2009 Buick LaCrosse

*Est. $25,640 to $33,805
Reviewed
April 2009
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2009 Buick LaCrosse

Pros
  • Very smooth and quiet
  • Available front bench seat
  • Average or better reliability
  • Upscale standard features
  • Long warranty
Cons
  • Outdated platform and powertrain
  • Below-average side and rear crash scores
  • Fuel economy
  • Steering and handling
  • Cramped rear seat
  • Interior quality gets mixed reviews
  • Loses value quickly

The 2009 Buick LaCrosse is outdated, cramped, less safe than other family sedans and guzzles too much gas, experts say. Fortunately, reviews say Buick has a much better LaCrosse coming for 2010. Until it hits showrooms, however, critics recommend looking elsewhere.

The Buick LaCrosse's biggest asset in reviews is its extremely smooth, quiet ride. Critics also say the LaCrosse is attractive in a conservative way. It's one of the few sedans that can still seat six via an optional front bench seat. The Buick LaCrosse "will likely suit older, more traditional Buick drivers just fine," Edmunds.com says. "But if the company hopes to grow its audience beyond this demographic (and it does), it will need to up its game when it comes to handling and performance dynamics."

More than one review describes the LaCrosse's steering as "numb," and testers note substantial body roll and wallowing over bumps. Critics don't agree on the LaCrosse's interior quality: Most say it's well appointed, but Edmunds.com criticizes the lightweight plastics, fake wood and "standard 'mouse fur' upholstery… pure rental-car fare." Reviews repeatedly call the back seat "tight." All of this applies to the entry-level Buick LaCrosse CX (*est. $25,640) and LaCrosse CXL (*est. $28,010), which adds a sunroof and heated leather seats. Those trims come with a 200-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engine and four-speed automatic transmission.

The Buick LaCrosse Super (*est. $33,805) is a very different animal, with its 300-horsepower, 5.3-liter V-8 engine (although it keeps the same four-speed automatic as the lesser). The Super comes decked out with big aluminum wheels and dual chrome exhaust outlets, and it mystifies some critics. "Clearly, Buick's fastest-ever car (150 mph top end) makes no sense," TheTruthAboutCars.com's Michael Martineck says of the LaCrosse Super. It's certainly fast, and Martineck says he kind of likes it -- despite the fact that its front-wheel-drive setup isn't really a good match for that level of horsepower. But he wonders who will buy the ramped-up Buick LaCrosse. Edmunds.com recommends the Pontiac G8 GT (*est. $31,755) or Chrysler 300C (*est. $37,135) instead, if you're looking for a big V-8 sedan.

The Buick LaCrosse Super delivers a low 19 mpg in mixed driving (16 city/24 highway), according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The LaCrosse CX and CXL don't do much better, at 21 mpg mixed (17 city/28 highway). That's three or four mpg less than better-reviewed midsize four-cylinder sedans, including the Honda Accord (*est. $20,905 to $28,955), which experts say is also safer, roomier and holds its resale value better than the Buick LaCrosse.

The LaCrosse gets some of the worst safety ratings of any family sedan. It does a "poor" job protecting occupants in rear-end crashes and only a "marginal" job in side crashes, the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says. Government crash tests show that the driver would have an 11 to 20 percent chance of serious injury if the LaCrosse were hit in the side by a pickup or SUV moving 31 mph. With most family sedans, the risk is less than 6 percent.

Several reviews predict that the LaCrosse will lose its value quickly. "The LaCrosse is a lame duck, slated for 2010 replacement," says Martineck at TheTruthAboutCars.com. "I mean, how many ways can you say depreciation?" Kelley Blue Book estimates that a new 2009 Buick LaCrosse will lose 62 percent of its value within a year.

The 2009 Buick LaCrosse didn't get any special accolades for reliability until J.D. Power and Associates came out with its latest dependability survey, awarding the LaCrosse first place among midsize cars. Another major owner survey gives the LaCrosse only average marks for dependability. The Buick LaCrosse is covered by a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

We found expert road tests of the Buick LaCrosse at Consumer Reports, Edmunds.com, ConsumerGuide.com, Kelley Blue Book and Car and Driver. Each of these reviews is less thorough than the last, from the exhaustive Consumer Reports write-up to the short pros-and-cons style review at Car and Driver. TheTruthAboutCars.com provides the most comprehensive review of the LaCrosse Super. Official fuel economy and safety tests are helpful, as is J.D. Power and Associates' dependability survey.

