http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=109862Vehicle Tested:
2006 Buick Lucerne CXL V8 4dr Sedan (4.6L 8cyl 4A)
MSRP of Test Vehicle: $34,945 Price It!!
What Works:
Quiet interior, Likable styling, room for five really means room for five
What Needs Work:
Floaty ride, unathletic handling, long brake distances, laughable fuel economy, below average fit and finish, cruise ship turning radius
Bottom Line:
Buick's newest and best looking model won't do much for the ailing luxury brand
To create the Lucerne CXL V8, which is the brand's first full-size, front-wheel-drive, V8-powered luxury sedan, Buick essentially rebodied the Cadillac DTS and shaved a few grand off the sticker price.
Sound idea. Buick needed to replace its long-in-tooth Park Avenue, and the new model would have a V8 engine, a novelty for its class. Problem is, the DTS isn't exactly a spring chicken. The bulk of its hardware has been around since the late 1990s and it's all showing its age.
Even the 4.6-liter Northstar V8 is graying around its temples. In the Lucerne, it's rated at 275 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 290 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. Impressive numbers five or six years ago, but the much smaller V6 engines in the 2006 Hyundai Azera and 2006 Toyota Avalon nearly match that output. In fact, the 3.5-liter V6 in the Toyota is rated at 280 hp.
At 3,869 pounds the Lucerne is also heavy for its class, and to make matters worse, Buick backs the V8 with a four-speed automatic transmission, which is about as cutting edge as a cassette deck. It shifts smoothly enough for a luxury car, but its gear ratios are too tall to give the Lucerne an alert, ready-when-you-are feel.
As expected, the Buick's acceleration times aren't really any better than the times posted by its V6-powered competition. The Lucerne isn't slow, but it isn't the banker's hot rod its V8 would lead you to believe. At the test track 0-60 mph took 7.7 seconds and the quarter-mile was completed in 15.5 seconds at 92 mph.
On the same day at the same strip we tested an Azera and it ran from zero to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds and matched the Lucerne's quarter-mile performance. The last Avalon we tested was even quicker. Buy a Lucerne with the standard V6 and you should expect to be shut down by the ice cream truck.
Of course the V6 Hyundai and Toyota are without the Lucerne's throaty V8 soundtrack, which is certainly worth something, but they're much more fuel-efficient than the Buick. We averaged less than 14 mpg during our week in the Lucerne, 21 mpg in the Avalon and 17.7 mpg in the Azera.
Originally posted by: Squisher
I don't think people buying Buicks are looking to beat Avalons off the line.
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
you don't buy a full size car with a V8/auto for fuel economy.
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
you don't buy a full size car with a V8/auto for fuel economy.
Why even bother with a V8?
It has about the same power as the competitions V6s, gets much worse fuel economy, and is slower.
So what's the point in even having a V8 if it is trounced by smaller motors?
You can get a top of the line Avalon Limited with laser cruise control for less than that.Yes, there's an abundance of wood and leather, but the materials are average for a car with a $35,000 sticker price. As is the Lucerne's equipment list. Despite its sticker, our Lucerne did not have a sunroof, a telescopic steering wheel or one-touch up windows. Those in the Snowbelt, however, will appreciate its optional heated windshield washer fluid and its remote vehicle starter system. Six airbags and OnStar are standard.
Originally posted by: NFS4
You can get a top of the line Avalon Limited with laser cruise control for less than that.Yes, there's an abundance of wood and leather, but the materials are average for a car with a $35,000 sticker price. As is the Lucerne's equipment list. Despite its sticker, our Lucerne did not have a sunroof, a telescopic steering wheel or one-touch up windows. Those in the Snowbelt, however, will appreciate its optional heated windshield washer fluid and its remote vehicle starter system. Six airbags and OnStar are standard.
Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
you don't buy a full size car with a V8/auto for fuel economy.
Why even bother with a V8?
It has about the same power as the competitions V6s, gets much worse fuel economy, and is slower.
So what's the point in even having a V8 if it is trounced by smaller motors?
So what affordable v6 equals Corvettes standard 400hp?
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
you don't buy a full size car with a V8/auto for fuel economy.
Why even bother with a V8?
It has about the same power as the competitions V6s, gets much worse fuel economy, and is slower.
So what's the point in even having a V8 if it is trounced by smaller motors?
So what affordable v6 equals Corvettes standard 400hp?
WTF does that have to do with the Lucerne? The only reason why it even has a V8 is b/c it's a repackaged version of the dirt old DTS.
If GM took the time to do something with its newer platforms (like enlarging the epsilon) instead of reusing old sh!t, they might grab onto something...and how about actually geting some use out of the fuggin' 3.6 V6????
Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
you don't buy a full size car with a V8/auto for fuel economy.
Why even bother with a V8?
It has about the same power as the competitions V6s, gets much worse fuel economy, and is slower.
So what's the point in even having a V8 if it is trounced by smaller motors?
So what affordable v6 equals Corvettes standard 400hp?
WTF does that have to do with the Lucerne? The only reason why it even has a V8 is b/c it's a repackaged version of the dirt old DTS.
If GM took the time to do something with its newer platforms (like enlarging the epsilon) instead of reusing old sh!t, they might grab onto something...and how about actually geting some use out of the fuggin' 3.6 V6????
So your just pissed that I pointed out you can get 400 ponies from a standard Corvette V8 and there are no affordable V6s with comparable performance? Tsk, tsk.
If your going to rag on v8s, which Im no fan of, at least know what your talking about. :laugh:
Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
you don't buy a full size car with a V8/auto for fuel economy.
Why even bother with a V8?
It has about the same power as the competitions V6s, gets much worse fuel economy, and is slower.
So what's the point in even having a V8 if it is trounced by smaller motors?
So what affordable v6 equals Corvettes standard 400hp?
WTF does that have to do with the Lucerne? The only reason why it even has a V8 is b/c it's a repackaged version of the dirt old DTS.
If GM took the time to do something with its newer platforms (like enlarging the epsilon) instead of reusing old sh!t, they might grab onto something...and how about actually geting some use out of the fuggin' 3.6 V6????
So your just pissed that I pointed out you can get 400 ponies from a standard Corvette V8 and there are no affordable V6s with comparable performance? Tsk, tsk.
If your going to rag on v8s, which Im no fan of, at least know what your talking about. :laugh:
whatever the HELL you are trying to argue... it makes NO sense.
Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
you don't buy a full size car with a V8/auto for fuel economy.
Why even bother with a V8?
It has about the same power as the competitions V6s, gets much worse fuel economy, and is slower.
So what's the point in even having a V8 if it is trounced by smaller motors?
So what affordable v6 equals Corvettes standard 400hp?
WTF does that have to do with the Lucerne? The only reason why it even has a V8 is b/c it's a repackaged version of the dirt old DTS.
If GM took the time to do something with its newer platforms (like enlarging the epsilon) instead of reusing old sh!t, they might grab onto something...and how about actually geting some use out of the fuggin' 3.6 V6????
So your just pissed that I pointed out you can get 400 ponies from a standard Corvette V8 and there are no affordable V6s with comparable performance? Tsk, tsk.
If your going to rag on v8s, which Im no fan of, at least know what your talking about. :laugh:
(Remember, I agree with you)
Originally posted by: NFS4
I can't get the big toyota dong out of my mouth