It’s a battle of the full-size front-wheel-drive sedans. The 2018 Buick LaCrosse Avenir or the 2018 Cadillac XTS. Both have very similar missions, yet they’re very different. So, in today’s Community Question, we ask if you’d prefer the refreshed XTS or the upcoming LaCrosse Avenir.
Right off the bat, the 2018 LaCrosse Avenir is poised to be the better value. The luxury sedan will reportedly start at $45,795 when it goes on sale next month. That’s a few hundred dollars shy of the 2018 XTS’ starting price, which lacks a lot of the premium content the LaCrosse Avenir will pack in.
The base XTS packs an eight-speaker Bose stereo system, dual-zone climate control, wireless charging, remote start and a rear vision camera as part of its standard equipment. The LaCrosse Avenir sports, in our opinion, a much cleaner interior design with heated seats and steering wheel, a head-up display, panoramic sunroof, and much more for the price. Both feature the same 3.6-liter LGX V6 engine, and many of the creature comforts found in the LaCrosse Avenir require buyers to jump to the XTS Luxury trim, which costs about $5,000 more than the Buick.
So, if we had to cast our vote, the LaCrosse Avenir wins here. But maybe you disagree. Sound off in our poll and talk to us down below.
Comments
I voted Buick. Though I’d just assume it be a high end Chevrolet instead but I’m not a fond of Cadillac’s styling at all. Buick’s from 2010 to present day look sporty and classy with some sex appeal tossed in the mix. Cadillac’s just look drab. I’ve never liked the art & science look though. I really dislike the floor to ceiling taillights on the new Escalade. It looks too gaudy when lit up at night IMO.
That said, if the Escala concept is an accurate indicator as to where Cadillac is heading, I may prefer the Cadillac. It looks classy, sophisticated and has that sex appeal again. It reminds me of the Cadillac’s of the 20’s,30’s & 40’s. That was my favorite era of Cadillac Motor Company. The Standard of the World era…
Just to point something out. Both of these cars do not use the same 3.6 engines. The XTS uses the old LFX with 304 HP and no stop/start and no cylinder shutdown. A 6 speed automatic is the only transaxle. The LaCrosse uses the newer LGX 3.6 with 310 HP with stop/start and cylinder shutdown attached to a 9 speed automatic. In GM’s bizzare universe cheaper lower wrung cars somehow get more updated power plants in some cases.
As far as picking a winner it would have to be the Cadillac. It’s a classier looking car as the lacrosse looks more like a bar of soap.
It also doesn’t have many of the modern gimmicks/annoyances like stop/start, cylinder shutdown and that weird shifter that the Buick has
I had the experience a few months ago to have been in a 2017 LaCrosse for a days then immediately stepped into an XTS for a bit . Literally stepped out of one car and into the next. Now the LaCrosse was not Avenir trim, so I’ll have to try out an Avenir.
Anyhow, the LaCrosse is a nice car, and I wouldn’t mind owning one (not at the current price however), but it is no way in comparison to the fit and finish of the XTS. Stepping into one then immediately stepping into an XTS really exemplified how nice of a car the XTS really is. Everything from how the materials felt, to the seat comfort, to the ride quality; almost everything suggested the XTS was in a level or 2 above the current LaCrosse and felt much more “substantial”. It wasn’t really even a match, to be quite honest. Also the LaCrosse seemed to just blend into traffic, nobody cared. On the other hand, being in an XTS, it kind of dominated, people stared and noticed the car and it felt like something special. I’m an XTS fan as said before. I also like Buick, I’m not biased.
However, the LaCrosse did win on noise cancellation and the pop up wind-screen on the sunroof looked pretty cool.
Also I forgot to point out the start/stop feature and weird shifter on the LaCrosse were a big “thing” to all of my party in the car; they perceived both those items negativiely.
