Buick is a great brand imo. My husband's parents bought one new in 1991, and in 2017 my husband was still driving it with 360k miles. That car had guts.
I bought a LaCroose 6 months ago and I have never owned a better car and I have owned many, Quiet, comfortable, good mileage very attractive in and out.
Alex, Your review really helped me decide. 2 years in, I am thoroughly enjoying my loaded LaCrosse. Also have had a great dealer experience rivaling the MB dealership but at a huge price of service advantage. I enjoy every drive in it and thank you gor your review. I was 55 at time of purchase if Buick is keeping watch, and I did cross shop all the vehicles you mentioned. By the end I was able to buy American and get the luxury and features I wanted. I especially like the heated and cooled seats and the rear window sunshade. Also enjoy Android Auto which wasn't available at the time in the Acura or MB by the way.
Alex thank you for the insightful review of the 2015 Buick LaCrosse. Based on your thoughts I decided to purchase a LaCrosse. I still use your podcast as a tutorial for the car. I have been very satisfied with the it is everything that you said it was both pro and con. There is an old saying that there are no clean trades on Wall Street. All in all I really enjoy the car and I enjoy listening to your podcast again thank you very much Alex.
Alex is one of the more thorough and thoughtful reviewers out there. i always look for his comments first when i am serious about researching a new auto. Keep up the great work sir.
Hi Alex bought a used 2015 partly based on your review. I bought a Premium 2 model that retailed for 48000 for 21500 with only 15 thousand miles. I have to say this is the best car I have ever owned. It’s super quiet has a ton of tech features, great sound system and is fun to drive. Imo this car is one of the most under appreciated cars on the road.
@@Ajyourish someone hit my car while parked on side of road and totaled it..i bought a Cadillac xts a replacement..the buick was quieter and more fun to drive. Enjoy your car,I think its gm best sedan ever,never to be repeated again
I liked this review but for one issue. He goes on about how Lexus has a quality perception better than Buick, and then says how the Chrysler 300 is more value. However, no mention at all about the horrendous quality issues at Chrysler. That was a surprise since that was so important compared to Lexus.
Interesting, can you point me to a quality study that shows that? JD Power does not show that in its three year study which shows Chrysler 5th from the bottom, neither does Consumer Reports (which in fact, puts all Chrysler divisions at the bottom of all brands). TrueDelta (an online web resource) is a third opinion that it is terrible. I appreciate your response, but I have been trying to find a single study that supports that. I know JD Power for initial quality likes the Chrysler 300, but that is it. For someone who wants to keep his cars for 10 years, Chrysler is not a brand I can consider - not according to anyone. However, all these sites agree with your Lexus statement.
AcuraT You have to go by model not brand overall in this case. True Delta and JD Power list the 300 favorably True Delta does not have much info on the current LaCrosse but Michael has told me they are on the reliable side of things.
Okay, thank you for the details that the public is not privy to. That explains why the "discrepancy" in your video is really not one at all. I really do appreciate your time and attention to detail - you are one of the few on the internet a person can rely on, so thank you.
It's very refreshing to hear a Buick review that jettisons the bias against Buick. For half a century, Buick has made subdued but excellent cars. Quiet, solid, and luxurious without being gaudy or ostentatious. Buick's were doctor's cars, because doctors could afford luxury but didn't want flash and glitz. This Lacross embodies that to a tee. Couple of points: I thought the Verano was a tarted up Chevy Cruise. It's the Regal that's the Opel product. Am I wrong? How's come hot rodders like me aren't bolting on those e-assist alternators to our V8s. Shouldn't we be scouring the junkyards for them. An extra 78 ft/lbs would come in pretty handy. Chevy should put that in their motorsports catalog, call it an electric supercharger, and sell a buttload of them. I wouldn't even need a computer to run it - just a button on the shifter. Nice.
Alex, I am old enough to remember Buick as a brand one would aspire to. I am glad they are coming back. I wish you would have compared it more to its cheaper cousin, the 2015 Impala that Consumer Reports was raving about. Are the only differences in the interior? Also, are you planning on reviewing the 2015 Buick Regal?
Great informative review. Perhaps you can clear something up for me. Consumer Reports rated the 2015 Impala their #1 pick for large affordable sedans with a score of 91 while the Lacrosse ranked near the bottom scoring only 76. This doesn't make sense since the new Impala is now built on the Lacrosse/XTS platform. I noticed that the Lacrosse road test was from 2010; is CR basing their current score on a 5 year old test? Bottom line -- can I expect a comparable or better driving experience from the Buick?
Janice Doriguzzi Yes, CR probably is still using the 5-year old score. I dislike the way they do their ratings sometimes. The Buick will be smoother, quieter and actually handle better than the Impala.
+Alex on Autos Alex, around 15:29 you mention the Buick without the magna ride suspension is not as good. will you recommend the one without the magna suspension? as most are without it or will you choose the new impala over the Lacrosse (without magna ) ??
Thanks for asking a question that has been eating me since my purchase of a 2015 certified pre-owned Premium 2 LaCrosse! And Alex, thanks for the awesome review. I happened to buy the very car you reviewed, even down to the Chocachino leather seats and the faux suede headliner...beautiful car!
I rented the AWD version of this for a work trip last week. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. It looked nice on the outside and inside, and for a lead-foot like myself, it performed well on the open highway. The only thing that sucked was the gas mileage. Even for an AWD vehicle, sub-20 MPG on the **highway** is inexcusable in 2015. But that aside, I could see myself driving this on the regular.
Hi Alex thank you for such a detailed review. I appreciate your hard work. I have a question for you. Is Buick Lacrosse quieter than Hyundai genesis and Lexus ES? Thank you in advance for your info
Now that I've had my 2015 Lacrosse a few months I thought this might be helpful to any who are planning to buy one. No doubt I'm missing something but I find the navigation system very confusing and for me it's hard to use. The car has a fuel tank that I feel is entirely too small since I live in an area where gas stations are many times few and far between. Other than those things my wife and I like the car. It handles and rides nice and with the V6 engine has plenty of pickup and power, Enough to get a guy a very expensive ticket if he isn't careful. So far I haven't had the 'pleasure' of getting one...... yet. We found many things rather distracting until we got used to the car.
