Old school big-car comfort and modern technology meet harmoniously in the Buick LaCrosse, but the premium price tag and the soft ride may be a deterrent for some buyers. Even so, the LaCrosse does offer an unexpected level of performance and sure-footedness when equipped with the available Dynamic Drive package. With it, the car is quick and maintains commendable composure and does a good job of masking the weak-kneed luxury barge characteristics that defined the brand for decades. 

Buick Lacrosse Sedan
Buick discontinued the domestic LaCrosse at the end of the 2019 model year, but it lives on in China where the brand enjoys massive popularity. Buick

Inside, the LaCrosse offers well-padded and reasonably supportive front seats with the bare minimum of side bolstering, which plays into its target demographic. It’s not hard to find a comfortable driving position, but shorter drivers may have difficulty reaching a high enough seating position due to the height of the center armrest and window line. The top-level Avenir trim takes things to the next level with padding and soft-touch materials on all the critical surfaces and glossy wood trim and good-looking plastic bits with a premium feel.

Rear seat passengers benefit greatly from the LaCrosse’s generous proportions, as there’s even enough room for three people to ride comfortably in the back. The sloping roofline does present challenges for tall people to enter and exit the rear seats, but once inside, they’ll find plenty of legroom. Similarly, loading child seats can be hard because of the Buick’s roofline. Larger child seats are tall enough that the little person must be lifted under the door opening and then back up again to place them in the seat. Further complicating things for parents is the LaCrosse’s ample rear seat padding, which obscures the LATCH points and makes it hard to secure the child seat without digging into the cushioning.

The Lacrosse interior (Avenir trim pictured) is finished to a high standard that will leave few buyers wanting for more creature comforts.  Buick

Despite the car’s largesse, there’s a limited amount of space in the trunk. Buick quotes 15 cubic feet, but the area has a slightly irregular shape due to the intrusion of the wheel wells. (The Toyota Avalon and Chrysler 300 both offer a smidge over 16 cubic feet.) Folding rear seats split 60/40 and help with transporting longer items, but large suitcases and other cargo will present challenges. Inside the cabin, storage space is plentiful, thanks to a center console that has a storage space underneath. 

Class average at 15 cubic feet, the wheel wells intrude on the trunk’s overall storage functionality. Buick

The LaCrosse Avenir comes with navigation and a Bose audio system, which, despite its capability for clear high-volume sound reproduction, lack can a little nuance with classical and jazz material. Base offerings from other premium brands like Infiniti or even Toyota have a more polished hi-fi feel to the sound quality. 

The Buick’s infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, and voice commands work well without much fuss. There’s a wireless charging spot in the center console, but larger phones are a squeeze in the tight space. Otherwise, the 8.0-inch color touchscreen is bright, responsive, and has excellent visibility from most angles. GM’s infotainment software is easy to use and doesn’t require a degree in computer science to navigate.

GM’s infotainment interface is intuitive if a tad less exciting and elegant than the systems offered by some competitors. Buick

The Lacrosse’s ace in the hole is its ability to remain serenely quiet and comfortable over nearly road surface and at almost any speed, coddling its passengers in the tradition of American luxury sedans of yore. Still, there’s a balance here that we don’t see with too many other cars, where the priority of ultimate comfort doesn’t entirely soften up and ruin other parts of the vehicle.