I thought the same thing (about the quality and especially about the shifter). While the Buick does look nice, the XTS is a much better looking car inside and out. Not only that but, the XTS does not have the stop-start system, and has fewer gears making it (supposedly) more reliable in the long run. Finally, the XTS has a large “Cadillac” badge on it versus a “Buick” badge in addition to a much better ride.
I’d probably go with the Buick because it’s a better value offering more features for substantially less. “Value” is a relative term because in this context the Avenir is compared only to a Cadillac. Overall as a sedan value in the marketplace I’m not impressed and find it overpriced.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but to my eyes but to my eyes the Buick’s exterior is classier and better looking than the Cadillac. Reverse my opinion on the interiors. The Cadillac’s interior looks premium and sophisticated. The Buick’s looks like it a generic sedan interior that could have been pulled from, say, a Hyundai Sonata. But I can live with it.
I’ve driven neither car. Test drives could easily change my mind.
I’d take either one if given the option between the two! Both do quite well at being large, spacious, premium FWD-based sedans. I like the exterior and interior styling of the XTS more so than the LaCrosse; not to mention the 3.6 TT V-Sport option available on the XTS. But the LaCrosse is better engineered, as it features GM’s newest powertrain tech, such as the GKN AWD system, the new 3.6L V-6 and 9-speed auto. Not to mention its lighter curb weight and better value, as this Avenir LaCrosse packs quite a bit of features for the money. With this Avenir trim now available, I’m certain the difference between the XTS and LaCrosse is even shorter!
Neither. Lincoln Continental.
Any reasons specifically? I have driven both the new Lacrosse and Continental. I do see advantages to the Continental, as it has some really nice features built into it. +1 to Lincoln for putting the gas door on the driver’s side where it belongs. There’s also no annoying start/stop to deal with. One thing Lincoln needs to get on board with is head up display. The new Navigator is the first Lincoln ever to offer it, so there may be hope for the Continental during a refresh, or at least on the next generation.
The continental is an awkwardly proportioned car, due to it’s FWD derived chassis. Looks goofy in my opinion. The LaCrosse and XTS look much better considering their chassis also is derived from FWD.
Do remember that the Avenir and the XTS may seem like they compete in price where the Avenir will win has down because at that price your talking base XTS’s. But the interior of the XTS in higher trims always wins in my book. Again if where talking about an Avenir that you will probably be walking out at somewhere north of 50 yeah the Buick wins.
Lacrosse Avenir, based primarily on styling. I prefer the exterior and interior styling of the Buick to the Cadillac. The new rear end styling on the XTS looks downright awkward to me. It also comes at a cheaper price than a comparably equipped Cadillac, likely has cheaper insurance rates, and has a better ability to blend into traffic. That said, the Cadillac does have several advantages including better ground clearance, significantly larger trunk, non-intrusive trunk hinges, the ability to turn off the start/stop, and a normal shifter. Buick has also cheaped out on several features that the previous generation Lacrosse could be had with including a speed limit indicator, sueded headliner and real wood trim.
Avenir, If I’m going to spring for a Cadillac…. it’s not going to be the only FWD Cadillac Sedan. I wish a CT6 was closer in price.
The Buick is nice, but it not a Cadillac !!!
LaCrosse Avenir for sure, the XTS is really old.
I would vote Buick based on the value alone. For trivia buffs, this is also history repeating itself. Back in 1958, the top of the line Buick Limited was competitive with one of the Cadillac models (don’t remember which one), and I believe the Buick may have even been priced slightly higher than the Caddy.
No stop/start wins it for me–the XTS.
While the Caddy is nice I’d take the Buick. It isn’t as likely to waddle around. The proportions are nicer, the Caddy is just “fat.”
If it were a nicely optioned ATS, CTS, or “other” caddy at that price I’d likely take that. But the XTS just doesn’t appeal to me at all other than some interior things on the higher optioned packages, not the base car. To me, the XTS is still Grandpa’s Caddy.