Dear Alex I can not under stand why Buick continues to use that old 2.4 that was dumped by Chevrolet and use the 2.5 Eco tech that is used in the Impala and Malibu and Cadillac that engine compares to the earth dream 2.4 that the put in the 2015 Acura. As always thanks for your great videos. One thing you should do is a 0-60 run to hear the motor at redline. Thanks
Is the electronic suspension noticeably better on smooth roads or just bumpy roads. How much better is it over standard suspension. Also I'm debating this with the impala, opinions would be great. Price difference is small on used 2015 models.
I sat in one of these recently and wasn't impressed by a couple of the interior bits that you'd have to use each time you drive. The tiny plastic electronic parking brake switch felt extremely cheap. I also found the door handle with its high placement and diagonal angle really awkward to use. Great review, I liked the comparison diagram. You wouldn't consider the Dodge Charger as the "lower cost" option to the Chrysler 300, albeit only by a couple of thousand? Or is it just more sport than luxury?
flymetothem00n Somehow the Charger slipped my mind completely. It would be the lower cost 300 option, it competes in theory with the Impala, but also with the Chevy SS. The Hellcat of course competes with anything from a Camaro SS to a E63 AMG.
Great review as always, Alex. I'm cross shopping a few different models right now in slightly different categories. Could you elaborate on your feelings on a well-appointed (if not wholly-appointed) LaCrosse against the Hyundai Genesis as well as Buick's Chevy Impala stablemate? The Chevy brings the largest value proposition dollar for dollar, though it sounds like you get quite a bit more of that luxury edge in the Buick... however, the Buick and Hyundai seem to slot in at very similar price points.
ChuckMcMuck The Impala is noticeably cheaper feeling inside although it does have the best bang for the buck. The Genesis and LaCrosse are comparable in most aspects of interior quality although the Genesis has the edge and is available with things like real wood that cannot be had in the Buick. Hyundai also has a long warranty which is an asset. Depreciation on the Genesis is higher than the Buick, but if you plan on keeping your car for a long time then I would lean toward the Genesis.
Alex for variances in front seats I.e. Lack of lumbar support in the passenger seat. Do you weigh that in your front seat comfort or is you rating really geared towards the drivers seat? Is it 50/50, 60/40?
I just bought a 2015 LaCrosse used with super low mileage. I do not have a weather icon or Navigation icon. It does show Constar Navigation. How do I get them?
you said 0-60 is 6 seconds, is that in sport mode or regular? if in sport mode, what would you anticipate it to be in a model without a sport mode setting? thanks
Alex, yet another very in-depth review; great job. How would you compare the LaCrosse to the Lincoln MKZ? Similar price points & features. My only concern with the Lincoln is MyLincolnTouch, which has proven problematic historically.
Jim MacMurdo The Buick is bigger and softer in general. The MKZ has a true hybrid option which I really like and the adaptive suspension is more user configurable. MyLincoln Touch isn't as responsive, but I do like the way it looks. Lincoln makes more options available in the MKZ that you don't get in the Buick.
Alex, how is the cabin noise in comparison to something like mercedes S class or rolls royce? those are often being praised for having the quietest most isolated ride, and your website doesnt list the noise levels of those cars.
Hi Mike Please help, you mentioned three times the Manga Ride Suspension System ( this is a Denali like feature) found on the Yukon and the Sierra's in the GMC lineup. I work for a dealership and I cannot find anything that shows the system is in the 2016 Buick LaCrosse?Thank you, JP
Alex, do you know whether the 2.4 is available with MRC or the hyperknuckle? It would not seem so, looking at their website. It's a shame they don't use a better base engine and motor for the eAssist system. It's coming up on 10 years old. They ought to make a more peaky turbo with the lag filled by e-motor assist.
I appreciate the thoroughness of your review, but allow me to add a bit of a different perspective, and somewhat contrarian review and comments. I had the opportunity to drive a new 2014 Buick LaCrosse V6 with most of the options on it for about 1,200 miles of mixed in town and highway driving. Though I am not a professional car reviewer, and have not driven any of the models you mention as logical competitors to this Buick, I still found it interesting how different your impressions were from mine. Exterior: Generally I agree with you that it is an attractive vehicle from most angles, probably the best looking car Buick makes currently. However, as someone who just turned 40 and had a post-graduate degree, I cringed every time I had to see that logo or be seen driving it. This is a brand for octogenarian customers, and I don't know of anyone under 50 who would seriously consider a Buick. That might be a shame, but it's a fact that Buick has not yet shaken off. Visibility: Contrary to your comment about the large rear window, I found visibility out of the car in every direction to be uniformly horrible. Towards the front, the huge A-pillars are seemingly strategically placed to block out your view of oncoming traffic at a stop sign or while navigating Peking lots. I had to take excessive care to double check every time I pulled forward from a stop. Rearward visibility is far worse. Because the rear glass is so steeply raked, you actually have minimal vertical viewing area. Combine that with mile-wide C-pillars that exaggerate the blind spots, and a very high trunk lid, and it is very difficult to see while reversing. If it weren't for the backup camera, this would be nearly impossible to back into a parking spot. Sideward visibility, though less compromised than fore or aft, is nevertheless poor due to a high belt line (bottom of the windows) and very low seating position. Taken together, the outward visibility seemed marginally better than that of a submarine. Interior room: I'm 6'3" and felt very cramped in the vehicle, especially the front seat. Though the seats were comfortable, they are very low slung, sort of like a sports car. You sit in a hole between curved, encroaching doors on the outside and a too-wide console in the middle. I had adequate leg room, however. In the rear, I had adequate leg room as well, but the sloping roof line made it very difficult for me to get in or out without banging my head on the door frame, and once inside I had to sit with my head cocked sideways and pressed against the headliner because of the roof line. The other option was to slouch way down in the seat. I also found the interior, both front and rear, to be incredibly narrow. Aside from legroom, there was a strong sense of cramped narrowness for such a dimensionally large car on the outside. The packaging was very poor without any noticeable advantages in luxury inside. I also was surprised by the rather average sized trunk. It was useable, but not what I'm accustomed to in a large car. It would be difficult to stuff