2011 Buick Lucerne

Base MSRP: $29,730 to $44,460

Reviewed

July 2011

Pros

Very smooth and quiet
Available front bench seat
Good reliability
Luxury features
Long powertrain warranty

Cons

Ancient holdover
Completely outclassed by newer Buick LaCrosse
Unimpressive fuel economy
Soft handling
Subpar safety ratings
Outdated four-speed auto transmission
Pricier than some better rivals
Rear seat doesn't fold

Our Analysis

The Buick Lucerne hasn't changed much in years, and critics say that's a problem – it hasn't kept pace with better full-size family sedans, including the top-rated 2011 Buick LaCrosse (Base MSRP: $27,130 to $33,205) it shares showroom space with. For more information, see our full report on the 2009 Buick Lucerne (*Est. $29,265 to $40,205).

Fuel economy is middling at best

Fuel economy lags behind rivals'. The 2011 Lucerne's base V6 returns 17 mpg city/27 mpg highway/21 mpg combined. An optional V8 engine delivers 15 mpg city/23 mpg highway/18 mpg combined.

Mediocre safety scores

Safety scores are likewise unimpressive. In this year's more stringent federal crash tests, the 2011 Buick Lucerne manages to get only 2 stars (out of 5) for side crash protection. It does earn 5 stars in frontal crash and rollover avoidance tests, though. In independent crash tests at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2011 Lucerne earns the highest rating of "good" in frontal crash tests, dropping to "acceptable" for side crash protection and "marginal" for rear crash protection. Standard safety features include the usual antilock brakes, traction and stability control and front, front-side and curtain airbags.

Base MSRPs for the 2011 Buick Lucerne range from $29,730 for the base CX trim to $44,460 for the V8-powered Lucerne Super.

expand

collapse

Our Sources

1. Edmunds.com

Editors here aren't impressed with the 2011 Buick Lucerne, saying its disappointing power and brakes, outdated transmission and "sloppy" handling make it "a relic of the way Buick used to design its cars." It was last redesigned in 2006, and Edmunds.com says it doesn't change much for 2011.

Review: 2011 Buick Lucerne, Editors of Edmunds.com

2. SaferCar.gov

An early release of the 2011 Buick Lucerne earned only 3 stars (out of 5) overall in federal crash tests. A later release ups its overall rating to 4 stars – 5 stars for frontal crash protection and rollover avoidance, but only 2 stars for side crash protection.

Review: 5-Star Safety Ratings, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

3. IIHS.org

The 2011 Buick Lucerne earns the highest rating of "good" in frontal crash tests here, but its rating falls to "acceptable" for side crash protection and "marginal" for rear crash protection. The Lucerne's rollover roof strength has not been tested.

Review: Buick Lucerne, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

4. FuelEconomy.gov

You'll find official fuel economy estimates for most cars - including the 2011 Buick Lucerne - at this government website. The 2011 Lucerne returns 18 to 21 mpg, depending on which engine you pick.You'll find official fuel economy estimates for most cars – including the 2011 Buick Lucerne – at this government website. The 2011 Lucerne returns 18 to 21 mpg, depending on which engine you pick.

Review: 2011 Buick Lucerne, U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency

5. ConsumerSearch.com

The Buick Lucerne has barely changed since 2009. Our complete analysis of that model links to multiple expert reviews.

Review: 2009 Buick Lucerne, Editors of ConsumerSearch.com, April 2009

2012 Honda Accord Base MSRP: $21,380 to $29,630

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

2013 Ford Taurus Base MSRP: $26,600 to $39,200

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

2012 Dodge Charger Base MSRP: $25,495 to $45,795

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

2012 Hyundai Sonata Base MSRP: $19,795 to $28,195

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