First Drive: Buick LaCrosse

Buick has been associated as a brand for old people. Just like with the Cadillac brand, GM did an overhaul with its Buick brand. In 2010, The second-generation Buick Lacrosse was released, showing off the new Buick styling. The first-generation LaCrosse was nothing spectacular. It looked like it was made for old people. GM stepped up big with the LaCrosse's styling. I love the sleek lines. The new LaCrosse does not look like it was made for old people.

The Buick LaCrosse was available for people to test drive at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. This was the first car I test drove. The version GM had out was powered by 2.4L I4 engine with eAssist, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, that produces 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. The minute I got in, I was impressed. The driver seat was very comfortable to sit in. The LaCrosse is also very spacious, with plenty of head room and leg room.

The LaCrosse drives very smoothly. The car is very responsive when I turned the wheel. The LaCrosse goes from 0 to 60 in 9.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 150 mph. The LaCrosse is a little bit slow when hitting the gas pedal.  But when at a complete stop, the engine shuts off. When you press the gas pedal, the engine starts up again. The start-stop system works great. There is no lag with the start-stop engine. When hitting the brakes, energy is transferred to a 115 volt lithium-ion battery, powering a 15 kW electric motor. GM does not consider the LaCrosse a hybrid. GM calls this system "eAssist." This aids when the engine is off at a stop sign, stop light, or when you are stuck in traffic. The battery helps with acceleration, but it does not power the car. The car is still powered by a gas engine. eAssist helps make the LaCrosse efficient with fuel, which is great for long road trips. With a car that is comfortable to drive in, this is a good car for long road trips. If 0-60 mph in 9.4 seconds is too slow for you, the LaCrosse is also available with a 3.6L V6 that 303 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque. This powers the LaCrosse from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. All-wheel drive is also available on the LaCrosse. Prices for the Lacrosse start around $30,000. The version I test drove cost $32,000.

The LaCrosse is spacious, comfortable, and is a good car. If you want a luxurious mid-size sedan with good fuel economy, the LaCrosse with eAssist is great value at $30,000. If you want some fun while being comfortable, the LaCrosse with the V6 is not bad either. This is not a Buick for old people. Younger drivers will not feel old while driving the LaCrosse. It is a good car.

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First Drive: Buick Verano

The Buick brand has not had a compact car for the American market since the production run for the Buick Skylark ended in 1998. In 2011, General Motors decided to start production on a Buick that shares the same platform as the Chevrolet Cruze. This was the Buick Verano, Buick's first compact car sold in America since the Skylark. The Verano is powered by a 2.4L I4 engine, paired with six-speed automatic transmission, that produces 180 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque. A 2.0L turbocharged I4 engine will be available in late 2012. The Verano goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 118. The base price for the Verano starts at $22,585. I would have dismissed as an upscale version of the Chevrolet Cruze, until I got into the driver seat.

The Verano was very room for a compact car. I have been in the back seat of a BMW 3-Series and there was not much leg room. The Verano had good leg room and head room. The driver seat was comfortable, but not as comfortable as the Buick LaCrosse.

The Verano was very responsive when I turned the steering wheel. The car actually moved when I pushed the accelerator, unlike the Chevrolet Volt. Although the Verano is not a quick car with a 0 to 60 mph time of 8.0 seconds, it felt a little quick. There was some pep from the 2.4L I4 engine. My one issue is that there is not a V6 or I6 engine available for the Verano.

The Verano was a pleasant surprise. For a compact car, it was roomy. The 2.4L I4 provides some pep. The Verano is a little quick for a compact car. The Ford Focus takes 8.7 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. A Standard Volkswagen Jetta goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds. For a compact that costs around $23,000, the Verano is a good buy. It responds well, has some pep, and it is comfortable.

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First Drive:2012 Buick Regal CXL Turbo

The Buick Regal has been around in North America since 1973. In 1999, the Regal made its way to China. From 2004 to 2010, Buick and General Motors stopped selling the Regal in North America, but sales of the Regal continued in China. In 2009, an new Regal went to production. From 2009 until early 2011, the Regal was produced in Germany at the Opel (the German subsidiary for General Motors) Russelheim Assembly facility. In German, the car was called the Opel Insignia. In 2011, the Buick Regal began being produced in Oshawa, Ontario. The Regal is a front engine, front-wheel drive four door mid-size sedan. At the 2012 Houston Auto Show, I took one out on a test drive with my father sitting in the back.

