, with Leather, Premium I and Premium II levels filling in. All-wheel drive (AWD) is available on Leather and Premium I trim levels.

Driving the LaCrosse

2013 Buick LaCrosse Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions The key point about the 2013 Buick LaCrosse driving experience is how transparent its eAssist system is on the road. A 15-hp electric motor helps the 182-hp 4-cylinder engine during...

acceleration. When slowing, the motor flips its function to act as a generator, and it recaptures some of the car's kinetic energy, recharging a lithium-ion battery. The gas engine also shuts down but restarts quickly without the shudder typical of some hybrids. In short, the LaCrosse with eAssist drives absolutely normally. We found the steering precise, the brakes strong, the handling surprisingly agile and eAssist acceleration more than adequate though the engine can get a bit raucous at higher revs. A hill-assist feature prevents rollback during uphill launches with the engine stopped. An entertaining instrument-panel graphic shows electric power flow from the battery to the front wheels when it's being used and back to the battery during deceleration.

Favorite Features

EASSIST
A clever and largely transparent marriage of a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, a small electric motor and regenerative braking, the eAssist evolved-mild-hybrid system significantly improves both fuel efficiency and performance without adding a lot of weight or cost.

HEAD-UP DISPLAY
It shows speed, navigation instructions, audio status (including song titles) and other key information in your line of sight, seemingly out there over the hood, and its brightness and vertical position are easily adjusted. It's one of the best we've seen.

2013 Buick LaCrosse Details

2013 Buick LaCrosse Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

Inside the nicely-crafted cabin warm wood, smoked chrome accents and ice-blue ambient lighting create a comfortable, upscale environment. Complementing the exterior, a smooth-flowing design theme has the instrument panel wrapping into the doors and the high-grade leather has handsome contrasting stitching. All major buttons and controls – including those on the leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel – are conveniently large, well-marked and intuitive to use. Noise levels inside are commendably low and rear-seat space is notably generous.

Exterior

Buick's now firmly-established family look gives the 2013 LaCrosse a big waterfall grille, a sculpted side "spear" sweeping from the headlamps to the tail lamps and a roofline that blends gracefully into a short rear deck. Thanks to underbody aero panels and electronically-controlled lower-grille shutters that close at higher speeds, an eAssist LaCrosse has slightly better aerodynamic efficiency than one with the V6 engine.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The LaCrosse's list of standard features is long and comprehensive, including a full-color driver information center, OnStar (with a 6-month subscription), SiriusXM Radio (3-month trial), a manual tilt/telescoping steering wheel, remote keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels and both Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Standard safety features include traction and stability control, brake assist and six airbags.

Optional Equipment

The 2013 Buick LaCrosse's extensive options list includes high-intensity-discharge headlamps, Side Blind Zone Alert to help spot vehicles hiding in your blind spots, a (terrific) head-up display, heated and ventilated perforated leather-covered seats, power-adjustable lumbar support for the driver (but not the front-seat passenger), a heated steering wheel, GPS navigation, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, a power rear sunshade and even a 110-volt power outlet for charging your phone or computer. All are available either stand-alone or in packages.

Under the Hood

The eAssist powertrain - a 4-cylinder engine plus a small electric motor/generator to provide both a power boost and regenerative braking - is standard on base LaCrosse and Leather versions. A 303-hp 3.6-liter Flex-Fuel-capable V6 is a no-cost option on those two lower-level packages, and the sole offering on Premium I, Premium II and Touring versions. All-wheel drive is available on Leather and Premium I packages, with the V6 only. All combinations use GM's latest 6-speed automatic transmissions. Though the V6 is stronger, eAssist is frankly more interesting and appealing. It provides a 15-hp on-demand boost to the 182-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. When you're off the throttle, regenerative braking charges the 115-volt lithium-ion battery.

2.4-liter 4-cylinder (with eAssist)
182 horsepower @ 6,700 rpm
172 lb-ft of torque @ 4,900 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/36 mpg

3.6-liter V6 (Flex-Fuel E85-capable)
303 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
264 lb-ft of torque @ 5,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/27 mpg, 13/19 mpg (E85)

Pricing Notes

The 2013 Buick LaCrosse has a starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of around $32,500, including destination, with either the fuel-efficient eAssist "mild hybrid" 4-cylinder/electric motor system or the more powerful but less fuel-efficient V6. That compares to around $33,500 for a 2013 Audi A4 and near $37,000 for a Lexus ES 350. The LaCrosse eAssist also offers better fuel economy and is EPA-rated at 25 mpg city, 36 highway, compared to 24/31 for the Audi A4 and 21/31 for the Lexus ES350. (The full-hybrid Lexus ES300h is rated at 40/39 but with a price near $40,000.) The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price lists an actual transaction price within roughly $1,000 of MSRP. Resale data is not yet available for the 2013 Lacrosse, but the 2012 model was projected to retain only about 33 percent of its value after five years.

