Ask Away: We’re Driving The 2017 Buick LaCrosse This Week
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This week, we will descend upon Portland, Oregon to slide behind the wheel of the all-new, 2017 Buick LaCrosse. As usual, we invite you all to use this space for any questions, comments or whatever you may have.
We’ll have engineers, Buick marketing gurus and more on hand to answer questions, and we will check back periodically over the next few days and do our best to answer each question below.
So, without further ado, fire away! And once you’re done, read our 2017 Buick LaCrosse first drive.
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I’ve been waiting for this!!!!! So my first question would be how different is it from the Chinese model? I know the Chinese model only get 1.5t I believe? And the 2.0 turbo. Since the Envision has different suspensions from what’s being sold in China vs what’s sold in the U.S.
vic1212,
The differences are actually pretty minor between the North American and Chinese model. The ride is a little firmer, and the steering feel is a little more weighted, too. Seats are also firmer, and less cushy than we have.
Cheers,
-Sean
Really curious to hear driving differences between basic, hiperstrut-damping-20inchers, and awd-dualclutch configs.
Kevin,
That I will save for the actual write-up, and I will do my best to convey the differences. I will say they make for two very different personalities.
Cheers,
-Sean
IN the pictures I have been scared off with the exterior styling. Some pictures to me almost look like a Lucerene. What were your impressions of the exterior styling?
I does seem to have a bit of that throwback, jellybean shape to it …
Sorry to keep clinging to the Avista, but this isn’t the sleek step forward I was hoping for. But we’d already seen the exterior shots, so no surprise, I guess –
It’s a Buick so how’s the ride?
Any little Buick cues that may go unnoticed during a test drive? Looking for those small details…
Tyler,
The ride is pretty great overall. There is a major difference between cars with the 20-inch wheel package and the 18-inch wheels. I will go into detail on the ride differences in the full write-up.
As for small details, I’m not sure if you mean fun little “Easter eggs” of sorts, but nothing captured my attention in partiuclar. Buick wants this car to be segment leading, so the entire package is pretty astounding overall.
Cheers,
-Sean
I take that back. As soon as I published my initial reply, I remembered something pretty neat.
Buick finally figured out how to keep the LED running lights in the headlamp on while the turn signal is active. So, the LaCrosse’s LED light will not shut off when the blinker is activated like most vehicles with LED running lights do.
I had an Enclave behind me on my way home last night, and noticed that the LED running lights didn’t “wink” when the turn signals were activated. I would actually prefer that they do turn off when the signal is activated, as it calls attention to the fact that the signal is on. I thought most cars had that as a safety feature, guess not though.
What is better while driving: the AWD or the FWD with the active suspension?
Is there a button to turn off the start-stop?
What trims or interior colors have a sueded headliner, if any?
Are there pockets in the trunk liner for the hinges so that they don’t crush the luggage? Earlier photos seem to indicate that there are not.
What happened to the reddish interior color from the original photos, and the cars on display at the auto show? It appears to have been replaced by a yellowish brown.
Thanks!
Big Black Buick,
You cannot shut the start-stop system off. I will explain the system in detail in the full write-up. I may be wrong, but I don’t believe there is a suede headliner. But I could have glanced over that. There’s always a lot to take in.
As for the trunk, there are no hinges, but the opening is much wider and easier to load luggage into. I do believe it was simply a design choice to offer the sandy-tan color over the red interior option.
Cheers,
-Sean
Thanks for the info. None of those are really the answers I was hoping for though. That really is unfortunate that they didn’t include the shut off button for the start-stop, as the car is now 100% off the table for me, and I had been looking forward to this perhaps more than any new car I can remember. Looking like I will venture outside GM for a new Continental when it arrives now.
I am with you Big Black Buick, I had this car on my list as a almost definite purchase. With the news that you cannot disable Stop Start, I am almost now probley not going to get it. There may be a time in the future when all cars have this and you cannot disable it. But as of now there are still plenty of cars that dont even have stop start and the ones that do, you can at least disable them. I don’t care how seamless and unnoticeable it might be, I don’t like it.
Very disappointed with GM on this one. I hope upper management reads these posts.
Add me to the disappointed list as well. I was really interested in purchasing the 2017 Lacrosse as I am in dire need of a new car. However, after doing some research & learning that you can’t disable the Start/Stop feature, I’ll certainly disregard the Lacrosse now & look at another vehicle to buy.