On the outside, nothing special. Nothing really stands out. It just looks bland compared to other mid-size sedans. On the inside, there is not much head room. My dad is 5'5"/5'6" and his head was hitting the roof. The seat was not comfortable what so ever. My back stated hurting just one minute into the test drive.

The Regal I test drove came with a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine that produced 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Regal goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. I had no desire to test the acceleration of the Regal. My back was hurting. Also the car has a stiff suspension. The other two Buicks that I drove were very comfortable and had a soft ride. Why did Buick need to make the Regal have a very stiff ride. It is not a car people would take to the track. It is a luxury sedan. Prices for a Buick Regal Turbo start at $30,260. That is not a lot of money for a luxury mid-size sedan with a turbocharged engine, but the ride is too uncomfortable for me to recommend.

Overall, I did not like the Buick Regal Turbo. The ride was so stiff that my back was hurting after one minute of driving it. For as much as I did not like the Chevrolet Volt, at least the Volt was not trying to kill my back. The Buick Regal was not available for test drives at the 2013 Houston Auto Show, but one was on display inside. I sat in a 2013 Buick Regal and it too was uncomfortable. At the 2012 Houston Auto Show, I drove the Buick Verano and Buick LaCrosse and both cars were very comfortable to sit in. I even drove the Buick Enclave at the 2013 Houston Auto Show and that was comfortable to sit in. I just do not understand why the Buick Regal was designed with a stiff suspension. It is not a car someone would drive on track day. The Buick Regal is the most uncomfortable car I drove in 2012. I cannot recommend someone buying this car. If you want a turbocharged four-door sedan, I recommend almost anything else.


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First Drive: 2013 Buick Enclave

At the 2006 North American International Auto Show, General Motors debuted a concept SUV that utilized GM Lambda platform. This car became the Buick Enclave. The Lambda platform is utilized by the Saturn Outlook, GMC Arcadia, and the Chevrolet Traaverse. The Buick Enclave went on sale in 2007 as a 2008 model. The Enclave replaces the Buick Rendezvous (a mid-size crossover SUV), the Buick Rainier (mid-size SUV), and the Buick Terraza (minivan). The Buick Enclave is a front engine full-size luxury crossover SUV that comes with either front-wheel drive (standard option) or four-wheel drive (a $2,000 option). The Enclave comes with three rows of seats. The Enclave can come with either seven seats or eight seats. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I took a Buick Enclave for a test drive. A six-speed automatic transmission is the only transmission available for the Enclave.

The Buick Enclave has below average styling for a crossover SUV. It has some characteristic lines that start from the grill to the back of the vehicle. I am not a big fan of the Buick grill. It is just parts that go vertical, nothing special. This is suppose to be a luxury crossover, it is suppose to be easy on the eyes, but the Enclave is not a pretty car to look at. It shares the same body style as the Chevrolet Traverse. The GMC Arcadia has some characteristics to its styling and GM should have added some uniqueness to the Enclave's styling. While I do not like the exterior, the interior is a different story. While the base cloth seats, it does come with a rear power liftgate and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. But for $4,015 extra, you can go with the Enclave leather group. This package includes leather and wood trim, which gives the Enclave a luxurious feel. The driver and front passenger seats are heated. The driver seat has power recline with memory presets for two drivers. The seats are comfortable. I have good legroom and headroom behind the wheel. If you want more features, there is a premium group trim level. The version I drove came with the premium trim and it had a luxurious feel to it.

The Buick Enclave is powered by a 3.6L V6 engine that produces 288 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 112 mph. The Enclave is a big vehicle and has that big vehicle feel. Yet it feels quick for a full-size crossover SUV. During my test drive, I outran and Ford Mustang 5.0 GT. The Enclave has a good drive quality. It is quiet inside the vehicle. The Enclave has a smooth ride and it responds nicely when I turn the steering wheel. This gives a good driving experience for a full-size crossover SUV, even if it is not the most exciting vehicle to drive. Prices for the Buick Enclave start at $39,665, that includes a $925 destination fee. The version I drove, a FWD Enclave with the premium trim level starts at $47,240, which includes a $925 destination fee.