enough luggage into the trunk for three or four people to take more than a weekend trip. Interior quality: There were a lot of nice leather covered surfaces inside, but there was also a surprising amount of cheap plastic as well. Overall it felt reasonably good but not great. The center console was small, flimsy, and I worried I would break the cup holder cover every time I opened it. The controls were universally horrible, not intuitive, and generally frustrating to use. I'm very good at figuring out how to work complex electronics without reading the manual, but this system was difficult even after I looked into the owner's manual. Simply changing a radio station was a long and drawn out endeavor. Using the navigation was even worse. Only the heating and air controls actually had knobs (and the volume), so that was at least decipherable. Overall the interior felt very schizophrenic, with a few thoughtful things mixed in with a whole lot of mediocrity. Ride, Handling, and Performance: My unit did not have the fancy suspension setup, apparently, as all this Buick did was torque steer even with light throttle. It had a nice ride, but its handling was quite poor, understeering just at the though of turning in towards the apex of a gentle bend. Sitting so low in the bathtub of the car made it extremely difficult to place the tires and know where the corners of the car were as well. It was frustrating and a bit scary to try and hustle it down a curvy two lane highway. I also expected more from the engine. Being a front wheel drive and heavy car, when you accelerate with any force, you feel the weight of the car rock back on the rear suspension while the front tires immediately begin to lose grip and squeal in complaint. Even moderately fast take offs from a stop light, to stay ahead of traffic, resulted in you looking like an idiot because you were squealing tires. It felt like the whole car kept screaming "act your age!" and expected the driver to be in his 90s. Slow, wallowing, floaty, and numb were my takeaways. My overall feeling after two weeks with this car as a loaner was that it was a huge swing and a miss for Buick. If they are trying to appeal to a younger demographic, they have a long way to go. Though this is a definite improvement over the previous generation LaCrosse, it remains far behind in every measurable sense to me. It even seemed out of place and redundant within the GM lineup. It doesn't seem enough nicer than an optioned out Impala to justify the extra expense, but didn't seem to hold a candle to the Cadillac XTS in terms of desirability (not that I'd want the Cadillac myself, either). This is not a car Buick's traditional demographic would like or even be able to use (my mother and grandmother were both massively confused by the controls inside), but it also holds no appeal for anyone under 50 that might otherwise buy a Lexus or Acura or German make. In fact, I had to turn this loaner in and get another one after a while and was swapped into a 4-cylinder GMC Terrain (a small crossover SUV) that was FWD but otherwise fully loaded. I found it to have much better performance, handling, and even gas mileage while being easier to drive and see out of. I even found the interior to be more useable and nearly as nice.
Why do American cars not have front parking sensors? The LaCrosse, MKZ, Impala, and Fusion don't have them. Some have self park functionality but no front sensors. These big cars are difficult to see out of and would greatly benefit from the guidance the sensors give.
Do the self park features on cars like the LaCrosse and MKZ also function as front parking sensors? On a review of a 2013 MKZ by someone else the car had what appeared to be front sensors.
Alex on Autos At least that functionality is available. I have them now and don't want to go backwards with my next car. Once one has had a feature it's difficult to go without. I'm looking for a lower cost lease replacement for my Lexus GS. Seat comfort is most important to me. I need a broad, flat seat base due to siatic nerve issues. Even the seat with thigh extension in the Hyundai Genesis causes me issues. The base GS and 5 Series seats are comfortable but, if possible, I'd like to spend less. Any suggestions?
mart0225 I know exactly what you mean. I would start off with the Volvo S80, Volvo's seats are some of the best in the industry. If you're looking lower, then I would honestly try the Nissan Altima or Honda Accord, they have very supportive seats. On the luxury front the Kia Cadenza isn't bad, I found the LaCrosse to be good and the Lincoln MKS with the active seat.
hey alex. i enjoy some of ur videos on ur reviews. but i am in a situation of buying a car (sedan) , and what type would u recommend for a quiet ( hybrids like) .. make year around 2010-2012 basically a used car. ? i am sorry for my english , which would be the best car sedan choice for (comfort,sporty like , a quiet ) car. ? (sedan) ,, please reply ASAP
I was considering purchasing a Lacrosse , but decided to check two maintenance items that I perform on my Hondas: replacing a headlight bulb and cabin filter...a 15 minute task on the Hondas. The videos showing the same tasks on a Lacrosse reveal how absurdly complex and time consuming GM engineers made those tasks. No thanks, GM; I'll stick to my Hondas, especially since today's mechanics charge a $100/hr or more.
Yes. even 8 years later, this seems like an amazing and pure luxury vehicle. If I could find one with 10 miles and everything fine I would buy it in an instant. New Buicks have nothing on this. GM died the second they stopped making nice sedans.
It’s a shame Buick doesn’t make sedans anymore This car was called the Alphion in South Korea My roommates mom has a 2015 lacrosse Yeah my grandfather had a 2006
You say this isn't a European car that's rebadged but it's literally an Opel Insignia with some fake wood glued to it. Insignia's are great cars though so it's far from a bad thing.
GM needs to cancel the XTS and slot the LaCrosse in its place. This whole business of having multiple copies has got to end. GM divisions competing for the same customers is just plain dumb.
Is VW going to cancel the Audi/Skoda/Seat brands because they are all based on VW platforms? In the auto business the rule is simple: Multiple copies are great when they sell and a waste of time when they do not. By the way, bring back the Mercury Cougar, the Plymouth Valiant and the Oldsmobile Cutlass as they were all copies of something else that put money in the bank.
Alex? I love your Way of Reviiwng Cars, But Too Much Comparing them to Lexus and BMW's and Caddilac.. Most Buick Owners I know Are Die Hards for American and GM.. compare them to Ford and Chrysler and Screw the Foregien Cars that Cost 50% more and +33% more at their Dealers to get them Fixed.. Spend more time comparing the Cost Per Mile on Maintenance will you.. Buick , like the Chevy beat all the others Hands down. Buick is the Poor Mans Cadillac..Lexus is a Wannabe.. With Ford Discontinuing most of its Sedands, GM's Chevy and Buicks will rule in that class for the Middle Class, most will not be wasting $ on Overpaying for a Lexus or a BMW, nor a Mercedes..Fords SUV's are great for that class and Price of vehicle that has replace the Station Wagon..
