The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

Big cars are no longer what they used to be; nor have they been that way for several years. The combined forces of higher gasoline prices and government mandated fuel mileage have produced a smaller, lighter and more fuel efficient car.

There are still several conventional rear-drive big cars around but even those have been changed considerably. Today, though, the modern big car is likely to be front-wheel drive and powered by a four-cylinder or V-6 engine. An example of such a car is the Buick LeSabre, an old name in the Buick lineup but as up-to-date as any car on the market.

The test car, a four-door model supplied by Kelly Buick, State Road, Emmaus, proved that big is not necessarily better. Or, at least, it is tough to judge an interior of a car by its exterior.

The four-door LeSabre is a cleanly styled car but one that is not likely to turn heads. It has that familiar General Motors linear theme that can be seen in many of the corporation’s cars. Nothing really wrong with it but various models can tend to be a little confusing.

The LeSabre manages to hold on to some semblance of individuality with a bold grille that is spread from fender to fender. Otherwise, it has the sloping hood, high trunk deck and large greenhouse that is sort of expected from GM. (The coupe version of the LeSabre, on the other hand, has a much more interesting and attractive design that sort of looks like a Mercedes-Benz or BMW coupe.)

When all is said and done, the body – whether it be functional-looking or a work of art – is there to house the interior. And, in the case of the LeSabre, quite an attractive and roomy one at that. The LeSabre four-door with a combined volume index of 123 cubic feet (107 interior, 16 trunk) is classed by EPA as a large car (an index of over 120 cubic feet).

It is not the large Buick, or for that matter the large car in general, of the past but, as mentioned, the modern big car. If it were parked next to one of the older rear-drive Buicks, the 1988 LeSabre would look small. But front- wheel drive and closer attention paid to interior layout have provided more useable passenger room.

The test car had a split bench front seat and thus room for six persons. It perhaps wouldn’t be wise to attempt to seat six big men but any other sort of mix will do. The front seat will, of course, provide all kinds of leg room since it is adjustable. Even fully extended aft, there is still decent back seat leg room. Also plenty of head room, both front and back, because of the car’s height of 54.7 inches.

One of the big differences between the old big car and the new big car is in trunk room. The LeSabre is rated at 16 cubic feet, which isn’t bad but somewhat smaller than the previous rear-drive LeSabre. However, because of the flat floor, made possible by the front-wheel drive configuration, trunk space can be better utilized. Perhaps there is no w ay to bring back the real big trunk.

Driving the LeSabre is not one of life’s great chores. With a wheelbase of 110.8 inches, length of 196.5 inches and width of 72.4 inches, the car is very manageable with no blind spots or any great distances to the front or rear of the driver. The car’s exterior will be appreciated when parking.

Like many of today’s cars, the LeSabre handles very well. The four-wheel independent suspension features struts all around and for this year there is a revised suspension as standard equipment. According to Buick, this concept eliminates the need for heavy-duty suspensions. Also the base suspension is tuned to provide the same ride and handling characteristics for coupes and sedans.

The test car was taken through the usual twists, turns and other tortuous situations and managed to survive it all with little pain or strain. The revised suspension is really not firm so it is somewhat deceptive. The test car had the standard size P205/ 7514R tires and no doubt a little more can be squeezed from this suspension with optional bigger performance tires and wheels.

(For those who are more interested in a sporty sedan rather than a large family type car, the LeSabre is available in a T Type model that features ”Gran Touring” suspension, P215/65R15 Eagle GT+4 tires and 15-inch aluminum wheels. The T Type also features a slightly different image through the use of black moldings, front air dam and deck lid spoiler.)

As it is though, the base suspension will probably be enough for most drivers. The base suspension and tires also made for a smooth and quiet ride.

What will probably surprise most first-time drivers of the LeSabre is the response and smoothness of the V-6 engine. This engine measures 3.8 liter/231 cubic inches and has been in the General Motors lineup for a number of years and just keeps getting more and more refined. The engine was originally developed by Buick for its small car, which goes to show you how far things have changed in the automotive world.

This version of the engine features sequential port fuel-injection and roller cam and is rated at a respectable 150 horsepower at 4,400 rpm and 200- foot pounds torque at 2,000 rpm. Just tromp on that accelerator and the LeSabre moves out. Performance is also helped by the four-speed automatic transmission, which allows for a little lower gearing at the bottom and a little higher gearing at the top. The result is good performance along with good fuel mileage.

The test car averaged 16 miles per gallon for city driving and 27 miles per gallon over the highways. Premium unleaded fuel was used. Not too many years ago, this would be almost unbelievable fuel mileage for a big car; even if the big car is not what it used to be.

For even more performance, another version of this engine is being offered this year. Known as the 3800, it is rated at 165 horsepowerat 5,200 rpm and 210 foot pounds torque at 2,000 rpm. This version features a redesigned cylinder block, on-center cylinder bores, balance shaft and new pistons and fuel injectors. The engine is standard in the T Type and optional on all other LeSabre models.

Base price for the LeSabre Custom Sedan is $15,745. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, power brakes and steering, tinted glass and a long list of trim and convenience items. The test car had a bottom line of $17,766, which included a destination charge of $480.

Options totaled $1,541 and include driver’s power seat, $240; power windows, $285; electric door locks, $195; rear window defogger, $145; tilt steering, $125; wire wheel covers, $199, and ETC AM-FM stereo/cassette with clock, $350. There is also a value option group discount of $350 reflected in the price.

The LeSabre is covered by a basic 12-month/12,000-mile warranty; a 6-year/ 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a 6-year/100 ,000-mile rust perforation warranty.