Overall, the Buick Enclave is a good family vehicle. It has three rows of seats. This is very suitable for a family with two to five children. It makes a good road trip vehicle. Even though there are other vehicles in its class with more powerful engines, the 3.6L V6 engine still provides good power. I outran a V8 Mustang in the Enclave. In addition to solid power and performance, the Enclave has a good ride quality. It is quiet, smooth, and comfortable to drive. But it is not worth the $40,000+ price tag, especially when the base trim level comes with cloth seats. I think that the base trim should start around $33,000. The leather trim Enclave should start at $37,000 with the premium trim going for around $41,000. Other than it being a few thousand dollars overpriced, it is still a good family vehicle. I have driven the Buick Verano, Buick LaCrosse, and Buick Regal. Buick has improved in terms of luxury. The overall Buick styling can improve, but the overall ride quality and comfort for the LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave are very good. Buick needs to soften the ride for the Regal. It was too rough and uncomfortable to sit in.

Next time, I review the 2013 Buick Encore.

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First Drive: 2013 Buick Encore

At the 2012 North American International Auto Show, General Motors debuted a subcompact SUV, called the Buick Encore. At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, General Motors unveiled the Opel Mokka, which the Buick Encore is based on. In the United Kingdom, the Mokka is marketed as a Vauxhall. Opel, a German subsidiary of General Motors, engineered the vehicle. Yet the Encore is built in South Korea. Since the Opel brand is not sold in the United States, Canada, or China. General Motors rebrands Opel cars as Buicks in these markets. The fifth generation Buick Regal is a rebadged Opel Insignia. The Encore is a front-engine subcompact SUV that comes with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. I first saw the Buick Encore at the 2013 Houston Encore. During a Wednesday in August 2013, I stopped by the local Buick delearship and took one for a test drive. The Encore is available with one transmission, a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shifting mode. The version I drove came with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is a $1,500 option.

The Buick Encore is very small. It is one of the smallest SUV sold in the United States. It has a wheelbase of 100.6 inches and an overall length of 168.5 inches. It has an exterior styling that I can only describe as unique. It is not pretty, but it is not ugly either. It does not look like any other car on the road and will stand out. It lacks that the extended wheel arches found on the Nissan Juke, which hurts the Juke's styling. The Encore comes with 18 inch wheels. The version I drove came with 18 inch chromed aluminum wheels, a $995 option. The Encore I drove came with the premium trim level and came with saddle leather seats. It also came with a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, a remote vehicle starter system, heated front and passenger seats, front and rear park assist, forward collision alert, and lane departure warning. The screen in the middle of the dashboard serves as both a screen for the backup camera and the navigation. The leather and wood trim gives the Encore a luxurious feel, even in a vehicle as small as the Encore. The seats are comfortable. I had good headroom and legroom behind the wheel. The premium trim level cost $3,900 more than the base trim level.

The Buick Encore is powered by a turbocharged 1.4L I4 engine that produces 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 110 mph. The Encore feels slow. I notice a little bit of turbo lag coming from the engine. Despite the subpar performance, the Encore has a smooth and quiet ride. The vehicle responds well when I turn the wheel. Prices for the Buick Encore starts at $24,950, including a $750 destination fee. The version I test drove costs $31,475. A full loaded all-wheel drive Encore goes for over $33,000. For the size of the car, it is a little bit pricey.

Overall, the Encore is average. It has a luxurious feel when equipped with the leather and premium trims. But with the base and convenience trims, you do not get a lot, especially for a vehicle starting around $25,000. The Encore is small and underpowered. The Encore could have benefited from either a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine available in the Buick Regal and Cadillac ATS. Hopefully, General Motors will offer more engine options with the Encore. The turbocharged 1.4L I4 engine ruins the driving experience for the Encore. That engine provides 4 more hp than a Toyota Prius. The engine is not powerful enough for a vehicle that weighs 2,850 pounds. The Encore needs a more powerful engine. It is just too slow and small to cost $25,000. If the Encore started at $20,000, then I could recommend it. But there are much better cars and SUVs out there than the Encore that cost around $25,000.

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