The second-generation Buick LaCrosse made its debut in 2010 as a 2010 model year vehicle. Five years and one mid-cycle refresh later, the large Super Epsilon-platformed sedan has aged graciously, and is selling relatively well. And though Buick is expected to introduce the all-new, third-generation LaCrosse for the 2017 model year on the P2XX platform (more on the 2017 Buick LaCrosse here), the Tri-Shield is giving the 2016 LaCrosse a few small updates and various other changes.
To start, the 2016 Buick LaCrosse does away with four exterior colors while adding three new, premium and late availability hues to the palette:
Deleted Colors
- Midnight Amethyst Metallic
- Carbon Black Metallic
- Smoky Gray Metallic
- Atlantis Blue Metallic
New Colors
- Dark Sapphire Blue Metallic
- Graphite Gray Metallic
- Ebony Twilight Metallic
Rounding out the color changes is the renaming of the Champagne Silver Metallic color to Sparking Silver Metallic.
Additionally, the FWD 1SV Equipment Group, which was slipstreamed into the 2015 LaCrosse, is officially added to the new features list of the 2016 LaCrosse. Moreover, the 3.6L V6 LFX engine becomes standard on the 1SB and 1SL models, with the 2.4L eAssist I4 LUK as the optional powerplant.
Inside, the 2016 Buick LaCrosse adds GM’s next-gen infotainment systems with a new screen appearance and begins to offer two sets of 20-inch wheels: the first is a silver-painted aluminum wheel available on the AWD Premium I 1SP trim level, while the second is an aluminum wheel available as an LPO on the Premium II 1SR trim.
Check the official RPO-level changes here:
Deletions
- Exterior color (G7U) Midnight Amethyst Metallic
- Exterior color (GAR) Carbon Black Metallic
- Exterior color (GLJ) Smoky Gray Metallic
- Exterior color (GWY) Atlantis Blue Metallic
New Features
- 4GK69 FWD 1SV Equipment Group (added mid-2015 model year)
- Exterior color (G1M) Dark Sapphire Blue Metallic (additional charge – premium paint) (Late availability)
- Exterior color (G7Q) Graphite Gray Metallic (additional charge – premium paint) (Late availability)
- Exterior color (GB8) Ebony Twilight Metallic (additional charge – premium paint) (Late availability)
Changes
- (LFX) 3.6L E85 capable V6 engine is now standard on 4GB69 1SB and 4GM69 1SL ([LUK] 2.4L ECOTEC 4-cylinder engine with eAssist technology is now available)
- Next Generation (IO5) and (IO6) infotainment systems with new screen appearance and 2 USB ports
- (Q7N) 20″ machine-faced Silver painted aluminum wheels and (RAL) P245/40R20 all-season, blackwall tires are now available on 4GH69 AWD Premium I 1SP (were not available in 2015)
- (SEJ) 20″ (50.8 cm) aluminum wheels, LPO and (XBC) P245/40R20 tires, LPO are now available on 4GT69 Premium II 1SR (were not available in 2015)
- Exterior color (GWT) Champagne Silver Metallic is now called Sparking Silver Metallic
Comments
Last month, I leased a 2015 Lacrosse Leather Group FWD in Deep Garnet with Neutral leather, the car is equipped with V6, sunroof, and the Experience Buick package. I must say that I am very impressed by this vehicle so far, it has greatly exceeded my expectations. My previous Buicks were an 05 Park Ave Ultra, 2009 Lucerne CXL-5, and a 2013 Regal Prem II Turbo (just returned the vehicle back to leasing company). The Lacrosse is much roomier than the Regal, and the materials and wood trim make the Lacrosse seem much more luxurious than the Regal. The seats are also more plush and soft than the Regal.
A few disappointments with the current Lacrosse, for a $40k+ vehicle, it should have a heated steering wheel (does not)- The Lucerne was 38k and had a heated steering wheel and the Regal was 36k and had a heated steering wheel. Also, the A and C pillars of the car are very thick, and makes it a little difficult to see. The car does have the blind-zone alert on the mirrors as well as the cross-traffic when backing up so that definitely helps. My only other gripe about the Lacrosse is that it doesn’t have a nice wood steering wheel like the Park Ave Ultra and the Lucerne did. That’s something that I think really brings the luxury of the car to the next level. That’s also strange to me because the previous Lacrosse was available with a wood steering wheel.
Overall I do love the car, it drives beautifully, it’s smooth and quiet and is a very nice place to be while driving. The Wi-fi is very cool as well, I use it every week. I wish they would use the wi-fi though to do live online searchs for the nav’s POIs instead of the database which is already outdated.
Nice choice, rpc85.
A couple of things I will say after reading your comment:
1. The LaCrosse is supposed to be a luxury car, while the Regal is more of a pseudo-luxury and pseudo-sport sedan. It tries to do both, but doesn’t do either one very well. The Regal would do better if Buick/GM had equipped it with better materials, thereby making it more luxurious. That said, the LaCrosse puts significantly less emphasis on sport, and focuses more on luxury.