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2013 Buick LaCrosse Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.5

Out of 10

Based on 111 Ratings for the 2010 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.7/10

Quality

8.8/10
Reliability

9.0/10

Performance

8.6/10
Comfort

8.7/10

Styling

9.1/10

Very nice car and a great ride

By Hiwayman (SC) on Saturday, June 08, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 37,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I'm a pretty big guy and this car has plenty of room for me to be comfortable. The car has a great ride, not the absolute best I've experienced but that is compared to the nicest vehicles out there. The vehicle has fantastic acceleration and handling, the steering is tight and responsive and acceleration is smooth. I have been extremely pleased with this car."

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It's a beauty!

By Florida (FL) on Friday, May 17, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 33,800

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Luxury, great engine, technology equipped"

Cons: "Poor lateral visibility"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"The 2011 Lacrosse CXS has everything you need. It's one of the smoothest rides I've ever had and the HUD technology experience brings the driver to a totally different level!"

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Not the Buick Quality Im used to

By LeSabre81 (RI) on Sunday, April 28, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 7,900

10 6.0

overall rating 6 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 6/10
Value: 4/10
Reliability: 5/10
Quality: 4/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 6/10

Pros: "Price/Lease, Fun to drive, Comfortable"

Cons: "City MPG, Quality, Storage"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 4

"The car itself is sub par. In looks and features it's packed for the price, however the quality is not there. After 9 months and almost 7900 miles on it there are so many squeaks and rattles that according to the dealer "doesn't effect the driveabillity of the car. So its something WE just have to live with" I'm thinking really? I could have saved $10,000 and got a foreign make but Ive always had and loved a GM vehicle. Maybe its just my car as I have a few (4) friends with the same car with various "packages" and they have been "good" so far. As far as driving goes the car is comfortable and fun to drive, however seem sluggish at times or like the transmission isn't quite sure what gear it wants."

6 people out of 6 found this review helpful

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Regretting The Purchase

By VetteDriver (KS) on Thursday, March 14, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 4,000

10 7.0

overall rating 7 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 7/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 1/10
Styling: 7/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Great styling, rich interior, excellent quality."

Cons: "Terrible driveability, 5,000 rpm shifts, gas hog."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"My first review of the 2012 Lacrosse was all great at one month of ownership. But I soon noticed the gas mileage was terrible and no where Buick's rating. At 4,ooo miles the break-in period is over and the noticeable defect in this car is glaring! The transmission is set to shift at over 4,000 rpm. When accelerating on highways the shift points are at 5,000 rpm and over. The car practically redlines at every shift until you reach cruising speed. Not only is this very disappointing, crashes the gas mileage, and adds to engine wear, it becomes very uncomfortable to your senses. The V-6 engine has more than enough power to shift like a "normal" car but I found Buick has done this on purpose. They call this normal! Their customer service line blew me off when I complained about this situation. They acted like it was the very first complaint they have received about this. A quick search on-line finds many complaints about this high shift situation. A new program to re-set shift points is all it would take to stop the growing complaints, but Buick is ignoring the problem. After two months of driving this car I can't wait to get rid of it and back to a "normal" driving car. All the other amenities it offers are negated by this problem. Too bad Buick!"

25 people out of 28 found this review helpful

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Great car, some minor limitations.

By Stew (CA) on Friday, February 22, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 26,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 8/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"Needs more in-cabin storage for incidentals, my only complaint. At 70 MPH is getting almost 30 MPG, in-town not so hot, maybe 18 - 20. First Buick ever, I have owned over 60 cars. Nice styling too."

7 people out of 7 found this review helpful

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Good value

By Gpop (AZ) on Friday, January 11, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 17,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 7/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Feels good on the road. Little choppy in town."

Cons: "Limited front passenger storage."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"I like the car. Good feel and power. Only negative is the rear window and pillars. Very difficult to see side view when backing up. Narrow line of site."

22 people out of 23 found this review helpful

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See all 111 reviews