The Detroit Newspapers's view

The bad news for Buick fans is that General Motors has killed two familiar, long-running Buick nameplates — the LeSabre and Park Avenue.

The good news is that Buick for 2006 has introduced an exceptional successor in the full-size Lucerne sedan. Even better news is that the V-8 engine returns to the big Buick for the first time since the demise of the Roadmaster.

We tested a well-equipped, top-of-the-line Lucerne CSX with the new 4.6-liter V-8. The bottom line: $38,630.

SHE: You gave the Cadillac DTS a middle-of-the-road grade last week and called it a “hollow status symbol.” Now you’ve turned into Mr. Sweetness and Light over the Buick, which is the sibling to the DTS, and given the Lucerne five stars. Do you want to explain your strange and mystifying logic? What’s the difference?

HE: About $15,000. Seriously, I think Cadillac has been drifting away from its traditional customer base for years, and the DTS is the poster child for that brand ambivalence. You’d never find a Lucerne in my driveway, but I think Buick has hit the target market dead-center with this car in ways no other domestic brand has done. The Lucerne gets classic Buick styling, with lots of chrome and those ubiquitous portholes, but the silhouette is clean, modern and appealing, without looking like a clich. Buick owners should love it. Inside, the car is roomy and comfortable, if somewhat conservative. And the new V-8 is a differentiator, too. While it’s not quite a match for Chrysler’s Hemi V-8, it still enables the Lucerne to walk away from weaker contenders like the Ford Five Hundred.

SHE: I’m glad you mentioned the portholes because I’m just nuts about them. I find them very comforting in the same way I find a bungalow comforting. They’re a familiar and romantic link to Buick’s past. But they didn’t just slap on any old porthole; the designers modernized them a bit. I should probably add that they’re not functional — they’re purely cosmetic. The Lucerne is not as in-your-face as a car like the Chrysler 300. It has much more subtle, sculpted lines. I’m less turned on by the cabin, which isn’t as up to date as what you’d find on a Lexus or even a Cadillac. Or, for that matter, a car such as the Toyota Avalon.

HE: I would call the interior subdued, not overly lavish. The only feature that’s really lacking is a navigation system. But there are lots of extras, including optional front seats that are heated and cooled.

SHE: Buick says you’ll be able to order a nav system in the spring. I’m disappointed that you can’t get adjustable pedals or a rear-seat DVD entertainment system. But you do get a standard OnStar communications system. I’m still concerned about the price, which seems a little steep for a domestic near-luxury sedan.

HE: Let me tell you what you get for that money. The Lucerne gets GM’s outstanding magnetic ride control, which gives you a superb, compliant ride, with very little body roll. And the 4.6-liter V-8–another feature that’s shared with Cadillac–is pretty powerful, delivering 275 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque. Unfortunately, GM has fitted only a four-speed automatic where Chrysler and Ford are now offering five- and six-speed units on their cars. So you can’t tap the engine power as effectively, and fuel economy is not much better than mediocre.

SHE: Too bad GM doesn’t offer displacement on demand. That would have helped gas mileage, too. Having said that, the Lucerne hits the high notes in just about every other respect. The styling is a conversation starter, at least among consumers of a certain age. You can get lots of golf bags in the trunk, and you can order the car in a six-passenger configuration–a feature that not many competitors offer. My only question: Is this a Buick for the ages or the aged?

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2006 Buick Lucerne CXS

Type: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, 5-passenger sedan

Price: Base, $35,990 (inc. $725 destination charge); as tested, $38,630

Engine: 4.6-liter V-8; 275-hp; 295 lb-ft torque

EPA fuel economy: 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway

Where built: Detroit

12-month insurance cost, according to AAA Michigan*:$1,717. (Estimate. Rates may be higher or lower, depending on coverage, driving record.)

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Anita: 4

Likes:Love the portholes. Six-passenger capability. Roomy rear seat. Huge trunk. Great safety features. Standard OnStar.

Dislikes:No adjustable pedals. No rear DVD entertainment system. No displacement on demand. Pretty pricey for a Buick.

Paul: 5

Likes:Hits the target market dead-center. Classic Buick styling, with lots of chrome. Extremely comfortable seats, with optional heating/cooling. Great “magnetic ride” suspension is compliant, firm with very little body roll. Excellent assembly quality. Powerful V-8 engine returns to the big Buick for the first time in years. Responsive steering.

Dislikes:Needs a navigation system. Mediocre fuel economy. Gauges a little difficult to read in daytime. Only a four-speed automatic when many competitors offer five and six speeds.