Center consoles in Buicks are so lame. Who are they trying to fool? Bring back the front bench seat! Also, this car is trounced by the Chrysler 300 and Hyuandai Genesis.
"Center consoles in Buicks are so lame." -- Thank you, brother! In all automatic cars. Pretentious waste of space. If I want to drive stick, I will buy a stick (in fact, I own one car with a stick).
Aaron Brown Since people before you just said they did, apparently you are not familiar with meaning of words. Look up "nobody". And btw, you can have split benches with contoured seats.
Buick is 2nd and 7th 2015 best brand on both JD Power autos.jdpower.com/content/study-auto/I0X6eMP/2015-u-s-vehicle-dependability-study-results.htm and Consumer report www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/02/24/consumer-reports-brand-ranking-lexus-fiat/23910563/ on dependability studies Nice cars!
It is this prejudice against Buick that does a disservice to the customer. Buick has, and frankly has always been, an exceptionally high quality car every bit on par with the Japanese and Germans. Rejecting it just because it has a Buick badge is just bad policy. But reject it you would, only because you had a bad Skylark in 1983. If that logic holds, shouldn't you also reject the Lexus and Benz because we fought a war with the Japanese and Germans?
***** I must agree with all you wrote. There's something else to consider, too. When one buys a Lexus or any other Japanese or German car that person is hurting our economy since the profit always goes right back home. And there's something else that really bugs me. People bitch and find fault with just about anything they see in an American made car. If they don't like them OK. But they'd do well to keep their opinions to themselves. Personally I buy AMERICAN made vehicles and like them. Had a Mazda once and I'm being very chartable when I say it was a piece of junk.
Not to go crazy far off topic, but there's a grand irony in the whole "buy American" thing. I totally agree that it's in our best interest, on every level, to buy American. So why don't we? Price. So why is the price higher? Basically, it ain't labor costs or regulations. It's healthcare. 16 cents of every dollar you and I spend goes for health care. That's crazy, but it's why China is so much cheaper. The irony is that the same nationalistic buy American patriotic types are the ones who are against health care reform, socialized medicine, or even just rudimentary regulation of health care. Because of them, we can't have single payer and pay 4 cents like Britain instead of 16. Thanks a lot red staters. It's YOUR fault we build cars in Mexico and Canada.
***** Don't understand what I'm about to write because I was a Teamster all my adult life and if it weren't for a union I'd probably still be working at 89 years. However, labor unions in this country have gotten totally out of hand. They're no longer a bunch of good old boys trying to make a better life for themselves they're like a cross between the Mafia and a bunch of politicians. Also the government has made it virtually impossible for many manufacturing companies to operate here because of the high corporate taxes and of course outrageous regulations that for the most part are absolutely unnecessary. Now I've seen a report that GM is going to build the Buick Riviera again. Designed and built in China. I've been driving Buicks for years but if that happens my next car will no doubt be a Ford. I don't like buying things that have been made in other countries but at least Canada and Mexico are closer than China, Japan or Germany. And it's not MY fault our government has screwed things up the way it has. Perhaps it's Lexus owners who have helped. Do you own a Jap car? I'd be willing to bet you do.
Richard Cunningham The lines are getting so blurry these days it is hard to say. Companies do not have to disclose what was made in Canada, so when the car says 80% American parts, it really means 80% USA/Canadian parts and that could be 0% USA 100% Canada or any mix at all. Then there's the whole foreign ownership question. Is Chrysler for instance an American company? Or is it Italian? Or is it British because their HQ is in London. In the same way, is the Buick Verano an American car or European car since it was essentially designed in Europe. Same for the Regal. Is the Acura ILX Japanese or American since it was designed in Japan but made in Ohio? Furthermore are the profits going overseas when American citizens and US investment companies are the majority shareholders? I don't have any real answers, but this all makes the waters very murky.
Buick is a great brand imo. My husband's parents bought one new in 1991, and in 2017 my husband was still driving it with 360k miles. That car had guts.
I bought a LaCroose 6 months ago and I have never owned a better car and I have owned many, Quiet, comfortable, good mileage very attractive in and out.
Alex, Your review really helped me decide. 2 years in, I am thoroughly enjoying my loaded LaCrosse. Also have had a great dealer experience rivaling the MB dealership but at a huge price of service advantage. I enjoy every drive in it and thank you gor your review. I was 55 at time of purchase if Buick is keeping watch, and I did cross shop all the vehicles you mentioned. By the end I was able to buy American and get the luxury and features I wanted. I especially like the heated and cooled seats and the rear window sunshade. Also enjoy Android Auto which wasn't available at the time in the Acura or MB by the way.
Alex thank you for the insightful review of the 2015 Buick LaCrosse. Based on your thoughts I decided to purchase a LaCrosse. I still use your podcast as a tutorial for the car. I have been very satisfied with the it is everything that you said it was both pro and con. There is an old saying that there are no clean trades on Wall Street. All in all I really enjoy the car and I enjoy listening to your podcast again thank you very much Alex.
Alex is one of the more thorough and thoughtful reviewers out there. i always look for his comments first when i am serious about researching a new auto. Keep up the great work sir.
I am looking at buying a used 2015 Lacrosse that looks almost identical to this one...thank you for this review...Buick makes lovely cars.
LOVE my 2015 LaCrosse!! A class act and WIFI capability is icing on a delicious cake!
Hi Alex bought a used 2015 partly based on your review. I bought a Premium 2 model that retailed for 48000 for 21500 with only 15 thousand miles.
I have to say this is the best car I have ever owned. It’s super quiet has a ton of tech features, great sound system and is fun to drive. Imo this car is one of the most under appreciated cars on the road.
I just bought the same a week ago, but with 30K miles, for 16K, and it's an amazing car! How is yours doing?
@@Ajyourish someone hit my car while parked on side of road and totaled it..i bought a Cadillac xts a replacement..the buick was quieter and more fun to drive. Enjoy your car,I think its gm best sedan ever,never to be repeated again
@@hoderharris that is horrible, I'm, wishing you better days with the Caddy.
