2011 Buick Lucerne Review
The 2011 Buick Lucerne is a full-size luxury sedan offered in four trim levels: CX, CXL, CXL Premium and top-of-the-line Super. Five-passenger seating is standard and six-passenger seating with a 40/20/40 front split bench seat is available on all trim levels except Super.
Model variations have been streamlined this year. The basic CX model starts off modestly with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlamps and foglamps, heated mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control, cloth upholstery, six-way power front seats, leather-wrapped tilt-only steering wheel, air-conditioning, fully powered accessories, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, OnStar communications and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, an iPod/USB audio interface, an auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio. The Comfort and Convenience package includes dual-zone automatic climate control and Bluetooth.
8 Passenger SUV: 2011 Buick Enclave Review
The 2011 Buick Enclave, a premium crossover SUV, is the luxury offering from the trio of platform-sharing SUV’s by General Motors. The sister vehicles being the Chevrolet Traverse and the GMC Acadia, all of which are designed for people-hauling plus cargo-carrying and can tow. I recently spent a week driving an Enclave CXL-2 All-Wheel-Drive. I had spent time in the Chevy Traverse that I previously reviewed on The Auto Channel.
The 2011 model is virtually unchanged from 2010; but why change a good thing. Lauded as the first modern Buick with high levels of refinement, the Enclave is luxury-sedan quiet. The moment you get in the high-quality luxury appointments are evident. I was impressed by its responsiveness, quiet operation, minimal wind and tire noise, and smooth-shifting transmission. Acceleration and available engine power is adequate for the usual driving situations. Its quiet cruising is a pleasantry.
The Enclave is constructed with an integral uni-body and frame architecture, is offered in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with one engine/transmission combination, a 288 Horsepower all-aluminum 3.6L V6 mated to a 6-speed automatic. Using the recommended regular unleaded fuel, EPA fuel economy ratings are 17 City mpg and 24 Highway mpg for the front-drive model and 16 City mpg and 22 Highway mpg for the All-wheel drive. The 22 gallon fuel tank should allow for all-day driving with around 500 miles between fuel stops.
Seating configuration for 7 or 8 is available with 23.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row seat. I prefer the 7-seat configuration that has two individual captain’s chairs in the second row and 67.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind them with the rear seat folded.Enclave’s second-row seats feature Read more…
Categories: 4autochannel, Auto Review, Buick, Car Review Tags: Buick, Enclave, Passenger, Review
2010 Beijing Motor Show:Chinese-market Buick Excelle sedan caught without camo
The next step in Buick’s plan for Chinese world domination is a new small sedan based on the Opel Astra called the Buick Excelle. Following what’s likely to be its debut for the Chinese market later this month at the Beijing Motor Show, Buick plans to bring the compact sedan to the United States in 2011.
So, with introductions out of the way, let’s take a closer look at what will be the smallest car in Buick’s completely revised stable. Naturally, the expected toothy, chromed waterfall grille is present and accounted for, flanked on either side by rounded-off, rhomboid headlights. Note, too, the twin vestigial chrome portholes on each side of the mostly flat hood.
Categories: Beijing Motor Show, Buick, Sedan Tags:
