Buick LaCrosse Owners Not Moving To Crossovers As Much As Other Models
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Just last week, GM Authority brought you exclusive insight into the buying habits of Buick owners, with Buick Marketing Manager Rob Peterson indicating that the Tri-Shield brand was seeing success in moving compact and midsize sedan owners into the crossover segment. However, despite that success, Peterson also says that Buick has had less success moving Buick LaCrosse owners into a new crossover.
In a recent interview with GM Authority executive editor Alex Luft, Peterson said that Buick is “not as strong at keeping LaCrosse owners in the brand,” as compared to former Buick Verano and Buick Regal owners.
As GM Authority covered previously, Buick Verano customers are successfully transferring into the Buick Encore and Buick Encore GX, while Buick Regal customers are attracted to the compact crossover segment, the same space as the outgoing Envision and all-new 2021 Buick Envision.
Given Buick’s current lineup is composed solely of crossovers, former Buick sedan owners looking for a new vehicle must either convert to the crossover segment, or defect to another brand. Buick discontinued the Regal following the 2020 model year, while the Verano was discontinued following an abbreviated 2017 model year.
However, following the North American discontinuation of the Buick LaCrosse after the 2019 model year, Buick has apparently been less successful in moving former LaCrosse owners into the crossover segment, suggesting that larger sedan customers are more loyal to the sedan segment specifically than they are to a particular brand.
Essentially, these customers specifically want a sedan, as opposed to a vehicle from a given brand.
Of course, Buick isn’t the only automaker to discontinue its large sedan models. Several former Buick LaCrosse rivals have also been given the axe, including the Lincoln MKZ. Lincoln has also discontinued the Continental.
For now, the Lexus ES is more or less the only model remaining in the segment. Even so, sales for the Lexus ES are down, as indicated by the segment sale results for the 2020 calendar year.
Sales Numbers - Large Premium Sedans - Q4 2020 - United States
| MODEL | YTD 20 / YTD 19 | YTD 20 | YTD 19 | YTD 20 SHARE | YTD 19 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEXUS ES | -15.67% | 43,292 | 51,336 | 77% | 67% |
| LINCOLN MKZ | -29.38% | 12,518 | 17,725 | 22% | 23% |
| BUICK LACROSSE | -96.82% | 230 | 7,241 | 0% | 9% |
| TOTAL | -26.56% | 56,040 | 76,302 |
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I did the same with Cadillac. Cadillac no longer makes a full-size luxury sedan and that’s what I choose to drive. They haven’t made one powered by a V8 in some time, unless you want to pony up to the cost of a V series or Blackwing. I was loyal to Cadillac for many years, but they gave me no choice but to leave the brand. Loss of the smooth torque of a V8 was the first blow, but loss of the full-size luxury sedan with the death nail. I’d rather drive Cadillac but I WILL drive a full-size sedan. Leaving the brand, I can get full-size luxury with a V8 engine.
I am a Buick girl. My car of choice was and will always be 2000 Buick Park Avenue. The ride was joyous. I loved that elegant car. The engine acceleration was beyond impressive. GS mileage and repairs were nominal. I would have bought model after model of that car! I now have a Buick Lucerne which is not a Buick by comparison! I drive it only because it’s a Buick. I have tried in vain to purchase other Park Avenue’s. Shame on you for it is the most sought after car in the market!
Why can’t we all switch to Bentleys. If they would make a dependable car, that looks interesting, at half the current price, they might have something. Maybe the Buick dealers could learn to work on them, and make a little more money.
Further to all that, these SUVs don’t have the power nor the luxiry affprded in the Buick sedans. All the SUVs are 4 cylinder. You have to get a tirbo to come close to the HP…and they require premiam. My 1967 LeSabre i had at 19/20 yrs old was a 300 V8 which required regularl gas. Gas prices will begin sleep increases mid decade as mfrs move to electric cars. Why make the investment?
The Enclave is a V6, for what it’s worth.
Can anyone answer this question. Does Buick make any performance oriented SUV’s like a GNX performance package that competes with the Ford Explorer ST, Dodge Durango SRT, and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT? If not then Buick has lost it’s performance roots of the Wildcat, and GN, GNX days. Is Buick still an American brand?
