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2018 Buick LaCrosse Gets New Colors, 9-Speed Automatic Transmission, A Hybrid System & More

Buick is giving the LaCrosse sedan some notable updates and changes for the 2018 model year in the U.S. market. According to GM’s own dealer order guides, the 2018 LaCrosse is getting GM’s new 9TXX nine-speed automatic transmission, a new hybridized powertrain, plus new exterior colors and various accessories.

On the outside, the 2018 LaCrosse replaces four existing exterior colors with four new ones:

Deleted Colors

  • Crimson Red Tintcoat
  • Dark Sapphire Blue Metallic
  • Graphite Gray Metallic
  • Dark Forest Green Metallic

New Colors

  • Satin Steel Metallic
  • Black Cherry Metallic
  • Dark Slate Metallic
  • Red Quartz Tintcoat

The biggest change is the deletion of the eight-speed automatic transmission and its 3.08 axle found in the 2017 LaCrosse. In their place are GM’s new 9-speed transmission (M3G) with a 2.90 axle.

What’s more, the premium full size sedan gets an addition to its powertrain in the form of an optional hybrid drivetrain. The hybrid system consists of three components: a new 2.5L four-cylinder engine with direct injection and variable valve timing (LHN), a 6-speed automatic transmission (MNH), and a parallel hybrid electric propulsion system rated at 20 kW (HP5). The powertrain is available exclusively on the front-drive Preferred (1SB), Essence (1SB) and Premium (1SP) trims and brings with it a 2.64 axle and brakes that are an inch smaller in the front (16″ front and rear) compared to non-hybridized models. What we don’t know is how Buick will refer to models with this powertrain, with some obvious choices being LaCrosse eAssist, which it used on the second-gen LaCrosse, or LaCrosse Hybrid, a name used in China.

There’s also a host of new LPO-level (dealer-installed) accessories, including a cargo net, body-color grille, wheel lock kit and tire inflator kit.

The 2018 model year represents the second year of the third-generation Buick LaCrosse, which launched for the 2017 model year.

Check out more on the Buick LaCrosse at these links:

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Comments

  1. Great green is gone again. I don’t understand the lack of love for this color especially if you pair it with a tan interior.

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    1. I agree completely. Their dark green is one GM’s best colors.

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    2. Green is a luxury high end color – Jaguar/Land Rover color! Buick is a near luxury brand and buyers are not into high luxury color and taste!

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      1. Or is it that there was more demand for another color, thereby beating out the green?

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        1. Wish GM would come up with some good colors and KEEP THEM. Never fails all bland colors and charge you extra for all of them

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          1. So if you don’t see a color you like why don’t you just have it painted? I don’t see why people complain about the colors offered on a car, just flip threw a paint code book, pick a color you like and have it changed.

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      3. Buick needs to just have the two colors again – white and black! Any more colors will confuse Buick buyers!

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    3. I agree that green and tan is a great color combination.

      But I think Buick has more issues to deal with – the sedans are 0% for 72, and of cash back. And even the SUVs are 16% off.

      Good offers, but kinda desperate to be doing retail offers in the elite 8. Save the offers for pre- and post-game.

      And get rid of that bad music. I’m watching w friends, and the uninitiated are saying a) music sucks, b) ya, we know it’s a Buick.

      Getting tired of being a translator/apologist.

      Reply
  2. Too many greys. I get it green isn’t for everyone. But it would be nice to have a better range of colors. I’d own a new camaro if dark green was an option.

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  3. Canada named the ’17 LaCrosse ” Best New Large Premium Car ” , but for whatever reason the American consumer doesn’t seem to think so . And from every thing I have read and seen on the air it receives good reviews , and that includes on the WWW .
    I”m not sure the new 9-speed tranny and new paint colors or cargo net are going to do much for sales in ’18 . The LaCrosse is a very modern looking car and is much improved from the last generation , and cost isn’t ( or doesn’t ) seem to be the issue for sluggish sales .
    The LaCrosse’s biggest problem is that Buick has 3 crossovers that are big sellers . The traffic at their dealerships is heavily focused on those and their flagship sits collecting dust. The Chinese love it though which definitely helps the bottom line .
    I’m no auto journalist , however all i can go on is what I read and see at my local Buick dealership that literally has 3 rows of LaCrosses sitting in the back of their store .

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    1. I’m starting to think that every sedan sold is going to have to have some performance element to it. Reason being that if somebody wants something that’s just practical, why not just get a crossover/SUV? They give you more space, and the only thing you lose is some gas mileage and a lower center of gravity.