Man you must be crazy. The Buick rides much better than the 300
I liked this review but for one issue. He goes on about how Lexus has a quality perception better than Buick, and then says how the Chrysler 300 is more value. However, no mention at all about the horrendous quality issues at Chrysler. That was a surprise since that was so important compared to Lexus.
AcuraT The Chrysler 300 and Buick LaCrosse have been very comparable in most recent quality studies, so it wasn't anything that differentiated them.
Interesting, can you point me to a quality study that shows that? JD Power does not show that in its three year study which shows Chrysler 5th from the bottom, neither does Consumer Reports (which in fact, puts all Chrysler divisions at the bottom of all brands). TrueDelta (an online web resource) is a third opinion that it is terrible. I appreciate your response, but I have been trying to find a single study that supports that. I know JD Power for initial quality likes the Chrysler 300, but that is it. For someone who wants to keep his cars for 10 years, Chrysler is not a brand I can consider - not according to anyone. However, all these sites agree with your Lexus statement.
AcuraT You have to go by model not brand overall in this case. True Delta and JD Power list the 300 favorably True Delta does not have much info on the current LaCrosse but Michael has told me they are on the reliable side of things.
Okay, thank you for the details that the public is not privy to. That explains why the "discrepancy" in your video is really not one at all. I really do appreciate your time and attention to detail - you are one of the few on the internet a person can rely on, so thank you.
Best review I've seen on the tube. Thanks.
Your reviews are first rate. I appreciate your expertise and interest in Buick.
Great review. Going forward could you include nighttime interior lighting and crash test/safety overview in your reviews? Thanks.
It's very refreshing to hear a Buick review that jettisons the bias against Buick. For half a century, Buick has made subdued but excellent cars. Quiet, solid, and luxurious without being gaudy or ostentatious. Buick's were doctor's cars, because doctors could afford luxury but didn't want flash and glitz. This Lacross embodies that to a tee.
Couple of points: I thought the Verano was a tarted up Chevy Cruise. It's the Regal that's the Opel product. Am I wrong?
How's come hot rodders like me aren't bolting on those e-assist alternators to our V8s. Shouldn't we be scouring the junkyards for them. An extra 78 ft/lbs would come in pretty handy. Chevy should put that in their motorsports catalog, call it an electric supercharger, and sell a buttload of them. I wouldn't even need a computer to run it - just a button on the shifter. Nice.
Alex, I am old enough to remember Buick as a brand one would aspire to. I am glad they are coming back.
I wish you would have compared it more to its cheaper cousin, the 2015 Impala that Consumer Reports was raving about. Are the only differences in the interior?
Also, are you planning on reviewing the 2015 Buick Regal?
your reviews are very detailed .. that's amazing .. keep up the good work
Great review! I like the way you compare it with competing models.
Wow, you reviewed the sh** out of this car and I love it. Keep up the good work!
Excellent job as always. I really like this Buick too!
Great informative review. Perhaps you can clear something up for me. Consumer Reports rated the 2015 Impala their #1 pick for large affordable sedans with a score of 91 while the Lacrosse ranked near the bottom scoring only 76. This doesn't make sense since the new Impala is now built on the Lacrosse/XTS platform. I noticed that the Lacrosse road test was from 2010; is CR basing their current score on a 5 year old test? Bottom line -- can I expect a comparable or better driving experience from the Buick?
Janice Doriguzzi Yes, CR probably is still using the 5-year old score. I dislike the way they do their ratings sometimes. The Buick will be smoother, quieter and actually handle better than the Impala.
+Alex on Autos Alex, around 15:29 you mention the Buick without the magna ride suspension is not as good. will you recommend the one without the magna suspension? as most are without it or will you choose the new impala over the Lacrosse (without magna ) ??
I'd get the Magneride Buick, then the standard Buick, and the Impala a hair behind the standard Buick.
Thanks for asking a question that has been eating me since my purchase of a 2015 certified pre-owned Premium 2 LaCrosse! And Alex, thanks for the awesome review. I happened to buy the very car you reviewed, even down to the Chocachino leather seats and the faux suede headliner...beautiful car!
Hello Alex great job on this video on the 2015 Buick Lacrosse; the presentation was well done...great job Alex.
I rented the AWD version of this for a work trip last week. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. It looked nice on the outside and inside, and for a lead-foot like myself, it performed well on the open highway. The only thing that sucked was the gas mileage. Even for an AWD vehicle, sub-20 MPG on the **highway** is inexcusable in 2015. But that aside, I could see myself driving this on the regular.
Hi Alex thank you for such a detailed review. I appreciate your hard work. I have a question for you. Is Buick Lacrosse quieter than Hyundai genesis and Lexus ES? Thank you in advance for your info
Hito Nino They are about the same.
Now that I've had my 2015 Lacrosse a few months I thought this might be helpful to any who are planning to buy one. No doubt I'm missing something but I find the navigation system very confusing and for me it's hard to use. The car has a fuel tank that I feel is entirely too small since I live in an area where gas stations are many times few and far between. Other than those things my wife and I like the car. It handles and rides nice and with the V6 engine has plenty of pickup and power, Enough to get a guy a very expensive ticket if he isn't careful. So far I haven't had the 'pleasure' of getting one...... yet. We found many things rather distracting until we got used to the car.
I love my 2015 buick lacrosse awd what a great car
Dude, Alex . Your Reviews are Totally Narly !.. I so dig your lingo ..You know your gear ! ("Party On", with those Reviews )
When the new redesigned Lacrosse comes out, will you be reviewing it?
Dear Alex I can not under stand why Buick continues to use that old 2.4 that was dumped by Chevrolet and use the 2.5 Eco tech that is used in the Impala and Malibu and Cadillac that engine compares to the earth dream 2.4 that the put in the 2015 Acura. As always thanks for your great videos. One thing you should do is a 0-60 run to hear the motor at redline. Thanks
Hi, really love your programming. Please review the 2017 Buick Lacrosse AWD, thank you!
Is the electronic suspension noticeably better on smooth roads or just bumpy roads. How much better is it over standard suspension. Also I'm debating this with the impala, opinions would be great. Price difference is small on used 2015 models.
