The 2019 Buick LaCrosse Sport Touring won’t snap any necks, but it does provide just a smidge of sportiness. Buick announced the latest addition to the LaCrosse lineup on Tuesday, which joins the standard car and the LaCrosse Avenir.
The LaCrosse Sport Touring, badged “ST,” does away with chrome accents in favor of a body-color grille surround and side vents. Upon closer inspection, onlookers will find a black mesh grille, an ever-so-subtle rear spoiler and ST badging at the rear. 19-inch midnight silver wheels sit at all four corners.
The standard LaCrosse’s eAssist powertrain isn’t available with the ST trim, which leaves the 3.6-liter LGX V6 as the sole powertrain paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The engine makes 310 horsepower.
Buyers looking at the LaCrosse ST will have the option of White Frost Tricoat, Satin Steel Metallic, Quicksilver Metallic, Red Quartz Tintcoat and Ebony Twilight Metallic exterior colors.
Aside from the addition of the ST model, the 2019 LaCrosse Avenir will now feature an air ionizer. The gadget helps eliminate odors and improve air quality.
Pricing for the 2019 LaCrosse ST starts at $40,295, which includes a $995 destination fee. The sedan will reach dealerships this summer.
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Comments
Wasn’t the first-gen Buick Regal Turbo advertised as the ‘sport-injected Regal Turbo, from Buick’?
Think so …
I am still in shock Buick offers no LED Headlights for a car that gets above $50K
Thank the bean counters at the upper echelons of GM for this. Bean counting is still alive and well (and healthier than ever).
Lack of sportiness is not the problem. Unfortunately cars like this are just not in demand.
Why does General Motors keep Buick around when it won’t allow the division to have the engines needed especially when everyone knows, there only thing that’s important in a true touring car is how it performs and getting rid of some chrome isn’t going to make the the 2019 Buick LaCrosse perform better.
This car is such an improvement design-wise over its predecessor that I wish it was selling better. I’d like to see more of them around instead of so many dull grey boxes on wheels.
No, it is not. We have a 2014 and turned down the dealer who was anxious to have us trade it for a 2018. No deal. The previous car has a distinctive look that sets it apart, the newer model just blends in with so many other similar looking cars.
I totally agree. The previous model was muscular looking and very Buick from the B-pillar back. Then the Avenir show car took all of that to another level and looked distinctive and gorgeous. The new LaCrosse, front end aside, is bland and generic. The greenhouse is stretched out and anonymous and the trend continues to the droopy rear end; none of the Avenir’s muscular rear haunches to be found. The market may be shifting, which is partly to blame for this car’s sales, but the styling isn’t doing it any favors.
John – obviously styling is subjective to each person, but here’s a different take: I would never have bought the second-gen LaCrosse, but I would definitely consider the third-gen based on looks alone.
The third-gen is a very good looking car, the second gen was a compilation of strange curves and angles that never really worked well together, especially after the 2014 facelift.
You are correct, styling is subjective. Regarding the 2014, what you view as negatives, I view as positives.
Yup, thereby demonstrating the subjectivity.
That said, I don’t think that the third-gen’s exterior design is working against it. Had the third gen come out in 2010 when sedans were all the rage and crossovers were not quite on the radar yet, I’m sure it would have set sales records left and right.
But the crossovers had to come in and ruin it all for everyone, including the LaCrosse.
I never cared for generation II LaCrosse especially the 2010-2013 versions. They looked like bloated Lexuses, had tiny trunks, poor visibility and the front seat was very confined. Most of this was improved for generation III.
From someone who currently drives a 2018 Lacrosse Premium AWD with 18″ wheels, this trim is not attractive to me. The best qualities of the vehicle’s ride are the soft/smooth ride as well as the quiet cabin. If I want a sports car, I’ll go lease a BMW 3-series next time, not this. I think this misses the mark because of the audience who drives the vehicle.
Why not at least 400hp and a “GS” badge? We can google every automaker who used the moniker “ST” trim in the past 100 years but Ford is CURRENTLY using it and when it does, it’s very high performance…This whole article is a clickbait to autoblogs negative review of this…
Life is not like it was in the 80’s were you can just slap on black trim and a GS badge.
This is not that kind of car.
Many people complain Cadillac is not making quiet smooth riding lower cost luxury cars anymore well that is Buick’s job with this model.
To be honest after shopping for a Lacrosse for a family member and finding new 2016 and 17 models on the lots I am shocked this car has not been pulled by a GM here. It is a great car but not one that is doing well in this market.
Lexus is continuing to do extremely well in this market with the ES, which was GM/Buick’s original target for the second-gen LaCrosse.
What’s happening here is that the LaX never really found its footing in the market. It never truly found a sizable audience that latched on to the car from a loyalty and repeat purchase standpoint. Plenty of people tried a second-gen, but Buick could not keep them around to buy another second-gen, or the current third-gen model.
By comparison, Lexus enjoys a repeat purchase loyalty rate of 75% with the ES… something that it established on product excellence in the early 90s. Anyone remember what the LaCrosse (or equivalent) was in the 90s? Whatever it was, it didn’t hold a candle to the Lexus.
And now, GM is paying for the mistakes of the past, despite having the better product with the LaCrosse.
The Buick Lacrosse is a good looking, solid vehicle that no one knows about. I would seriously consider purchasing it and pairing it with my current Enclave if it had a TTC-SHO-V6 and a few other enhancements. Unfortunately GM’s legendary bean counters will never let the model prosper.
Buick offered the ST on the Lacrosse in 2016, which was nothing more than the previously available 18″ accessory wheels (now factory installed with black painted pockets), and a dealer installed accessory spoiler.
This appears to be more of the same. The mesh grille with body colored surround, and body colored ventiports have been offered as accessories in select colors since the 2017s went on sale. The spoiler has had a part number, but was never listed on Buick’s website. When I inquired with a dealer about getting one for my ’17, they told me it was a “future part number” not available to order. I’m not sure about the wheels here, they look very similar the 18s on the regular Lacrosse. Not sure if they are an accessory part, or if they will show up somewhere else in the future.
Yup, the LaCrosse ST is pretty much a body kit with the accessory parts you mentioned, with features from the Preferred/1SB and Essence/1SL trims… which is why it slots between those two in terms of price and content.
The irony with the ST version is that the Sport damping with 20″ wheels package, (Dynamic Drive Pkg), is not an available option! It’s available on the Essence, Premium and Avenir trims but not on the ST.
Another triumph for marketing?
owning a 2010 ,at present 87k , this car will match or exceed anything in its class . stylish, dependable responsive and able to achieve 32 mpg , still original brakes . when GM’s marketing gets their heads out of where the sun don’t shine and advertise the quality of their products , then maybe there will be more sales , there are people who don’t know what it is .
Typical GM. “Lets throw some parts bin items on our existing car and hope people notice”. Lots of half baked stuff from the General these days and the LaCrosse is a good enough car to deserve something netter under the hood for a sporty model.
The more insightful comments that I read on this website about the Lacrosse ST, makes me wonder if senior management really understands the customer or how to increase sales. So far I would give them a D+.