Just as the clothes don't make the man, so the stylish sheet metal surrounding the 2010 Buick Lucerne doesn't make it a thoroughly modern automobile. You see, once you get past its crisp design, you'll realize that the full-size Lucerne is an old-school American luxury sedan through and through. Whether that's a good thing or not depends on your perspective.
If you're a fan of vintage Buick models like the Electra and Roadmaster, the Lucerne will likely appeal. If, on the other hand, you're simply looking for the best full-size sedan on the market today, well, you're liable to find the Lucerne lacking. For starters, the Lucerne's powertrains don't quite measure up to those of its competitors. Both the V6 and V8 engines are a little anemic by comparison and hampered by an outdated four-speed automatic transmission that detracts from both overall performance and fuel economy.
To its credit, the Lucerne does ride quite comfortably, and its cabin is hushed at highway speeds. But that's about where this Buick runs out of charm. Take into account the imprecise steering, a huge turning circle and inexcusably poor braking performance and you have a car that doesn't inspire much confidence behind the wheel.
With all that in mind, it should come as no surprise that we suggest test-driving Buick's four-door flagship back to back with other large sedans, including the Chrysler 300, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Genesis and Toyota Avalon. Buick's new LaCrosse is another highly regarded model to consider. All of these models will offer more sprightly performance, better fuel economy and a more refined overall demeanor. While we're sure that there are a few buyers for whom the 2010 Buick Lucerne will be a good fit, just be certain that you try a few other models on for size before making up your mind.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2010 Buick Lucerne is a full-size luxury sedan that's offered in three basic trim levels: CX, CXL and Super. However, the CX and CXL models are broken down into multiple variations.
The entry-level CX model is fairly basic by modern luxury car standards, coming standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, heated outside mirrors, keyless entry, cloth upholstery, full power accessories, a power driver seat, cruise control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, OnStar and an AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with an auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio. The CX-2 version adds desirable goodies like dual-zone automatic climate control, remote vehicle start, Bluetooth and rear park assist.
There are no fewer than five different CXL variants, ranging from CXL1 to CXL5. The CXL1 gains leather upholstery, heated front seats, driver memory settings and a power front passenger seat. Moving up through the CXL ranks will get you a few extra niceties such as perforated leather upholstery, a heated leather- and wood-trimmed steering wheel, ventilated front seats, a nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and lane-departure and blind-zone alert systems.
Step up to the top-of-the-line Super model and you'll get several performance-oriented upgrades including a V8 engine, the Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside are a few more luxury touches including suede-trimmed perforated leather upholstery, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto- dimming rearview mirror with a compass and the Harmon Kardon audio system with a six-CD changer.
The options list varies by trim level and includes a sunroof, the lane-departure and blind-zone warning systems, a navigation system with real-time traffic updates and the upgraded audio system with a CD changer. CX and CXL models can also be had with a front bench seat that bumps seating capacity to six people.
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