I sat in one of these recently and wasn't impressed by a couple of the interior bits that you'd have to use each time you drive.
The tiny plastic electronic parking brake switch felt extremely cheap. I also found the door handle with its high placement and diagonal angle really awkward to use.
Great review, I liked the comparison diagram. You wouldn't consider the Dodge Charger as the "lower cost" option to the Chrysler 300, albeit only by a couple of thousand? Or is it just more sport than luxury?
flymetothem00n Somehow the Charger slipped my mind completely. It would be the lower cost 300 option, it competes in theory with the Impala, but also with the Chevy SS. The Hellcat of course competes with anything from a Camaro SS to a E63 AMG.
Great review as always, Alex. I'm cross shopping a few different models right now in slightly different categories. Could you elaborate on your feelings on a well-appointed (if not wholly-appointed) LaCrosse against the Hyundai Genesis as well as Buick's Chevy Impala stablemate? The Chevy brings the largest value proposition dollar for dollar, though it sounds like you get quite a bit more of that luxury edge in the Buick... however, the Buick and Hyundai seem to slot in at very similar price points.
ChuckMcMuck The Impala is noticeably cheaper feeling inside although it does have the best bang for the buck. The Genesis and LaCrosse are comparable in most aspects of interior quality although the Genesis has the edge and is available with things like real wood that cannot be had in the Buick. Hyundai also has a long warranty which is an asset. Depreciation on the Genesis is higher than the Buick, but if you plan on keeping your car for a long time then I would lean toward the Genesis.
Great review sir. 👏
Alex for variances in front seats I.e. Lack of lumbar support in the passenger seat. Do you weigh that in your front seat comfort or is you rating really geared towards the drivers seat? Is it 50/50, 60/40?
I just bought a 2015 LaCrosse used with super low mileage. I do not have a weather icon or Navigation icon. It does show Constar Navigation. How do I get them?
you said 0-60 is 6 seconds, is that in sport mode or regular? if in sport mode, what would you anticipate it to be in a model without a sport mode setting? thanks
Alex, yet another very in-depth review; great job. How would you compare the LaCrosse to the Lincoln MKZ? Similar price points & features. My only concern with the Lincoln is MyLincolnTouch, which has proven problematic historically.
Jim MacMurdo The Buick is bigger and softer in general. The MKZ has a true hybrid option which I really like and the adaptive suspension is more user configurable. MyLincoln Touch isn't as responsive, but I do like the way it looks. Lincoln makes more options available in the MKZ that you don't get in the Buick.
Alex, how is the cabin noise in comparison to something like mercedes S class or rolls royce? those are often being praised for having the quietest most isolated ride, and your website doesnt list the noise levels of those cars.
Please do comparison review on GM's HiPer Strut and Honda's double wishbone suspension. Thank you!
Hi Mike
Please help, you mentioned three times the Manga Ride Suspension System ( this is a Denali like feature) found on the Yukon and the Sierra's in the GMC lineup. I work for a dealership and I cannot find anything that shows the system is in the 2016 Buick LaCrosse?Thank you, JP
alex you should review the c7 zo6 corvette, best regards amazing reviews
you keep speaking about the brands on the vehicles is it possible to have the dealer remove the brand and all other lettering from the car ?
He keeps saying "this" model instead of specifying the model. Does anyone know if this is the Premium I or II?
very nice interior design, fit and finish can be improved though
is still available ,today 02 22 ,24 what's the price n location?
Alex, do you know whether the 2.4 is available with MRC or the hyperknuckle? It would not seem so, looking at their website. It's a shame they don't use a better base engine and motor for the eAssist system. It's coming up on 10 years old. They ought to make a more peaky turbo with the lag filled by e-motor assist.
Omnis As far as I know, you are right. You cannot get the dynamic damping or hypernuckle on the eAssist model.
Which of the pack that you mentioned would you pick? Also you forgot the charger
I appreciate the thoroughness of your review, but allow me to add a bit of a different perspective, and somewhat contrarian review and comments.
I had the opportunity to drive a new 2014 Buick LaCrosse V6 with most of the options on it for about 1,200 miles of mixed in town and highway driving. Though I am not a professional car reviewer, and have not driven any of the models you mention as logical competitors to this Buick, I still found it interesting how different your impressions were from mine.
Exterior: Generally I agree with you that it is an attractive vehicle from most angles, probably the best looking car Buick makes currently. However, as someone who just turned 40 and had a post-graduate degree, I cringed every time I had to see that logo or be seen driving it. This is a brand for octogenarian customers, and I don't know of anyone under 50 who would seriously consider a Buick. That might be a shame, but it's a fact that Buick has not yet shaken off.
Visibility: Contrary to your comment about the large rear window, I found visibility out of the car in every direction to be uniformly horrible. Towards the front, the huge A-pillars are seemingly strategically placed to block out your view of oncoming traffic at a stop sign or while navigating Peking lots. I had to take excessive care to double check every time I pulled forward from a stop. Rearward visibility is far worse. Because the rear glass is so steeply raked, you actually have minimal vertical viewing area. Combine that with mile-wide C-pillars that exaggerate the blind spots, and a very high trunk lid, and it is very difficult to see while reversing. If it weren't for the backup camera, this would be nearly impossible to back into a parking spot. Sideward visibility, though less compromised than fore or aft, is nevertheless poor due to a high belt line (bottom of the windows) and very low seating position. Taken together, the outward visibility seemed marginally better than that of a submarine.
Interior room: I'm 6'3" and felt very cramped in the vehicle, especially the front seat. Though the seats were comfortable, they are very low slung, sort of like a sports car. You sit in a hole between curved, encroaching doors on the outside and a too-wide console in the middle. I had adequate leg room, however. In the rear, I had adequate leg room as well, but the sloping roof line made it very difficult for me to get in or out without banging my head on the door frame, and once inside I had to sit with my head cocked sideways and pressed against the headliner because of the roof line. The other option was to slouch way down in the seat. I also found the interior, both front and rear, to be incredibly narrow. Aside from legroom, there was a strong sense of cramped narrowness for such a dimensionally large car on the outside. The packaging was very poor without any noticeable advantages in luxury inside. I also was surprised by the rather average sized trunk. It was useable, but not what I'm accustomed to in a large car. It would be difficult to stuff enough luggage into the trunk for three or four people to take more than a weekend trip.
