The Buick LaCrosse finds itself in somewhat of a strange place: it has the makings of a great full-size premium sedan, but it is a sedan in a crossover-hungry market. This circumstance has led to sales of the current, third-generation model, which launched for the 2017 model year, declining significantly compared to the second-generation model it replaced.
Having received various updates for the 2018 model year that resulted in a lower starting price and a more attractive package on the higher end of the model’s spectrum, the LaCrosse is getting a few small changes for 2019, according to a new order guide of the model (linked below), first discovered by GM Authority.
On the outside, two exterior colors are replaced by two new ones:
Deleted Colors:
- Dark Slate Metallic exterior color
- Black Cherry Metallic exterior color
New Colors:
- Carrageen Metallic exterior color
- Dark Shadow Metallic exterior color
The 2019 Buick LaCrosse also adds a new Sport Touring (1SH) trim level, which adds a new blacked-out grille with body-color surround, as well as a new set of 19-inch aluminum wheels with what is officially referred to as Technical Gray gloss finish.
Inside, the 2019 Buick LaCrosse gains a new cargo net (as an LPO-level accessory) as well as the introduction of a new electronic-powered parking brake. Curiously, the third-gen LaCrosse launched with an electronic parking brake, so we’re not quite sure who this is any different – though the electronic-powered parking brake is assigned a different RPO code from the 2017-2018 model.
And that does it for the differences in store for the Buick LaCrosse.
About Buick LaCrosse
The Buick LaCrosse is a full-size premium sedan that slots above the compact Buick Verano and midsize Buick Regal. The current, third-generation LaCrosse was introduced for the 2017 model year. The vehicle is based on the long wheelbase variant of the GM E2 platform. The short-wheelbase variant of the same platform is shared with the sixth-generation Buick Regal and ninth-generation Chevrolet Malibu.
The 2018 model introduced several new colors, the GM 9-speed automatic transmission in place of the 2017 model’s 8-speed. It also added a new standard powertrain in the form of the mild-hybrid 2.5L engine with eAssist coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. In addition, the 2018 LaCrosse Avenir is introduced to serve as the range-topping model. For the 2019 model year, the LaCrosse gets two new colors, a new Sport Touring model/trim level, and various other minor updates.
For North America, the Buick LaCrosse is built exclusively at the GM Detroit Hamtramck factory operated by GM USA. A GM China factory produces the vehicle for China.
Related News & Info
- GM news
- GM incentives and offers
- Buick LaCrosse information
- Running GM sales results
- Running Buick sales results
- Running Buick LaCrosse sales results
- Running Buick sales results
Comments
So in other words, they got the same colors they had before but a shade or two darker or lighter.
GM has to move away from these boring colors.
Carrageen is a beautiful green, actually, but otherwise I agree with you. GM has more shades of grey and earth tones than all other manufacturers combined. Look at the rich metallics FCA, Ford, Honda and Toyota use and compare to the bland colors GM’s mainstream products offer. Plus, GM charges a ridiculous premium for most metallic paints. I think it’s another case of bean counters at the helm.
I love the Lacrosse. I would buy one today if the auto start/stop feature could be disabled.
Don’t let the start/stop bother you. I have owned my 2017 LaCrosse since January and I love it. Trust me when I say the start/stop is barely noticeable and GM really executed this extremely well. I have rented cars that had bad start/stop so I know what it feels like. Once I had a Grand Cherokee and it was awful. The whole car shuddered every time you pulled away from a light.
Another point about the LaCrosse I don’t think they mention anywhere, if you absolutely must defeat the start/stop, you can flick the shift lever down into manual mode. This prevents the car from going into start/stop mode. Then when you pull away you can either use the paddle shifters or another downward flick of the wrist on the shifter puts you back in auto mode.
I would trade my 2015 if the start/stop could be turned off.
You can tell that General Motors does play favorites as they give Cadillac tens of millions to develop the new Cadillac-exclusive LTA Twin-Turbo 4.2L DOHC-4v V8 and LSY 2.0L DOHC-4v 4-cyl turbo engines and Chevrolet gets money for the development of a C8 mid-engine Corvette (as well as whatever engines the C8 may use); but Buick can’t get a penny for anything except new paint colors and touring model (in name only) as not a cent to develop possibly a supercharged 3.6L V6 for the Avenir models.
