KansasCity.com's view

DETROIT – My dad was a Buick man, and so was my father-in-law. I thought about them both as I was driving the 2010 LaCrosse, and I realized that the Buicks they liked were nothing like this newest sedan that is built in Kansas City, Kan.

The 2010 LaCrosse drives more like a European car than a Buick of old. It is extremely quiet, well-crafted and easily capable of challenging imports such as the Lexus ES350, Acura TL and Toyota Avalon. The styling is lean, clean and eye-catching.

Development of the LaCrosse, and the global midsize platform on which it sits, bridged three continents. This platform underpins the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia in Europe, and the LaCrosse is the first U.S. car to use it.

Jim Federico, the global vehicle line executive responsible for the car, lived in Germany during the car’s development. The car was designed and built with input from Germany, Sweden, Italy, China and South Korea. Much of the interior design was done in China, where Buicks are popular prestige cars.

Susan Docherty, vice president of Buick-GMC-Pontiac, said the LaCrosse was an important step toward “recapturing the hearts and minds of America.”

Buick’s Quiet Tuning technology reduces wind and road noise. A wide range of options is available, including in-dash navigation system with a rear-view camera, a side blind-zone warning system and power rear window shade.

The front-wheel-drive LaCrosse will be available in CX, CXL and CXS trim levels. The CX and CXL will be offered with a 3.0-liter, direct-injection V-6 that has 255 horsepower. The CXS will have a 3.6-liter engine with 280 horsepower. The transmission will be a six-speed automatic. All-wheel drive will be offered on the CXL.

Prices begin at $27,085 for the CX, $30,395 for the CXL, $32,570 for the CXL with all-wheel drive and $33,765 for the CXS. Well-optioned models nudge $40,000, and that could be a liability.

Later in the year, Buick will offer a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine in the base CX.

Final fuel economy numbers are not available, but Buick estimates that city mileage will be 17 miles per gallon and highway mileage will be 27 mpg. The four-cylinder is expected to achieve at least 30 mpg on the highway.

I was able to spend a little time behind the wheel of preproduction versions of each model. The 280-horsepower CXS is the most performance oriented, of course, but my choice would be the all-wheel-drive CXL with the 3.0-liter engine. Buick’s all-wheel drive system divides the power from front to rear and side to side as conditions demand.

The LaCrosse is built on GM’s global midsize platform, and it rides on a 111.7-inch wheelbase. Overall length is 197 inches, which is roughly the length of the Malibu.

The exterior has taut, sculpted lines, while the interior is softer and more sensuous. Smoked chrome accents, warm wood and first-class leather and materials combine with cool blue ambient lighting to create an inviting environment. Luxury touches include French stitching with contrasting thread. The door panels sweep into the dash, and chrome trim rings and simple graphics highlight the instruments. The center console rises up into the instrument panel where it is topped with an LCD screen.

Convenience items will include Bluetooth phone connectivity, head-up display, an auxiliary audio input with a USB port and a DVD entertainment system with display screens in the seatbacks. Adaptive headlights can turn up to 15 degrees.

The LaCrosse has front, side and side-curtain airbags, as well as GM’s StabiliTrak vehicle stability system, traction control and anti-lock brakes.

Price

The base price of an all-wheel-drive CXL is $31,820. The car I drove had leather seats, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, power rear sunshade, Harman/Kardon audio system, navigation system with backup camera, sunroof, 18-inch chrome wheels, head-up display, rear-seat airbags and an engine-block heater. The sticker price was $40,205.

Warranty

Four years or 50,000 miles, with a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

There is no “At A Glance” box because the test car was a preproduction model.

2010 Buick LaCrosse

Engine: 3.0-liter, 255-hp V-6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

All-wheel drive

Wheelbase: 111.7 inches

Curb weight: 3,948 lbs.

Base price: $31,820

As driven: $40,205

MPG rating: 17 city, 27 hwy. estimated

To reach Tom Strongman, send e-mail to tom@tomstrongman.com.