Interior quality: There were a lot of nice leather covered surfaces inside, but there was also a surprising amount of cheap plastic as well. Overall it felt reasonably good but not great. The center console was small, flimsy, and I worried I would break the cup holder cover every time I opened it. The controls were universally horrible, not intuitive, and generally frustrating to use. I'm very good at figuring out how to work complex electronics without reading the manual, but this system was difficult even after I looked into the owner's manual. Simply changing a radio station was a long and drawn out endeavor. Using the navigation was even worse. Only the heating and air controls actually had knobs (and the volume), so that was at least decipherable. Overall the interior felt very schizophrenic, with a few thoughtful things mixed in with a whole lot of mediocrity.
Ride, Handling, and Performance: My unit did not have the fancy suspension setup, apparently, as all this Buick did was torque steer even with light throttle. It had a nice ride, but its handling was quite poor, understeering just at the though of turning in towards the apex of a gentle bend. Sitting so low in the bathtub of the car made it extremely difficult to place the tires and know where the corners of the car were as well. It was frustrating and a bit scary to try and hustle it down a curvy two lane highway. I also expected more from the engine. Being a front wheel drive and heavy car, when you accelerate with any force, you feel the weight of the car rock back on the rear suspension while the front tires immediately begin to lose grip and squeal in complaint. Even moderately fast take offs from a stop light, to stay ahead of traffic, resulted in you looking like an idiot because you were squealing tires. It felt like the whole car kept screaming "act your age!" and expected the driver to be in his 90s. Slow, wallowing, floaty, and numb were my takeaways.
My overall feeling after two weeks with this car as a loaner was that it was a huge swing and a miss for Buick. If they are trying to appeal to a younger demographic, they have a long way to go. Though this is a definite improvement over the previous generation LaCrosse, it remains far behind in every measurable sense to me. It even seemed out of place and redundant within the GM lineup. It doesn't seem enough nicer than an optioned out Impala to justify the extra expense, but didn't seem to hold a candle to the Cadillac XTS in terms of desirability (not that I'd want the Cadillac myself, either).
This is not a car Buick's traditional demographic would like or even be able to use (my mother and grandmother were both massively confused by the controls inside), but it also holds no appeal for anyone under 50 that might otherwise buy a Lexus or Acura or German make.
In fact, I had to turn this loaner in and get another one after a while and was swapped into a 4-cylinder GMC Terrain (a small crossover SUV) that was FWD but otherwise fully loaded. I found it to have much better performance, handling, and even gas mileage while being easier to drive and see out of. I even found the interior to be more useable and nearly as nice.
Why do American cars not have front parking sensors? The LaCrosse, MKZ, Impala, and Fusion don't have them. Some have self park functionality but no front sensors. These big cars are difficult to see out of and would greatly benefit from the guidance the sensors give.
mart0225 It's all a cost cutting question, few cars have front parking sensors and they are usually optional.
Do the self park features on cars like the LaCrosse and MKZ also function as front parking sensors?
On a review of a 2013 MKZ by someone else the car had what appeared to be front sensors.
mart0225 Usually yes.
Alex on Autos At least that functionality is available. I have them now and don't want to go backwards with my next car. Once one has had a feature it's difficult to go without.
I'm looking for a lower cost lease replacement for my Lexus GS. Seat comfort is most important to me. I need a broad, flat seat base due to siatic nerve issues. Even the seat with thigh extension in the Hyundai Genesis causes me issues. The base GS and 5 Series seats are comfortable but, if possible, I'd like to spend less. Any suggestions?
mart0225 I know exactly what you mean. I would start off with the Volvo S80, Volvo's seats are some of the best in the industry. If you're looking lower, then I would honestly try the Nissan Altima or Honda Accord, they have very supportive seats. On the luxury front the Kia Cadenza isn't bad, I found the LaCrosse to be good and the Lincoln MKS with the active seat.
hey alex. i enjoy some of ur videos on ur reviews.
but i am in a situation of buying a car (sedan) , and what type would u recommend for a quiet ( hybrids like) .. make year around 2010-2012 basically a used car. ?
i am sorry for my english , which would be the best car sedan choice for (comfort,sporty like , a quiet ) car. ? (sedan) ,, please reply ASAP
JAMES BUANSING You don't have many choices in that age range but the Lincoln MKZ hybrid comes right to mind.
thanks
Nnc.f. txt renew zebra
would like to test drive it over the rough stuff.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE MY 2015 BUICK LACROSSE!!! 🤗❤💓💖💕🖤💜🧡💛💚💙💗💝💞
Love it so much.
I think of buy the used 2015 Buick Lacrosse.
I was considering purchasing a Lacrosse , but decided to check two maintenance items that I perform on my Hondas: replacing a headlight bulb and cabin filter...a 15 minute task on the Hondas. The videos showing the same tasks on a Lacrosse reveal how absurdly complex and time consuming GM engineers made those tasks. No thanks, GM; I'll stick to my Hondas, especially since today's mechanics charge a $100/hr or more.
Yes. even 8 years later, this seems like an amazing and pure luxury vehicle. If I could find one with 10 miles and everything fine I would buy it in an instant. New Buicks have nothing on this. GM died the second they stopped making nice sedans.
It’s a shame Buick doesn’t make sedans anymore
This car was called the Alphion in South Korea
My roommates mom has a 2015 lacrosse
Yeah my grandfather had a 2006
Is it just me or does the banner for the Audio system review not work?
Greg Miller Thanks for letting me know, I'll have that fixed ASAP
Was not the last gen SAAB 9-5 also a sibling of the Lacrosse?
MA9494AM The ill-fated 9-5 was more a distant cousin according to GM at the time.
Ok!
Like this car, but the interior here is a step behind the Avalon, and apes the Impala's interior too much that it is based off of.
it's not a Midsize. W Platform 110.5 Wheelbase sense 2005 is a full size sedan.
