2004 Buick Rendezvous Ultra Road Test

Unlike most of its competitors, the Rendezvous makes due with a column-mounted gear shifter. Sure, it's not as

Unlike most of its competitors, the Rendezvous makes due with a column-mounted gear shifter. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

enticing to use as a console-mounted unit, but it leaves greater room for convenient console storage. On the downside, though, the column mounting eliminates the benefit some drivers find in operating the transmission in manual-mode - despite there being no sequential manual-like shifter, a feature that comes standard in most of the Rendezvous' rivals.

On the road, all drivers and front seat passengers will appreciate the substantial head and legroom available just the same. Second-row legroom is adult-sufficient but not generous. Fit and finish is good for a lower-end SUV, but not what I expected given the

The Rendezvous' ride quality is pleasing for an SUV, and the Ultra's suspension calibration feels similar to that of a Buick sedan with a firm setup. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

Ultra's attempt at high-end positioning. Most surfaces are tactile-friendly, however, I noted a few abrasive edges around plastic moldings and finishes.

Small quibbles aside, there is much to like and appreciate both in the construction of the Rendezvous Ultra and in its ride quality. Buick has always considered itself a step above Chevrolet in the GM hierarchy, with the brand's advertising literature generally boasting of a smooth, quiet ride no matter which model it is touting. Such attributes have been incorporated into the Rendezvous, making its ride quality pleasing for an SUV. The Ultra's suspension calibration feels similar to that of a Buick sedan with a firm setup. Road disintegration is absorbed by the Ultra without over-stimulating the kidneys of its occupants, with uneven expansion joints being quietly defused by the unitized body's solidity.