Buick LaCrosse
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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.
The biggest change in the 2012 LaCrosse is standard eAssist, which marries an 11 Kw (15-hp) electric motor to a 182-hp 2.4-liter Ecotec four driving a six-speed automatic transmission. It's good for a 20-percent improvement in EPA highway fuel economy and an impressive 32-percent boost in city economy over the 2011 four-cylinder LaCrosse. If you prefer horsepower to hybrid power, a lighter and more powerful (than last year) 303-hp 3.6-liter V6 is a no-cost option.
The LaCrosse finds itself surrounded by an ever-increasing field of sporty and capable competitors. It has not been the smash success for which Buick was hoping, and the division has had to reconfigure its midsize sedan by offering a wider range of features, as well as more competitive pricing. On paper, the LaCrosse appears equal to such market heavyweights as the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata and Honda Accord, matching them in power, features and interior volume. Unfortunately, the LaCrosse's conservative styling hampers its ability to lure foreign car converts and younger buyers, a situation likely to become even more dire with the arrival of the very attractive new Chrysler Sebring.
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