That’s only one of GM’s problems. Too many vehicles too clos together competing for the same customers. Cadillac need to step it’s game up big time and create more separation between itself and Buick. I know you have to crawl before you walk but Cadillac keep crawling they are going to wear their knees out.
Unless you’ve driven both of these cars, “votes” here are basically meaningless. Yoshiaki has driven both, so I’ll take his view on this. Therefore the XTS wins.
GM is trying to push former Cadillac buyers into Buick, but it won’t happen. More likely, GM will push former Cadillac buyers into Lexus and Lincoln.
I agree! That’s exactly what GM’s strategy is with the Buick brand! I’m noticing how their product is being marketed and priced the way Cadillacs should be! But GM is sticking with their “aspirational pricing” approach with the Cadillac brand in a (failing) effort to woo the German/Japanese luxury buyers!
That being said, I find this comparison to be rather one-sided, in favor of the Buick! Most people are going to judge the two based on pricing mostly, and the LaCrosse Avenir is obviously better equipped, seeing as to how its the top trim model being compared to the base XTS! Not to mention its priced virtually where the XTS begins! The XTS is a tier above the LaCrosse, so it should be compared to more comparable cars, like the Continental!
I agree with Drew, if you haven’t driven both then you haven’t experienced the difference. The XTS wins hands down! Buick still needs to work on updating their interior especially the dash. Who builds a car that is not Start/ Stop ready these days. I have driven the top of the line Buick for years, sorry I now own the newer XTS their is no comparison.
The interior styling of the XTS is classier and better looking than the current Lacrosse. Also, keep in mind that the XTS uses authentic materials everywhere in the cabin while the Lacrosse Avenir uses authentic materials in few places.
Also, I prefer the exterior of the XTS over the Lacrosse while I feel the styling is backwards which looks similar to the first gen. Lacrosse.
Also, the poll of the Lacrosse Avenir or XTS is misleading. I expected most people vote for the Avenir because of value vs. the XTS, but I voted for the XTS regardless.
The poll is also misleading because the article is basically saying “Vote for Buick!”. It’s as if they are saying this is the same car but Buick is a better bargain. They are not the same car, but if that’s the only basis people have to vote on, naturally they are going to vote for “same but cheaper” unless they know more information about these cars.
both have outstanding exterior and interior styling but the Cadillac has the edge ( where the hell did GM get that steering wheel for the Buicks i hope the guy who designed it did t get a raise ) . Here GM goes again having models infringing on other divisions . for 45k people will lean toward the Cadillac because its a Cadillac and will not spend 45k for a Buick . with that said GM has a limited model for that upper middle class buyer . if GM had kept OLDSMOBILE or Pontiac for that buyer the price range would have provided a model for that bracket without chipping into Chevrolet or Cadillac .
I haven’t driven the new models, but had a 2013 XTS, and kept it less than a year. Too noisy, ride was terrible and felt every line/bump in the road. Excellent motor and transmission. Now I have a 2014 Lacross, heads up, all of the blind spot warnings. Quite a bit quieter, which is important to me, ride is not any better though, but I did read that if you have the 20″ tires the ride will not be as good. Again, love the motor, how do they get so much horsepower from 3.6 liter. Quite pleased with the Buick, also felt pride driving the Cadillac, just could not put up with the noise and bad ride. I miss the older Cadillac and Park Avenue with the serene, and quiet ride.
Best bet is for a nice smooth ride is a used Cadillac DTS, with 17″ tires (all except the “platinum” version which is more “performance” oriented). Unfortunately the newest one you can get now is a 2011. Too bad Cadillac didn’t make the XTS rice more like the DTS, but as you say, bigger tires. The current XTS is supposed to ride better than the early XTS, but still no DTS ride. It’s a shame that some people think “luxury” means bigger rimmed, high profile tires. Also a shame that Cadillac no longer cares about ride quality, once a hallmark of the brand.