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Buick Motor Division figures 1997 is going to be a very good year.

So good that the division previewed its 1997 Buick Century at the recent North American International Auto Show at Detroit, and the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show at Los Angeles.

The new Century won’t be available until the 1997 model year, but Buick was so taken with the car that it couldn’t wait to spread the news.

“This is truly a state-of-the-art midsized sedan,” said Buick general manager Edward H. Mertz. “It has all new architecture. It’s roomier and quieter, and will deliver the quality and prestige of a Buick.”

You can understand how Mertz might be a little prejudiced in this respect, but on balance he has a first class set of wheels.

In a day when most motor vehicles are either a truck, something you can park in the closet, or an automobile for the affluent, the Century is a lot of car at an affordable price.

This ’97 Century may be classified as midsized, but it is designed to carry six people in big-car comfort.

Exterior-wise, it embraces the established aerodynamic form of styling, highlighted by the classic Buick grille.

“That’s the first thing anyone sees,” said Wayne Kady, chief designer in Buick’s Exterior Studio No. 2. “So we made sure this feature says Buick.”

One of the most important facets of the new Century is that it is larger in nearly every dimension than the car that it will replace.

The wheelbase has been stretched 4.1 inches to 109 inches. Broader track dimensions, an increase of 2.8 inches in the front and 4.3 inches in the rear, give the front-wheel drive car improved stability at speed and agile maneuverability.

Also, the turning circle is a tight 35.8 feet, 2 1/2 feet smaller in diameter than the current Century.

For comfort in three abreast seating, the overall width has been increased 3.6 inches to 73 inches. Also, the car is a little taller, (at 56.5 inches) which permits rear-seat occupants to sit slightly higher than those in the front. Buick calls this theater seating, a response to customers who asked for a better view of the road ahead.

While the Century is a six-seater, the 55/45 (passenger/driver) split bench front seat has a slightly contoured seat and seatback configuration for the driver and one passenger. A center front seat occupant basically is sitting on a cushioned divider and is supported by the center arm rest, which is turned upright.

One thing designers doted on was interior room, so much so that the front seats have more than 10 inches of travel. That’s sufficient for a 6- foot-5 driver to slide back so far that his or her feet no longer reach the pedals.

Tall or short, drivers will find a conventional cockpit layout with a rather spartan instrument panel consisting of a speedometer, temperature and fuel gauge, plus an odometer. The shift lever for the four- speed automatic transmission is on the steering column.

Buick stays with its 3100 Series (3.1-liter/191-cubic inch) V-6, whose strong suit i s 20 miles per gallon city and 29 mpg highway. Horsepower is 160, and torque is 185 foot- pounds.