2019 Buick LaCrosse

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Overview

The world of luxury sedans is a busy, and oftentimes confusing, one. For those looking for a luxurious driving experience from an all-American brand, there's one vehicle that's always been worthy of serious consideration: the 2019 Buick LaCrosse. It's quieter, more comfortable, and more refined than ever before, and comes available with a high-tech mild hybrid engine as one of the powertrain options. While the 2019 LaCrosse is sure to appeal to longtime fans of the Buick brand, the latest model is sure to attract a wider array of people with its more upscale styling, a greater focus on efficiency, and an array of new technology features—all at a surprisingly affordable price.

Performance

The 2019 Buick LaCrosse gets an extra dose of both performance and refinement, thanks to an upgraded powertrain and finely tuned chassis. Engine options include a standard engine with "eAssist light electrification technology" and an optional gas V6.

In an excitingly forward-thinking move, Buick added a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with eAssist light electrification technology to the LaCrosse's powertrain lineup. Buick’s eAssist propulsion system uses a compact electric motor and an advanced 24-cell air-cooled 0.45 kWh lithium-ion battery pack in combination with the gas engine to enhance efficiency and maintain refined performance. The result of all this technology is a 19 percent increase in city fuel economy compared to the LaCrosse’s advanced V6, as well as other benefits found in fully electric vehicles, such as torque-assisted launch, energy-saving regenerative braking, and exceptionally smooth stop/start. It brings the LaCrosse's fuel economy up to an enviable 29 mpg combined (25 mpg city and 35 mpg highway).*

The aforementioned 3.6-liter V6 produces 310 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. it uses direct injection for added power and more efficient combustion, as well as two notable fuel-saving features: General Motors’ Active Fuel Management system, which shuts down two cylinders under light loads and reactivates them when needed, and an engine start/stop system that shuts off the engine in certain situations to reduce fuel consumption.

The LaCrosse comes standard as front-wheel drive, but Buick’s twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system is available as an option. It uses an independent clutch setup to determine how much power is sent to each individual rear wheel, improving handling. A new five-link rear suspension and available Continuous Damping Control active suspension also help in that area.

All of this hardware would be useless without a sturdy chassis to bolt it to, however. Fortunately, the 2019 LaCrosse's body is not only stronger than before, it's also 300 pounds lighter thanks to extensive use of high-strength steel. The LaCrosse also benefits from Buick’s QuietTuning process, which utilizes features like triple-sealed doors, acoustic laminated glass, and active noise cancellation to ensure a peaceful cabin experience.

Features

The 2019 Buick LaCrosse is a four-door, five-seat sedan. It's available in 1SV, Preferred, Sport Touring, Essence, Premium, and Avenir trim levels. The base 1SV trim has a dizzying array of standard features that include 18-inch wheels, automatic xenon headlights, fog lamps, and heated mirrors. To help make drivers more comfortable, the LaCrosse also comes with standard dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated leather upholstery, eight-way power front seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The LaCrosse also places a heavy emphasis on technology, which is highlighted by its standard rear parking sensors, rearview camera, keyless ignition/entry, and OnStar® telematics system. OnStar® is especially helpful since it not only includes a built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, but also provides additional peace of mind while driving thanks to its automatic crash notification, emergency call button, and stolen vehicle assistance, to name a few of its features.

Naturally, the Preferred, Essence, and Premium trims all elevate the 2019 LaCrosse to even greater levels of luxury. Some of the available features include HID headlights with LED signature lighting, 18-inch wheels, perforated leather seats, heated steering wheel, Bose® premium audio system, and a power rear sunshade.

The 2019 LaCrosse also features a plethora of technology. There's an 8.0-inch LED “information center” display, and a second 8.0-inch display as part of Buick’s IntelliLink® infotainment system, which also features Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ smartphone connectivity. To ensure smartphones feel at home, Buick also offers wireless phone charging built into the center console.

Design

The 2019 Buick LaCrosse carries Buick’s current design language forward, while giving a subtle nod to the brand’s history. The large grille includes a prominent Buick tri-shield insignia accented by wing-shaped elements, against vertical “waterfall” bars. It’s a configuration inspired by the 1954 Buick Wildcat II concept.

The LaCrosse is as capable as it is stylish, thanks to thoughtful touches that help improve functionality. The rear doors open wider than before to offer easier ingress and egress, for example, and trunk capacity is about 7 percent greater than in the previous LaCrosse, giving it enough room for four golf bags.

The rest of the LaCrosse has a more dynamic look than previous models. The front wheels were pulled forward and the wheelbase stretched 2.7 inches, despite an increase in overall length of just 0.6 inches. The roof is also 1.6 inches lower than the previous-generation model, giving the LaCrosse a sleeker profile. Finally, the wheels are pushed out further toward the corners for a more athletic stance.

The interior is just as stylized as the exterior. It features a dramatic “floating” center console that positions the electronic shifter closer to the driver while creating storage space below. Buick also splurged for high-quality materials, including aluminum sill plates, wood trim, and soft-touch material at most touch points. French stitching on areas like the seats and instrument panel classes things up even further.

Safety

Safety features on the 2019 Buick LaCrosse include anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, 10 standard airbags, a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane change alert, forward collision alert, forward automatic braking, front pedestrian braking, automatic park assist, and GM’s Safety Alert Seat.

Verdict

The 2019 Buick LaCrosse is worthy of the fabled Buick nameplate, capably holding its own against its rivals both at home and abroad.

Be sure to contact us online or visit Heritage Chevrolet Buick Owings Mills at 11234 Reisterstown Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117 to schedule a test drive.

* EPA-estimated: 2.5L engine - 25 city/35 hwy (FWD); optional V6 3.6L engine - 20 city/30 hwy (FWD); 20 city/29 hwy (AWD).

Image Credit: Buick