KansasCity.com's view

The new Buick Lucerne sedan replaces the Park Avenue as the top Buick, and it gives no quarter to any of its competitors. Its styling is clean and uncluttered, even if the front looks a bit blunt. The rest of the vehicle is a handsome combination of contours.

The classy interior, lack of noise and room for five or six people are key reasons why the Lucerne is a serious competitor to cars such as the Toyota Avalon, Pontiac Bonneville and Ford Five Hundred.

The Lucerne is available with a 3.8-liter V-6 or a 4.6-liter V-8. Prices start at $25,265 for the CX and $35,265 for the top CXS.

The test car was the top CXS powered by the 4.6-liter Northstar V-8. This 32-valve, all-aluminum engine cranks out 275 horsepower, and is extremely smooth and well-mannered. The 3.8-liter V-6, rated at 197 horsepower, is one of GM’s oldest designs, and it is extremely reliable if not exciting.

Both engines have a four-speed automatic transmission, whereas many competitors now have a five-speed automatic. The Buick’s shifts are very smooth, however.

The Lucerne’s 115.6-inch wheelbase gives it plenty of room inside for up to six people if you get the 40/20/40 front bench seat. It rides on the same chassis as the Cadillac DTS. The Lucerne is one of the quietest cars in all of GM, thanks to careful attention to sound-deadening. Engineers used a laminated steel firewall, laminated side glass in all four doors, baffles in the roof pillars and a “double-isolated” mounting system for the engine and transmission. Even the shape of the windshield wipers has been changed to eliminate wind noise.

The result is a cabin in which you can talk in low-to-normal voice at highway speeds and still be heard easily. The lack of noise also results in less fatigue on a long trip.

Lack of noise is only one element of the Lucerne’s appeal. The interior wears GM’s new interior design, and it can best be described as elegant simplicity. The instrument panel has soft textures, few seams and woodgrain trim. The gauges have dark backgrounds and white numerals, but they were hard to read in the daytime unless the headlights were on. The temperature buttons on the center stack were also hard to read unless the headlights were on. It would be a simple adjustment to have the gauges and center stack lit permanently.

The CXS test car was equipped with heated and cooled front seats, remote start, rear parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, Harman Kardon audio system with six-disc changer and a navigation system.

The test car also had GM’s Magnetic Ride Control, a system that adjusts the suspension in real time as it hits bumps. The resulting ride is soft for comfort yet firm for responsive handling at higher speeds. The 18-inch wheels telegraphed small bumps through the steering wheel, and the larger wheels make the turning circle nearly as large as a full-size pickup’s.

Safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes, traction control, StabiliTrak vehicle stability control, rear air suspension and brake assist. All models have six airbags, including a side-curtain airbag and a dual-depth front passenger airbag.

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Price

The base price of the test CSX was $35,265. Options included 18-inch chrome wheels, remote vehicle start, rear parking assist, heated and cooled front seats, six-disc CD changer and heated windshield washer fluid. The sticker price was $38,135.

Warranty

Buick has upped its warranty to four years or 50,000 miles for all 2006 models.

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Engine: 4.6-liter, 275-hp V-8

Transmission: Automatic

Wheelbase: 115.6 inches

Curb weight: 4,013 lbs.

Base price: $35,265

As driven: $38,135

Mpg: 17 city, 26 hwy.

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At A Glance

Point: The Lucerne is handsome, quiet and powerful, especially with the 4.6-liter V-8. The cabin is cozy, has room for up to six people and is tastefully appointed. The top CXS is loaded with all the convenience equipment one expects in this price category.

Counterpoint: There are very few nits to pick. The 18-inch wheels telegraph small bumps through the steering wheel, and I would like a tighter ride. I know that styling preferences are subjective, but I find the front a bit too blunt.

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Tom Strongman’s e-mail address is tstrongman@kc.rr.com.