The 2018 Buick LaCrosse has undergone some restructuring amid lagging sedan sales in a market hungry for crossover and utility vehicles. Buick announced the 2018 LaCrosse will arrive with a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with eAssist—General Motors’ mild hybrid system.
In turn, the starting price for a 2018 Buick LaCrosse falls from $32,990 to $30,490. The 3.6-liter V6 engine is now a select option on available trims.
The 2.5-liter four-cylinder eAssist uses a compact lithium-ion battery pack to provide additional torque, regenerative braking and an enhanced stop/start system. The system is the latest generation of GM’s eAssist technology, and Buick says it provides nine percent more torque. Its compact design also does not compromise trunk space.
Buick has also expanded the availability of its all-wheel-drive system; the Essence trim can now be equipped with AWD, which previously was front-wheel drive exclusively. The latest nine-speed automatic is now standard with the 3.6-liter V6 as well. Buyers can also look forward to three new exterior colors: Satin Steel Metallic, Dark Slate Metallic and Red Quartz Tintcoat.
The 2018 Buick LaCrosse will go on sale this fall.
Comments
3 changes for the better. Hopefully the higher trims went down in price too and nothing was decontented along the way. Now all they need to do is put in a better shifter and a defeat switch for the stop start and a slimmer front center console. Shame on them for axing the dark green exterior color. Getting real sick of all the 10 shades of grey nonsense!
I’m pretty sure the upper trims did go down in price too, but only because the 4 banger is standard there too. Disappointing that they went with the lame e-assist again, and not full hybrid version like the Malibu. Agreed on the console, start-stop override switch and snoozefest color selection. It would be nice if they would make head up display available on the Essence model too.
You must now spend 37090 in order to get into an entry level FWD V6 for 2018. Some of that is the switch from a 9 speed from the 6 speed but much of it is just the usual GM markup.
It was 8 speed for 2017 V6, not 6 speed. 6 speed for V6 was over with 2nd gen 2016 LaCrosse.
I for one feels that the Top Buick should not have the same standard engine as the top chevy. Standard engine low pressure turbo 2.0 -230 hp. offer TT3.0 as top engine and offer 4 WD across the board.
The TT3.0 engine would be amazing in top tier “Avenir” Lacrosse. I’m glad they are tweaking the transmission – that adn the lack of a switchable autostop are only weak spot in otherwise fantastic 2017.
Not everyone wants a SUV. And a big part of the reason I prefer sedans comes down to superior driving dynamics and experience. So hopefully the top trims continue to hone this car toward segment leadership in all regards.
We couldn’t give those away before why do they think we can sell them now? Nothing really has changed, with gas a little over 2 bucks a gallon, this is just meeting a cafe requirement not meeting a demand.
The previous generation LaCrosse eAssist suffered from reduced trunk volume; if the new one does not have this drawback, then it might be better than the old one; plus, the new eAssist should offer somewhat better dynamics than the old eAssist as well; so, maybe it’ll have some sales chances.
I’m also worried about this statement- The 3.6L V-6 will be an available option on select trims. So does that mean the only way to get a V6 will be on pricey AWD models and only the top Premium trims now? They better offer the V6 as a no charge option like they did years ago on most trims or this will continue to be a hard sell.
I guess make the next generation Lacrosse a Allroad like CUV. that isn’t as tall and chunky as an actual CUV.
So they dropped the base price with the 2.5 eAssist setup but in order to get a V6 you must move up a trim level and pony up an additional 2500 bucks for that option. What that means is a V6 now starts at 37090. Last years V6 started at 32990. Note that on the last generation LaCrosse there was no price difference between the 2.4 eAssist and 3.6 trim levels. The GM shell game smoke and mirrors tricks continue to live on.