Judging by the dismal power output of the new LSY 2.0T GM engineers need to go back to the drawing board.
another boring wimp-mobile from GM; size is not full size at all and ride height is too low to be comfortable
of course sales are low; no one is surprised
nielr
Enjoyed my 2016 LaCrosse with the V-6 and leather. At 66 MPH, I was able to obtain 35 MPG on a regular basis. The car handled quite well for city/hwy driving. My lease was up after 2 years so now I am trying the Acadia Denali. Not as smooth, but still handles quite well.
They should do an Alpha based Lacrosse and a Omega based Lucerne with Regal taking the fwd crowds.
Man, what a bunch of Camry owners. Who don’t want a rwd big Buick, maybe an Omega based Lesabre sedan/ coupe / convertible and a rwd Alpha Lacrosse with both available with 3.6tt and Lt1 power
No automatic heated steering wheel, No return of the speed limit indicator to the gauge cluster, No start-stop disable *sigh*
Also, extremely disappointed to see the Black Cherry Metallic discontinued already, after only coming on-line mid-year for the 2018s (available to order in January, and order banks have already closed out on the 2018s at this point). That was the color I had been waiting for, and hoped for my future Avenir to be. Curiously, it was offered on the Avenir, but not in combination with the Chestnut interior, a color combination that would have been my top choice. I thought they would have complimented each other well. Did they think the two colors were too dissimilar? Couldn’t possibly clash more than the neutral/brown interior with the Quicksilver or Satin Steel, two combinations that are offered on non-Avenirs. This leaves the Avenir model with non-colors only, Black metallic, white metallic, light gray, dark gray and pooperdust. The Avenir NEEDS better colors! There should be a Light Chestnut, Medium Chestnut and Dark Chestnut metallic… three exclusive shades of rich reddish brown designed to compliment the Chestnut interior. I’m also not sure why the Red Quartz Tintcoat continues to be unavailable on the Avenir. Why not Carragreen? How about Coppertino or Arctic Blue metallic? This is supposed to be Buick’s luxury model, it should have some different and exclusive colors instead of a highly restricted version of the colors offered on lesser Lacrosse models. Avenirs should stand out and be noticed, but instead the exterior color palette is a total snooze fest.
“Pooperdust”…oh, how I wish I’d thought of that! I’ll second the “snooze fest” notion, too. In fact, I was hoping they would bring back a light “champagne” gold for those who need more than mere “white frost tricoat”–itself only available at extra cost, natch. I’ll be even more direct than Big Black Buick: The current LaCrosse color palette would bore the balls off a billy goat.
I was wondering if anyone would actually catch that, let alone appreciate it. No offense to those that actually like Pepperdust aka greige, but I really don’t. When the 2017 Lacrosse was first shown at the auto show, I had beelined to the Buick display to check it out in detail, and absorb all of the information that I could about it. One of the two on display was in Pepperdust, which the Buick lady seemed very proud to point out as a new color. To which I simply replied “Yeah, that’s not really my style”. I haven’t disliked a GM color that much since Cappuccino Frost in the early ’00s. I remember seeing an 03 Impala in that color at a dealer for the first time in late ’02. My first thought was “wow, that white Impala is really dirty. I thought they would have cleaned it up first before putting it on the lot”. From then on, it was known as “dirty white” to me. Anyway, I was also hoping for a nicer “champagne” or similar color to finally replace it. Coppertino (available on the Encore, Equinox, Terrain and Malibu) proves that there are attractive colors in the gold/copper/bronze range. The Malibu is even made in the same plant, so they should already have the color in the paint booth. Here’s hoping that they will actually come out with something better for 2020, but I’m not holding my breath. I still think a range of Chestnut metallics to compliment the interior would be awesome.
Front wheel drive has killed GM cars. There is absolutely no reason a car this size should be front wheel drive.