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Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.org

Consumer Reports editors test the Buick LaCrosse and rank it alongside almost every other family sedan on the market. Consumer Reports judges everything from ride quality and handling to safety and reliability.

Review: Buick LaCrosse, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

2. Edmunds.com

The Buick LaCrosse's biggest assets are its quiet cabin and well-cushioned ride, Edmunds.com says, but it isn't very competitive in other categories (handling, roominess, etc). Experts here thoroughly test the LaCrosse and advise buyers to look elsewhere first.

Review: 2009 Buick LaCrosse Review, Editors of Edmunds.com

3. ConsumerGuide.com

ConsumerGuide.com says its testers are steeply divided over the Buick LaCrosse. Some say it's expensive and drives poorly, while others find it comfortable and spacious. After scores in 11 categories are averaged, the LaCrosse comes out slightly better than the average midsize car.

Review: 2009 Buick LaCrosse: Road Test, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com

4. Kelley Blue Book

Respected automotive resource Kelley Blue Book provides easy-to-read reviews of most available cars and trucks. Editors pronounce the 2009 Buick LaCrosse CX capable, if not particularly innovative, and assert that the LaCrosse represents a step in the right direction for Buick.

Review: 2009 Buick LaCrosse Review, Editors of Kelley Blue Book

5. Car and Driver

Car and Driver offers only a brief Buying Guide capsule review of the 2009 Buick LaCrosse, but this sedan's assets and shortcomings are neatly summarized. Editors also attach a numerical ranking: The LaCrosse gets six points out of 10 for consumer appeal, but only two points for enthusiast appeal.

Review: 2009 Buick LaCrosse, Editors of Car and Driver

6. The Truth About Cars

Michael Martineck tests the V-8 Buick LaCrosse Super and says it certainly is fast. However, he lists a few sporty competitors that can outperform the Buick for less. This review covers the 2008 model, which is fundamentally unchanged for 2009.

Review: 2008 Buick LaCrosse Super Review, Michael Martineck, Apr. 30, 2008

7. SaferCar.gov

A Buick LaCrosse driver is more likely to be seriously injured in a side crash than if he or she drove any other family sedan, government crash tests show. This National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-run website lists crash and rollover ratings for nearly every car on the market.

Review: 5-Star Safety Ratings, Editors of SaferCar.gov

8. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The Buick LaCrosse stumbles in several safety categories measured by this insurance-industry-backed nonprofit agency. The LaCrosse does a "marginal" job protecting occupants in side crashes, a poor job in rear-end collisions, and electronic stability control is only optional.

Review: Large Family Cars, Editors of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

9. FuelEconomy.gov

The EPA lists fuel economy estimates for the Buick LaCrosse alongside other midsize sedans'. Neither the V-6 nor the V-8 engines are among the most fuel-efficient in this class. You can also look up the Buick LaCrosse model's economy numbers by itself from the FuelEconomy.gov homepage.

Review: 2009 Midsize Cars, Editors of FuelEconomy.gov

10. J.D. Power and Associates

The Buick LaCrosse is the most dependable midsize car you can buy, according to this owner survey. Owners who bought the LaCrosse in 2006 say its dependability has been "among the best" overall. Seventeen midsize cars are ranked in this chart.

Review: 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study -- Midsize Car, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates

Family Cars Runners Up:

2011 Honda Accord Base MSRP: $21,380 to $29,630

11 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com…

2012 Ford Fusion Base MSRP: $19,850 to $29,000

8 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com…

2011 Ford Taurus Base MSRP: $25,555 to $38,155

8 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com…

2011 Toyota Avalon Base MSRP: $33,195 to $36,435

7 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com…

2011 Toyota Camry Base MSRP: $20,195 to $29,845

5 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com…

2011 Chevrolet Malibu Base MSRP: $21,975 to $27,165

5 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com…

2011 Subaru Legacy Base MSRP: $19,995 to $28,295

5 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com…

2011 Mazda6 Base MSRP: $19,990 to $29,320

4 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com…

2011 Nissan Altima sedan Base MSRP: $20,410 to $25,430

3 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com…

2011 Buick Lucerne Base MSRP: $29,730 to $44,460

2 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com…

2011 Chevrolet Impala Base MSRP: $24,495 to $30,035

2 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com…

2011 Chrysler 300 Base MSRP: $27,170 to $40,320

2 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Car and Driver…

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