You say this isn't a European car that's rebadged but it's literally an Opel Insignia with some fake wood glued to it.
Insignia's are great cars though so it's far from a bad thing.
He got into the trunk just to let the mob know Buick is still for them 😂😂
Love the 75 Electra compare.
Voices Carry?
Props to Alex for going with Classic 80s. I like him even better but let's hope next time for some New Order.
I don't think this car was designed for the American market. This should be the Chinese version
No real rear visibility except for back up cam
Puts more power down than a jeep grand cherokee v6
The saab 95 was the European this car came from
GM needs to cancel the XTS and slot the LaCrosse in its place. This whole business of having multiple copies has got to end. GM divisions competing for the same customers is just plain dumb.
Is VW going to cancel the Audi/Skoda/Seat brands because they are all based on VW platforms? In the auto business the rule is simple: Multiple copies are great when they sell and a waste of time when they do not. By the way, bring back the Mercury Cougar, the Plymouth Valiant and the Oldsmobile Cutlass as they were all copies of something else that put money in the bank.
Chrysler is no where near as reliable and buick has better history I've driven a 300 trust me it isn't that good to heavy and bloated and slow
Almost bought a Chrysler 300 thanks. I'm looking a 2015 lacrosse V6 rn. Hope I made the better choice
Alex? I love your Way of Reviiwng Cars, But Too Much Comparing them to Lexus and BMW's and Caddilac.. Most Buick Owners I know Are Die Hards for American and GM.. compare them to Ford and Chrysler and Screw the Foregien Cars that Cost 50% more and +33% more at their Dealers to get them Fixed.. Spend more time comparing the Cost Per Mile on Maintenance will you.. Buick , like the Chevy beat all the others Hands down. Buick is the Poor Mans Cadillac..Lexus is a Wannabe.. With Ford Discontinuing most of its Sedands, GM's Chevy and Buicks will rule in that class for the Middle Class, most will not be wasting $ on Overpaying for a Lexus or a BMW, nor a Mercedes..Fords SUV's are great for that class and Price of vehicle that has replace the Station Wagon..
Center consoles in Buicks are so lame. Who are they trying to fool? Bring back the front bench seat!
Also, this car is trounced by the Chrysler 300 and Hyuandai Genesis.
"Center consoles in Buicks are so lame." -- Thank you, brother! In all automatic cars. Pretentious waste of space. If I want to drive stick, I will buy a stick (in fact, I own one car with a stick).
You guys must be old as dirt. Nobody wants a bench. LOL
Aaron Brown
Since people before you just said they did, apparently you are not familiar with meaning of words. Look up "nobody". And btw, you can have split benches with contoured seats.
I meant "nobody" in the rhetorical sense. God! SMH. No. Just no.
Aaron Brown
Do you drive a stick?
Buick is 2nd and 7th 2015 best brand on both JD Power autos.jdpower.com/content/study-auto/I0X6eMP/2015-u-s-vehicle-dependability-study-results.htm and Consumer report www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/02/24/consumer-reports-brand-ranking-lexus-fiat/23910563/ on dependability studies Nice cars!
i have one of this car
i would never compare a Buick with a Lexus. The quality involved in building a Lexus is light years ahead of anything GM offers.
It is this prejudice against Buick that does a disservice to the customer. Buick has, and frankly has always been, an exceptionally high quality car every bit on par with the Japanese and Germans. Rejecting it just because it has a Buick badge is just bad policy. But reject it you would, only because you had a bad Skylark in 1983. If that logic holds, shouldn't you also reject the Lexus and Benz because we fought a war with the Japanese and Germans?
***** I must agree with all you wrote. There's something else to consider, too. When one buys a Lexus or any other Japanese or German car that person is hurting our economy since the profit always goes right back home. And there's something else that really bugs me. People bitch and find fault with just about anything they see in an American made car. If they don't like them OK. But they'd do well to keep their opinions to themselves. Personally I buy AMERICAN made vehicles and like them. Had a Mazda once and I'm being very chartable when I say it was a piece of junk.
Not to go crazy far off topic, but there's a grand irony in the whole "buy American" thing. I totally agree that it's in our best interest, on every level, to buy American. So why don't we? Price. So why is the price higher? Basically, it ain't labor costs or regulations. It's healthcare. 16 cents of every dollar you and I spend goes for health care. That's crazy, but it's why China is so much cheaper. The irony is that the same nationalistic buy American patriotic types are the ones who are against health care reform, socialized medicine, or even just rudimentary regulation of health care. Because of them, we can't have single payer and pay 4 cents like Britain instead of 16. Thanks a lot red staters. It's YOUR fault we build cars in Mexico and Canada.
***** Don't understand what I'm about to write because I was a Teamster all my adult life and if it weren't for a union I'd probably still be working at 89 years. However, labor unions in this country have gotten totally out of hand. They're no longer a bunch of good old boys trying to make a better life for themselves they're like a cross between the Mafia and a bunch of politicians. Also the government has made it virtually impossible for many manufacturing companies to operate here because of the high corporate taxes and of course outrageous regulations that for the most part are absolutely unnecessary. Now I've seen a report that GM is going to build the Buick Riviera again. Designed and built in China. I've been driving Buicks for years but if that happens my next car will no doubt be a Ford. I don't like buying things that have been made in other countries but at least Canada and Mexico are closer than China, Japan or Germany. And it's not MY fault our government has screwed things up the way it has. Perhaps it's Lexus owners who have helped. Do you own a Jap car? I'd be willing to bet you do.
Richard Cunningham The lines are getting so blurry these days it is hard to say. Companies do not have to disclose what was made in Canada, so when the car says 80% American parts, it really means 80% USA/Canadian parts and that could be 0% USA 100% Canada or any mix at all. Then there's the whole foreign ownership question. Is Chrysler for instance an American company? Or is it Italian? Or is it British because their HQ is in London. In the same way, is the Buick Verano an American car or European car since it was essentially designed in Europe. Same for the Regal. Is the Acura ILX Japanese or American since it was designed in Japan but made in Ohio? Furthermore are the profits going overseas when American citizens and US investment companies are the majority shareholders? I don't have any real answers, but this all makes the waters very murky.