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  4. to bad about the dark forest green being deleted but I’d love to see the black cherry metallic

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  5. I would hazard a guess that a lot of the target market doesn’t even have the LaCrosse on their consideration list — even if they know about it.

    Awareness is an issue — then Marketing needs to give a reason to consider/drive/buy — and that’s not 0.9% financing.

    Chrysler Canada did some great marketing when they introduced the 300 in Canada. They identified the 300 most influential people in Toronto and gave them a car for a week. It wasn’t just CEOs and bank presidents and included things like the top talk show hosts. It was probably something like the top 10 in every category. Buick needs to do something like in target markets and build awareness and consideration — get the car in the hands of people with influence.

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  6. The deletion of the dark green is a shame, as is the blue… not that I am a big fan of dark blue, but I do like blue in general and this car now doesn’t come in blue at all. I was REALLY hoping for the light silvery blue shade that the Malibu is available in. It looks very premium, and I think GM’s best attempt at a light blue in recent years. I welcome the black cherry that was initially indicated as available for 2017 on Buick’s website, then not. Also had some hopes of seeing the reddish interior color that was initially shown in all of the publicity photos and the pre-production cars at the auto shows, but then vanished mysteriously.

    No override switch for the start-stop sadly.

    I guess the Avenir will be introduced later, or might not make an appearance until 2019? I feel that I can’t make a purchase decision until I see what it offers up.

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  7. I will say I’m a fan of adding the black cherry color. There needs to be more unique offerings like this.

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  8. Isn’t it that they’re adding lacrosse avenir too? Saw that when someone leaked the new corvette engine on a catalog.

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    1. Not for 2017… maybe for 2017i.

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      1. I remember it says 2018

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  9. Dropping the blue is a mistake – I have that color in the 2017 and it’s absolutely stunning. As an owner, the non defeatable stop/start was my biggest initial concern and has become kind of a non issue….Sport mode defeats it! The transmission change will hopefully address my biggest beef with the car: light acceleration shift hesitation, flaring, and general unsorted feeling in the powertrain. If I peg the gas the current 8 speed can be really very good. But waft around town or cruise the highways and it’s kind of a mess. Bit late for me though, quite a shame, but at least they will put it to rights in 2018. An option for adaptive suspension with 18″ or 19″ wheels rather than 20″‘s would sell a lot more adaptive suspension packages here in the northeast…I sure would have gone for it had it not been for those rubber band tires.

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    1. Can’t you put the transmission in sports mode so it defeats it? I know for Malibu if you out it in manual mode it defeats the stop star system

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      1. Yes, that was my point. Sport mode (paddle shifters) defeats autostop. Also you can feather the brake pedal and prevent it in most cases. It’s a non issue once you get used to it.

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        1. I thought so too! I honestly just don’t understand what is the big problem of people complaining about it. Like if you really dislike it then just put into manual mode and call it a day. Besides it’s not every time the stop start would be on

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  10. Ok, so no Avenir Package? Why are they still leaving the good stuff to the Chinese… If you’re going to compete in the $50K range (for the Premium) with cars like the Lexus ES / Genesis G80, you need to upgrade the interior! Nicer looking steering wheel, better leather, go a bit higher end on the accents / buttons / interior doors. The new Lacrosse is almost there! The car rides real nice and it’s quiet and looks a lot better and sexier than the ES. The G80 looks good but has the Hyundai name brand uphill battle, so the stage is set, if only the Lacrosse could capitalize. It breaks my heart to see so many G80s out there and virtually no Lacrosses! Put the G80 interior in the Lacrosse and you will clean house!

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  11. 18″ wheels are standard, not 16’s. The pdf lists the brakes as 16″ front and rear.

    Seems odd that the they want the LaCrosse be a high-end car, yet the lower two models come with vinyl seats, aka “leatherette”. If not leather, I’d much rather have cloth than vinyl.

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  12. The LaCrosse is a decent car but there are 10 issues that keep reoccurring whenever this car is reviewed or talked about that keep coming up over and over.

