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Introduction
Buick has wisely replaced its incredible “Dream Up” advertising campaign, which featured classic rocking sellouts Aerosmith in a potentially career-killing deal, after it did little to convince forty-somethings that they’d rather buy a LaCrosse than a Lexus. The new tagline is “Beyond Precision,” which, if you ascribe any faith in the concept of truth in advertising, tells you that a Buick is an exceptionally well-made automobile. While our week-long test drive experience in a new 2006 Buick Lucerne did not lend credence to this claim, one thing is true: the Lucerne is a ringer of sorts, like the print ads for this new Buick flagship attest.
Ringers are dismissed as uncompetitive based on first impressions, then unveil hidden talents to rise up and surpass the competition for the win. These hidden talents are masked, intentionally or not, behind facades of mediocrity, and any new Buick has ringer potential thanks to decades of unremarkable product. Though the 2006 Buick Lucerne does not bubble up to the head of its class, it does possess distinctly pleasing attributes that will appeal to specific kinds of buyers – buyers that likely aren’t listening to Aerosmith CDs produced in the past two decades.
Press materials for the 2006 Buick Lucerne promise “a fresh approach to the entry-luxury segment,” and say that it “underscores GM’s commitment to offer Buick customers a line of premium vehicles with elegant designs, finely crafted interiors, and exceptional levels of power, comfort, quietness, and quality.” After driving a metallic red Lucerne CXS around the Los Angeles and Orange County regions, we’d say Buick’s staff writers got it half right. The Lucerne is comfortable, quiet, and constructed with quality materials except for one glaring issue, but it is not elegantly designed, finely crafted, or exceptional in any way. And since it’s a front-wheel drive sedan equipped with a standard cast-iron V6 engine that’s among the weakest on the market or an optional V8 that barely surpasses a Nissan or Toyota V6 in terms of horsepower, the Lucerne is hardly a fresh approach to anything, let alone the entry-luxury segment.
Available in three trim levels – CX, CXL, and CXS – the Buick Lucerne’s standard engine is a blast from GM’s past, a heavy cast-iron 3.8-liter V6 engine with valves operated by pushrods. This so-called 3800 Series III V6 is, after decades of service, more refined and reliable than ever, but it makes just 197 horsepower. That’s less than the much-maligned 3.0-liter V6 found in the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego. Evidently, the trade for ponies is decent fuel economy, because the V6 is rated by the EPA to get 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Step up to CXL or CXS trim and you can benefit from a substantial jump in motive force thanks to an aluminum dual overhead cam 4.6-liter V8 engine making 275 horsepower. This engine marks the return of V8 power to Buick’s car lineup (the Rainier SUV has one), and is a repurposed Caddy Northstar unit. Premium fuel is recommended but not required, and the EPA says you can expect 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. We averaged 17.3 in a mix of driving.
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