Same here. I test drove the new lacrosse, but ended up buying a Cadillac XTS. Smooth quiet ride. $5000.00 rebate on the 2016 XTS . The final price was actually less than the lacrosse premium. Awesome vehicle.
Dose it have proper pillow seats? And dose it have a silky smooth Buick ride?
I drive a 2013 Lacrosse, is this one as quiet as mine and does it have more or less head room when getting in the drivers door ??
Joe Weber,
It’s even quieter. I can promise you that. Headroom is also increased.
Cheers,
-Sean
Do you feel like the right or wrong age for this? As in: if someone gave it to you, would you drive it or sell it?
John,
That’s a very intriguing question. I suppose to answer it, I didn’t feel out of place driving this car. Nothing about it screamed “elderly” is that’s what you’re getting at. Would I own one personally? Probably not, but I’m not the car’s target market.
Could I see a young professional purchasing this car to treat themselves after a pay raise, but they can’t quite touch a premium German brand or even Cadillac? Absolutely.
Cheers,
-Sean
How is the build quality ? And what are the ergonomics like as far as using the info-tainment system , I’m 6’5″ and have to drive with the seat as far back as it usually will go and it’s a stretch for me to use the radio and nav. system in most cars . Does it feel like you are driving a big car or does it feel planted to the road ?
I have seen the car at the NAIAS and I like it .
GM PDT,
Build quality felt really, really good. Nice, solid door contact during opening and closing. Nothing felt “cheap”, even though some plastics didn’t seem on par with the rest of the interior. But, overall, it was a really well thought out interior.
Regarding your height, I’m only 5’9″, so I don’t have those issues, but there is plenty of room for the seat to move back while giving the backseat passenger room still.
If you’re driving the 20-inch wheel package, the car definitely does not drive its size. The 18-inch wheels didn’t mask it as well, but that’s not saying it was a poor ride. It drives pretty well considering what it’s supposed to accomplish.
Cheers,
-Sean
Will 2017 Lacrosse have 360 degree camera
Is the engine auto stop-start defeatable via a button?
Excellent question and one I asked months ago about this car. One of the things that still has me 50/50 on buying this car. I absouluty hate the idea of not being able to disable stop/start if I dont want it. I cannot understand what is wrong with GM on not offering a disable switch in cars with this feature other then Cadillac. All other companies offer this switch, even FCA.
I asked it thinking of you, Dan 🙂
I think that if it turns out that the Auto Stop-Start isn’t defeatable, it has something to do with CAFE ratings on the car. Just a hunch. Let’s hope that it can be turned off, though.
Thanks for remembering Alex ✌
Folks — as turns out, the Auto Stop-Start is not defeatable. However, Sean found it to be very smooth during his drive, which you can read here:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2016/08/first-drive-2017-buick-lacrosse/
Can I get heated seats without spending $40k?
What causes the car to automatically shift from neutral to park? Will it happen when the key fob is in the car? How long is the delay?
Please ask for clarification on taking the 2017 Lacrosse through the car wash when you remain in the driver’s seat. The manual describes opening the driver’s door before shifting in neutral in order for the car to stay in neutral; then exiting the car. If you stay in the car through the conveyer style automatic car wash and have the key fob with you, can you just shift into neutral (without opening the door) and the car stays in neutral until you shift back to drive?
Also, please ask GM why the 2017 Regal’s octane requirement was raised from 91 to 93 (2L turbo) in the owner’s manual.
When will it land at the dealers?
very soon I think. I read an article saying the car is in production as we speak, and that they are on the way to dealers.
How is the rear seat room? How would you compare the sportiness to to your SS?
Is it possible to have more than one cellphone paired at a time and make receive calls on them alternately. I cannot in my 2014 Enclave.
I echo many of the previous letters. I’m especially curious about the ride and handling trade-off, and whether the AWD makes a noticeable difference or improvement? Is it at least as quiet as the previous La Crosse?
Is the wood trim genuine?
Hi, can I add forward park assist to the included rear park assist, like my Cadillac ATS or the new 2017 Buick Envision ? The “essence” model has what appears to be sensors already installed? Especially helpful when driving my car into the garage. Thanks Fran Ripish, Irvine, CA
ps standing by inline to get a new 2017 LaCrosse.
fdr