    1) Advertising is very poor. Many folks don’t know it is all new or redesigned.
    2) Exterior styling is okay but looks more like a 5-7 year old design
    3) Stop/start is a deal breaker for some
    4) That stupid precision shifter is an answer to a question no one asked and many of this cars target audience doesn’t like it
    5) The 20″ rims give this car a punishing ride on anything but the smoothest roads
    6) Lack of a hybrid model was costing it a few sales ( fixed for 2018)
    7) The 8 speed transmission is often at odds with what the driver expects and isn’t a good fit for a car costing up to 50K
    8) Pricing. It starts off okay but goes too high for what your getting. The model structure needs pruning too
    9) The interior isn’t really quite up to the price tag. It’s more what I would expect in a higher trim level Chevy
    10) And the worst issue- today’s Millennial obsession with SUV’s, CUV’s and trucks

    So they fixed two out of 10 issues and deleted a few good colors for 2018. I seriously doubt this will have much if any impact on sales unless Buick gets a clue and prices the higher trim levels at more sane levels.

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    1. I couldn’t disagree with you more! I love the new look and I can’t wait to take one for a test drive.

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      1. Sales say otherwise. A 300 plus oversupply is a very bad sign. Every dealer I haver been to has rows of them sitting collecting dust. A sad but sober fact!

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    2. Right on for all points. From a marketing perspective, you are right. From a practical perspective, I would mention the following:

      1. no reason to complain about the shifter or the start-stop; this is the future. The more “evolved” automakers, including in Europe (where gas is very expensive) have been using this for years. It’s like resisting CD movies back in the days of VHS. Just get with the program.

      2. 100% right on the interior. I sat in a Genesis G80, priced about the same (they’re discounting them almost $10K) and it’s like night and day, in terms of the quality of materials and workmanship. Maybe an Avenir line will address this situation, even though I’m disappointed with what I’ve seen in the Avenir Enclave – only one interior color and not much of a difference other than some superficial things like stitching.

      3. 20″ wheels are horrible. No one will buy this car for its sportiness, there are much better options out there. They need to get the advanced suspension on the 18″ wheels. The car is pretty technologically advanced, this would be a nice finish to it.

      4. 9 speed transmission for 2018.

      5. With the current 20% off MSRP discounts (if you know how to negotiate) the higher trims are pretty good. But at $50K full MSRP, it’s going to continue to be a tough sale…

      Reply
  13. Curious why the 2018 LGX in this has been detuned. It’s currently rated for 310/282. Now here we are going in the future and power is down to 309/268. Why does GM keep playing games with this engine’s power figures? It’s rated for 335/285 in the RWD based Cadillac sedans and the Camaro. It should have similar power figures in every other application too. It’s almost like 1980 all over again when engine kept losing power each model year due to ever tightening emission and mileage standards. I know of no such changes going from 2017 to 2018.

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  14. I own an Essence on 18″ tires – 2300 miles. I’m 60 and admit I’ve never even come close to liking any Buick throughout my driving years. have owned Chevrolet’s, Mitsubishi, Pontiac, Acura and traded a VW CC for this vehicle. First new car I’ve owned since a 1984 Dodge Omni (what a POS that was!!).
    Love: Styling inside and out; ride is smooth and QUIET; good power when needed; interior looks high-end and seats are super comfy; infotainment system is great.
    Could do without but OK: stop/start (I hated at first but now rarely notice it); electronic shift.
    Hate: nothing (well, I still don’t care for the grille and especially that big honkin’ emblem – tone it down a bit and quit screaming your brand, we know who you are)
    Missing: automatic wipers, at least an 18 gallon gas tank, fog lights with more lumens than half dead flashlight. Whatever Buick spent on “paddle-shifters” (really, in this product line?) could probably pay for one of these “better standard” features.

    I personally don’t think colors are going to add sales.

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  15. Buick isn’t what it used to be and has to compete with all the techy stuff so loved by millenials. I know the world moves on, but I hate leather and vinyl seats, especially in the dark, dark colors most come in. In hot country, the colors in these cars absorb heat and turn your car into an oven full of vinyl fumes. They don’t last and are hard to clean. Meanwhile, there are no light exteriors besides white and various silvers. Miss light blue and the champagne/gold colors with tasteful grey or gold interiors. There are many in the US and around the world that live in areas where it gets very hot in the summer and have to leave their cars parked in the heat during the day when working. But I guess we don’t count.

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    1. That’s why I’d always choose either the brown or chocochino whenever they used to offer one since I do live in Southern part of NM

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  16. I don’t know why premium cloth seating was ever eliminated. Leather burns the back of bare legs. I need to carry a white towel to cover the seat and back whenever I park outside in the summer. I will switch Buick loyalty to get cloth in my next car.

    Reply
    1. Doubt it. Chevy will be glad to sell you a cloth Impala though as Buick moves upmarket to premium. Do you see Lexus/Acura/Lincoln with Cloth seats anymore? Nope!

      Reply

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