Verdict: 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS

Convincing Buyers to LaCrosse over LexusFrom the July, 2011 issue of Motor Trend / Photography by Motor Trend Staff Buick must have been tired of watching Lexus build its reputation on cars that dominate the comfortable luxury sedan segment the American brand once ruled. The ES sedan was Lexus' top-selling vehicle for seven of the first 10 years the brand existed. After more than 20,000 miles with a 2010 LaCrosse, it's clear to us that Buick has crafted a car capable of challenging the popular ES 350. As a bonus, the LaCrosse looks damn good-and not just for a Buick.

"Stop the presses!" said senior editor Jonny Lieberman. "We parked [the LaCrosse] at a lot on the corner of Hollywood and Vine, catty-corner from the Capital Records building. As I handed the car over to the valet-a guy who, night after night, week after week, parks Benzes and Porsches and Astons and Italian cars-said to me, 'Nice car.' And he meant it. This guy thought the Buick LaCrosse is a car worth mentioning. Then, after we left the club, the valet pulled the LaCrosse up and a very smartly dressed woman saw the car and said, 'Whoa-beautiful.' Again, a Buick."

The LaCrosse wasn't without its share of issues, but for the most part, the car supported its curbside appeal with decent driving dynamics. Our Buick was a loaded model powered by the 3.6-liter V-6 engine that, in various forms, also serves duty under the hood of the Cadillac CTS and Chevrolet Camaro. In our Buick, it produced 280 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Overall fuel economy was 19.9 mpg, not too far below the front-drive LaCrosse's official 21-mpg combined rating. Like any good Lexus competitor, the LaCrosse excelled in high-traffic conditions. "The ride is quiet and comfortable, and the LaCrosse is far less prone to diving forward and leaning back than the Lexus ES I drove last year," logged online production manager Kirill Ougarov. An acoustic glass windshield and extra thick windows provide the isolation any good luxury highway cruiser should have.

Motor Trend Rating:

View the original article here