But FWD can make car cheaper, affordable, better gas mileage,and big room. Unless, you want powerful engine on the car, it have to be RWD.
I’m sorry, but I just don’t see the allure of rear wheel drive outside of a performance car, which the Lacrosse is not intended to be. I’m on my second Lacrosse, and in fact, have exclusively owned front wheel drive cars. The Lacrosse does what it was designed to do, it’s quiet, roomy, rides smooth, and has enough power to get out of it’s own way with ease. I’ve driven a lot of vehicles including several rear drive, and besides the Trans Am, and perhaps Mustang, why would I want rear wheel drive? …in a semi luxurious family car? I’ve driven a Chrysler 300, and it didn’t drive or ride better in any measurable way to my own cars (and that’s comparing to a w-body Impala that I owned at the time). The Lacrosse handles well on back roads, and the previous gen was more planted to the road with less body roll. I get to work fine without having to put on snow tires or have sand bags in the trunk, along roads where I have seen rwd and even fwd cars stuck or crashed. I have more interior space without a drivetrain hump running through the cabin. In the 80s, everyone was switching to front wheel drive, which was seen as superior. RWD cars were the dinosours, B-bodies, G-Bodies, Panthers over at Ford… cars hardly noted for handling. GM cars did quite well in FWD for a few decades, and I would hardly say that’s what killed (is killing) them, otherwise people wouldn’t be switching to FWD based crossovers. Now all of a sudden there is this FWD sucks movement, and I don’t get it. They each have pluses and minuses, but in a car like the Lacrosse there is no point making it rear wheel drive. If you’re worried about torque steer, I hear the all wheel drive version is great for that.
Also, directed specifically to “Joe in T.O.”: Curious what do you drive? DO you own a RWD car? Would you actually buy a Lacrosse if they were RWD?
Don’t get me wrong. I really love the new Lacrosse. But GM did much better sales wise when they made rear wheel drive cars. I personally dont think that there is a FWD sucks movement all of a sudden. There is a place for FWD in small vehicles where packaging necessitates the requirement. Even though I live in a snow belt, I still drive a rear wheel drive 2015 Silverado so it is not an issue. My wife had a 2011 FWD Buick Regal and now has a 2015 Volt so I hope you don’t think I hate GM. The switch to front wheel drive in the 80’s was merely to make the cars cheaper to build and increase fuel mileage. The technology is available now to make both fuel efficient. Try driving a Cadillac CT6. I agree with your statement that they each have pluses and minuses, but you have to agree, GM sold a lot more cars when they were real wheel drive and that is my point. GM lost a lot of customers when they switched and it seems like they never recovered.
GM sold a lot more cars back then in general. If you look back at the 80s, GM was selling huge numbers of several cars from the rear drive Caprice, Delta 88, Cutlass Supreme and Monte Carlo, but also front wheel drive Centurys, Grand Ams and Cutlass Cieras. Cars like the Delta 88 fell off after being downsized and turned into a front driver, as did the Cutlass Supreme. In general, Oldsmobile seemed to lose its way more than most in that era. Cars like the Bonneville and Lesabre did quite well for several years in front wheel drive form. The Caprice was kept rear wheel drive, and sales dropped off there anyway, and when the Monte Carlo was brought back as front wheel drive for 1995 it sold exceptionally well for a few years. I always thought GM should have invested in an all new rear-wheel drive B-Body in the mid-90s. I feel that they could have cut a good 6-10 inches off the length of a Caprice without sacrificing interior or luggage space, and given it a better handling suspension for a fully modern car. Sadly, we are at a point where no cars are selling well anymore. I don’t think that RWD is the solution to the problem. Not sure there is a solution at this point anymore.
I think that there is still a place for front wheel drive in larger cars. Not all of them, but some. There is a large percentage of the population that doesn’t care, or prefers the added traction in the snow belt. If it makes the final product any cheaper or more efficient, that’s always a bonus. I know too many people that buy cars based on price, efficiency or assumed resale value than actual emotions. Based on the sales of the current generation Lacrosse, I do not see GM investing in a direct replacement. If they were to replace the Lacrosse with something Omega based in the future, I would be open to it as long as all wheel drive was offered. The major problem with that one is that it will be a huge price jump from where the Lacrosse is at today, which won’t help sales.