2. The heated steering wheel is part of the next trim level. And, unfortunately, it’s an either-or proposition when it comes to heated steering wheel or one wrapped in a wood/veneer material.
3. The A and C pillars are thick indeed. The next-gen model should address this.
4. Completely agree with you on using the vehicle’s 4G connection to look up POIs rather than the databased stuff. This can’t come soon enough.
Again, nice choice and congrats! Hope you enjoy it.
Hi Chris,
I appreciate the feedback, I definitely get some of your points.
1. I know that the Regal was a very different type car than the Lucerne/Lacrosse is supposed to be. I didn’t write this earlier, but I actually really came to love the Regal for what it was. I thought is was a very handsome reserved looking car, beautiful black diamond paint. I loved the BMW-like controller that you use to navigate the radio/nav screen. I also liked the cars performance very much. For me, it was much smaller than what I am accustomed to, but I had enough room in it (I’m 5’8″, not super tall), nice amenities, the car for a 4-cylender was very quick on the highway and it would fly just touching the accelerator while at 3500 and above on the tach.
2. I don’t mind the steering wheel, I guess I’ve spoiled myself a bit with the past cars. The Lucerne that I had, had wood on the top and bottom of the steering wheel, and the remainder was leather, however the leather part of the wheel was heated. I know that the wood can’t heat up.
I will comment later on as I drive the car more with any other things that I notice. My main thing that I like is that the front cabin is a very nice place to be while driving. I find the comfort and interior quality is of a much higher level of luxury than it’s cousin, the Impala.
Have a great day!
Rob
Hey, you bought MY car! Just kidding, but a few months ago I was looking into a Lacrosse exactly like yours, even in the same color. I look forward to hearing updates on your experience. My feeling, in also looking into the Impala, was that the front seat of the Impala was more comfortable. I felt that the console is a bit too high in the Lacrosse, and the center portion of the dash impedes where I would otherwise place my right leg comfortably. I’m used to owning cars with bench seats up front, so maybe it’s something I will have to adjust to, but I didn’t seem to have that problem with the Impala. I didn’t take notice in the interior quality being of a much higher level of luxury, but perhaps at a certain point that’s just lost on me (it’s all better quality than my w-body Impala…). I’ve sat in Cadillac’s, Benz’s, Masarati’s, Jaguars, etc. at the auto show and their interiors don’t pop out at me either. My biggest turnoff in the Lacrosse was the lack of trunk space with less cargo room than even my wife’s little Sonic. Too bad they didn’t at least keep the hydraulic trunk hinges, could have saved some space by not having to encapsulate the old-school hinges in pockets. I ended up not purchasing anything and going into a holding pattern for the new model, which I expected to debut at the New York show this month and go on sale before the end of the year. Now that it will be pushed back to 2017, I’m not sure what to do going forward.
Hi Chris!
I will definitely share my experiences with the car as I continue to drive it through relevant comments on the website. My experience is that I went from a 2005 Park Avenue Ultra to a 2006 Impala LTZ, and that transition for me was very tough because the quality and niceness of the Park Ave was sooo much higher than the Impala. The Impala was so plain and lacking of the nice materials that the Buick had. Prior to leasing this 2015 Lacrosse, I did check out the new Impala, I didn’t like the look of it, it reminded me of a Hyundai or some other generic japanese brand. To be truthful though, I had it in my head that I like driving a Buick and not a Chevy.
I love my 2014 Smoky Gray LaCrosse Premium 1, V6. It does have a heated steering wheel. Love the car overall, I do find the trunk space lacking and the pillars are thick – but after a year I am used to it. My previous car was a 2009 Lucerne CXL-1 – (no woodgrain wheel – but heated – and no ventilated seats).
My wife hates the touch screen for the radio – I thought she was going to put her hand through the screen the last time she tried to scroll up the radio favorites. She much prefers the navigation radio in her 2010 Enclave. Overall, I love my LaCrosse (and my wife’s Cocoa Metallic Enclave). Looking forward to many quiet comfortable miles of driving. I think the 2017 LaCrosse looks like an Impala, although that is not a bad thing.
I’ve seen the interior of the 2016 Buick Lacrosse…it looks different but the A-pillars look the same….the Avenirs interior still looks better…with its thinner pillars and good visability.
Can we just fast forward to 2017 already?
Hi, (Chris) is the 2017 LaCrosse a reskinned Cadillac XTS?, (FWD, comfort Cadillac ride, etc.) now that a CT-6 exists. I may look at the last 2016 LC version to replace my “sport” riding ATS, and hope it’s A pillars not too off-putting.
Fran
ps owned a Lexus ES350 for 5 happy years prior to buying Cadillac ATS; this is not a car for a very senior citizen.
fdr
I like the LaCrosse. It is one of the vehicles I am considering for 2017.