All Lucernes come with a standard four-speed automatic transmission. I'm sorry, but
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| Lucerne's handling is predictable, but the ride is marred by a floaty sensation. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
in this class I expect at least five forward speeds, with six quickly becoming the norm. That being said, the transmission shifted smoothly enough. While you won't be kicked back in your seat by the rapid acceleration, my tester's ride was smooth and quiet. Outside sounds, plus wind and engine noise was kept to a minimum, which is nice. On the highway, the CXL was only slightly "floaty" over bumps, much better than some of its predecessors. Standard on all models are front and rear stabilizers. The CX comes with twin-tube airlift control dampers, while the CXL and CXS are equipped with monotube shocks in the rear. The CXL had some body roll, but overall it reacted predictably to steering input. Steering wise all V6 models come with a hydraulic variable-ratio rack-and-pinion system, while V8s come with a magnetic variable assist rack-and-pinion setup and a slightly tighter turning ratio.
Inside,
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| Sensible styling can also be found inside. Did you expect anything else? (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
the primary instruments are made up of three round gauges that are easy to read. The fake wood trim is well done, and the climate and audio controls are much better than what was available to its predecessors. The leather upholstery is also nice. The car's rather large steering wheel is clad in plastic, with cruise and audio controls on each side. Additionally, the Lucerne features rain-sensing wipers with heated fluid, a definite bonus on cold days. While I prefer the interior of Toyota's Avalon, Buick has definitely stepped up its game.
This big car is great for large people, a quality that made itself very apparent when I had to shuttle around
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| Good space for three in back. Leather seating surfaces are soft and of good quality. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
three of my friends; two at well over six feet. They loved the space, commenting on the rear bench's great thigh support. Their only beef was that the middle console had a pair of rear facing, adjustable-angle HVAC vents, but no rear climate controls. I found the seats comfy, and nicely finished in rich leather. But it's a big person's car without pretense; no adjustable pedals or telescoping steering wheel.
Sound systems are very important to me, and this one sounded wonderful. My tester came with a 6-disc in dash CD changer with the all-important jack for MP3 players. The audio quality was extremely clear. Even with the bass up to max, no rattles just clarity. Audio controls, also positioned on the steering wheel, can be easily used without looking downward. Overall, a delightfully clear sounding, albeit booming system.
In
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| Big trunk, but large U-shaped hinges get in the way. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
the rear you will find a big car big trunk with weird hinges. The problem is, despite the trunk being huge, its U-shaped hinges slide down into the trunk cavity pressing down on whatever is stored below them. Some other GM vehicles, like the Impala, have better hinge designs, which should have been used on the Lucerne.
One of the strong points about the Lucerne is its safety features. They are abundant, and with respect to the airbag deployment system, quite impressive. This in mind, a new generation of dual depth and dual staged airbags deploy in different ways depending on the seat location and severity of the crash. Six airbags are standard on all models. Rear seat passengers are not forgotten, with front to rear side head curtains. Also standard is ABS brakes and electronic stability control.
