EmailBest Reviewed
Minivans
- Best full-size minivan 2009 Honda Odyssey *Est. $26355
- Minivan with available all-wheel-drive 2009 Toyota Sienna *Est. $24540
- Best budget minivan 2009 Kia Sedona *Est. $21065
- Small, gas-miser minivan 2009 Mazda Mazda5 *Est. $17995
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- Experts liked the Buick Terazza's range of standard options, including OnStar and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system. Conveniences like extra storage nooks were also praised, and reviewers noted that optional heated seats and remote starting are an advantage in colder climates. Testers liked the Buick Terraza's smooth ride, but others said the ride is less responsive than the competition, with too much road noise.
- Most reviewers said the Buick Terazza is not as well-mannered in highway driving as its competitors. Other shortfalls included side airbags that fail to cover all three rows of seats; the Buick Terraza's side-impact crash-test scores for third-row seat positions from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety were only marginal. Also, reviewers said the Terraza's overall reliability is low compared to the competition, based on repair data for previous model years.
For the 2007 model year, reviewer consensus for the 2007 Buick Terraza was that it fell short in some important areas, including safety, braking, long-term reliability and resale value, compared to the top-rated 2007 Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna minivans. The Buick did have a price advantage in that it tended to be more frequently discounted than Honda or Toyota minivans, but no reviewer we found rated the Terraza higher overall than the Odyssey or Sienna minivans released in the same model year. Lackluster sales and less-than-stellar reviews led General Motors to discontinue this minivan; 2007 represents the final model year for the Buick Terraza.
Edmunds.com has the most credible, detailed review of the 2007 Buick Terraza, in which editors compared this minivan to the class-leading Honda Odyssey (price when new: $25,645 to $39,095) and Toyota Sienna (price when new: $24,155 to $37,665) of the same model year. Second on our list is Consumer Reports, which emphasizes safety and predicted reliability, based on extensive owner surveys. Automotive.com reviewed the Buick Terraza minivan in depth in 2006, focusing more on features than performance. Unfortunately, Road and Travel and Car and Driver magazines stopped reviewing theh Buick Terraza in 2005.
Our Sources
1. Edmunds.com
Although Edmunds.com did not test the Buick Terraza head-to-head with other minivans, its editors did make some casual comparisons with other minivans. They noted that the '07 Terraza's larger (3.9-liter) V6 engine made this minivan more competitive, and said it's easy to like the Terraza's well-designed interior and smooth ride. However, they also noted that braking isn't the best, road noise is an issue, and side airbags for the third row of seats aren't standard.
Review: 2007 Buick Terraza Review, Editors of Edmunds.com
2. CarCritic.comDetails/Subscribe
Though it wasn't fully explained why, CarCritic.com's Don Vorderman claimed the Buick Terraza has remained "a loser" compared to class-leading minivans. This site is interesting in that its short reviews don't go into a great amount of detail. Rather, editors want to deliver a quick evaluation that gets to the point.
Review: 2007 Buick Terraza Review, Don Vorderman
3. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Consumer Reports tests almost every car on the market, but the Buick Terraza was never road-tested in its short lifetime. However, editors do include historical repair and recall data for this minivan, plus the results of government crash-test ratings and a short opinion paragraph.
Review: 2007 Buick Terraza Review, Editors of Consumer Reports
Automotive.com last reviewed the Buick Terraza in 2006. But editors focused more on features than performance, comparing the Terraza to the competition in only a casual way. The editors here were more positive about the 2006 Buick Terazza than other reviewers, saying it has a quiet interior, smooth ride and nice standard options.
Review: 2006 Buick Terraza Review, Editors of Automotive.com, Dec. 2006
ConsumerGuide.com isn't the best source for car reviews, mainly because it breaks down its tests and ratings into somewhat hard-to-read charts and numerical scores. In addition, cars are not compared to similar models. However, this is one of the best places to obtain body style, options and engine information, along with pricing and data on prior model years.
Review: 2005-2007 Buick Terraza Review, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
6. Car and DriverDetails/Subscribe
Although Car and Driver magazine did not review the 2006 or 2007 Buick Terraza, they did evaluate the 2005 model. Reviewer Dave Vanderwerp complained that the standard engine in 2005 was underpowered, but the engine was substantially upgraded for the 2007 model year.
Review: 2005 Buick Terraza CXL Review, Dave Vanderwerp, Mar. 2005
7. Road and Travel.comDetails/Subscribe
Road and Travel magazine reviewed the 2005 Buick Terazza, but not the 2006 or 2007 models. This older writeup focused exclusively on features, and it's not clear if the Terraza was actually road tested.
Review: 2005 Buick Terraza Review, Bob Plunkett
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