Also, didn’t think you were a GM hater, just wanted a point of reference on what you drive. How does your wife like her Volt? …my wife is interested in one as well, but not ready to commit to it yet.
Equating “better GM sales” to “RWD” is like saying Pan Am used to do better because people used to be able to smoke on planes…….
I have a 2017 LaCrosse and it is one of the best Buicks I’ve ever owned, and I’ve owned like ten in a row.. The FWD is great, and don’t be surprised at just how much power this car has, put the foot to the floor and it was still climbing a 140 mph.. Don’t need it to go that fast but it does.. And by far the best gas milage I’ve ever had, it will average 34-36 mpg going down the interstate with no problems.. I had a 2014 LaCrosse and it was in that 28-30 mpg also, trust in this car if you want one that’s fun to drive and does’t break you up in business to fill the tank up with gas…
AWD based on FWD platform actually has a lot of benefits. Great packaging for maximum interior space. Has worked for Audi forever. The twin clutch on my LaCrosse has been flawless. Outstanding traction in wet and snow and solid on dry roads too. I’ve had many rear wheel drive cars and unless you need an all out sports sedan like CTS-V, I’m sold on this chassis layout.
Buick is now known as GM’s crossover division , even the Regal has the Tour-X which they are hoping will sell to the small consumer group that want something different than a tall riding car and can still carry their kids stuff and look good doing it ( a low riding crossover ) .
For a car that was so well received at the NAIAS a mere 2 years ago this car is still looked at as an older white haired vehicle . And even that crowd is turning to crossovers for the reason of ingress and egress .
GM may be wasting their money on anything major for the car , even with Aviner trim it’s not going to be enough to boost sales but that trim level may do a better job with their crossovers .
China is the reason Buick still has the lights on .
“80s, everyone was switching to front wheel drive, which was seen as superior. RWD cars were the dinosours, B-bodies, G-Bodies, Panthers over at Ford… cars hardly noted for handling.”
“I would hardly say that’s what killed (is killing) them, otherwise people wouldn’t be switching to FWD based crossovers”
The same reason that so many of those fwd buyers went to the Asians, GM did fwd really wrong with cost cutting. Also instead of holding the line of certain sedans retain a high-tech rwd platform for certain divisions, we got the $10 Billion mistake of the W-body , even with a hump in the middle of the floor on a fwd car. Now GM wised-up with 2 high-tech, space efficient, rwd/awd platforms we still got the 1980 “im afraid of the snow” crowd thinking another mid-western, fwd playbox will bring in buyers . Fwd should belong in CUV’s and cars no bigger or expensive then the Regal.
You don’t see the Germans to this day going fwd for their premium stuff ever, never was known for “dinosaur” set-ups.
u are all brainwashed; fuel economy was the precedent for downsizing and we received unitized ( no more body-on-frame )unsafe smaller vehicles , the larger vehicles rode better, had much more room and rear wheel drive; the hump did not matter as the vehicle size was big enough to compensate; for what another 5-6 MPG improvement?
please nielr
WOW these changes will sure increase sales. NOT!
I sometimes wonder who make these changes and why? Makeing changes cost money. If you are not going to make the kind of changes that make you money then what is the point? Excitement sell as in exciting colors and exciting performance. Perhaps they don’t think this is what appeal to Buick customers but why not give it a shot they might be surprised.
i am a GM owner and will continue to be one but i don’t know what’s worst GM colors- in or out — or GM ‘s marketing .
GM’s biggest 3 weaknesses-
Color choices
Packaging and option packages in general
Marketing/advertising
I don’t like the new Lacrosse. My 2015 lacrosse lease was up in January. Dealer wanted to put me in a 2018. Instead I bought a different very low mileage 2015. I love it and will probably keep it for 10 years if Buick does not improve styling and color choices. I like the fender swoop of the 2015, would prefer to see it more pronounced and rounded. I also like the chrome waterfall grill. The horizontal bar is just not a Buick.