2005 Buick Allure Road Test

And the 3.6 really enjoys high revs, charging the Allure forward with gusto while hardly tugging on the steering wheel under full

The 3.6-liter V6 really enjoys high revs, charging the Allure forward with gusto while hardly tugging on the steering wheel under full throttle. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

throttle. To Toyota's credit, the Camry doesn't torque-steer much either. With the CSX package comes wider alloy wheels on 225/55R17 all-season tires, compared to the top Camry's 215/55R17 rubber. I don't know if it is the tires or the general makeup of each car's suspension geometry, but the Allure feels more engaging in the slalom and less likely to understeer, or break traction at the front end when going quickly around sharp corners. I should also mention that the base Camry sports 15-inch rims wrapped in 205/65R15 all-season tires, while the base Allure serves up 225/60R16 ties on 16-inch wheels as standard equipment, also standard on the mid-grade CXL. Why does a larger tire size matter? A larger contact patch with the road will improve grip, enhancing road holding.

While besting the Camry the new Allure is also a fair margin better than its predecessor in managing the curves. To accomplish this, Buick has engineered extensive refinements into the car's chassis architecture, such as suspension tuning that is 80 percent new when put beside that in the outgoing Regal. The rebound damper bumpers are now four times longer for better cushioning, the power

Buick offers a Gran Touring suspension, standard equipment with the top-line CXS, which feature larger diameter stabilizer bars and greater control during aggressive maneuvers. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

steering system is retuned for enhanced response and more precise on-center feel at highway speeds, plus the Allure achieves quieter, smoother more refined powertrain performance due to a new aluminum engine cradle and mounting system.

What gives the Allure it's hunkered down, solid road feel are 20 percent stiffer standard springs than in its predecessor, that work in concert with higher rate front and rear stabilizer bars important for keeping the car horizontal to the road during hard cornering. Buick offers a Gran Touring suspension, standard equipment with the top-line CXS, which feature even larger diameter stabilizer bars and greater control during aggressive maneuvers.