No, Chinese. We’re no longer a growth market in the US, and the Chinese love Buicks.
Buick has performance appearance packages which is basically blacked out rims with black trim but no. They don’t really have one such as the V series, ST, Grand Touring or SRT. You’ll have to get a Cadillac or Ford or something like that if you want a performance oriented model. I’d recommend either the Ford Edge ST or the Chevy blazer RS if you want something like that. If you want something bigger go with the Durango or Explorer ST, maybe the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, or Aviator Grand Touring if you want a lot of hp (494) but the base Aviator still has 400hp. Unfortunately, for 3 row suvs GM has sport packages/themed trims but they don’t have a bigger engine or anything like that except for carbon fiber. Unfortunately, Buick is sorta a American brand but the majority of their sales are in China now instead of America so I wouldn’t be surprised if within the next 10 years they’re exclusive to China (unfortunately).
I’m a very happy owner of a 2016 Buick Verano Leather Edition which had only 4100 miles when I bought it in August 2018. The car has given me no.problems, its very comfortable, gets great gas mileage, and love how it drives. After a year, the dealership called me to trade the Verano for an SUV. Nope… not interested. They’ve done it last year and again just last week. I’m sticking to the Verano and never going to get an SUV. So… count me as one Verano owner NOT switching to the rest of the herd.
I drove GM sedans and coupes for years. My latest purchase is a 2020 Honda Accord Touring 2.0. The car is roomy, well styled, and exceptional ally appointed. It is sad that the Americans have decided to move away from sedans. The Honda is my first non-American product I’ve owned, but sadly, wouldn’t be my last!
Alan
2014 U.S. Honda Accord sales 380,000
2020 U.S. Honda Accord sales 180,000
No biggie, In 6 more years every Honda will be made by GM.
Alan: Sell out.
You had numerous choices that don’t wear the Japanese logo. Yet, you make excuses. Sad.
Many SUV owners have more then one vehicle . I do NOT want an SUV ,and yes ALL Sedan sales are down: But to eliminate them all is insanity.
Gems original conception was,’ A car for every style & taste.
Let them bring La Cross Cadillac C- 6 over from China .
Everything else is made there?
Mercedes ,Lexus ,Honda Toyota ,BMW ,Rolls Royce ,Bentley ,Nissan ,Jaguar ,Mitsubishi ,Hyundai etc ,have not stopped passenger car production & will not .
I dont want an SUV & or know anyone who exclusively does.
GM ,you get sicker all the time.
Because Chinese cars don’t have the reputation for reliability that Toyota does…Neither does GM.
Dan
Buick usually ranks near the top in the reliability rankings, and they didn’t get their by building low end stripper models like KIA and Toyota. Or by using decade old outdated tech, like Lexus.
Add 1 or 2 well put together electrics, and Buick should start blowing away Toyota in reliability.
Peter G: Agreed. Still, the 3800 Series II engine (developed in stages from the 1961 198cid Fireball V6) is sorely missed. The times that Buick and/or GM Powertrain departed from proven technology with those lousy plastic engine pieces was/were the only times they got into trouble. Wrench turners like me remember well the plastic 90 degree coolant elbows and plastic upper intake plenums that were trash.
Toyota’s “reputation” is nothing more than the fact that they have marketing down to a pat. There is nothing from Japanese brands that are better than anything else. I’ve said it 15 years ago and it’s still 100% true today: Stick a Toyota badge on a turd and tell a Toyota buyer it’s great. Guess what? They will buy it and think it’s great. Sheep.
I’ve owned a 2017 Buick LaCrosse for four years. So far only servicing has been oil changes, tire rotation cabin filter
So far the best car I’ve owned ( I had at least 12 cars including 3 Cadillacs! ) I hope to keep it for 4 more years… than what to do? I would prefer a sedan. I miss the Land Yachts of the 1960’s / 1970’s
Can someone please tell me what Buicks are built in the USA!? Thank You.
Barry Renaud
Buick currently only has 3 models
THE BIG ONE the Enclave is designed & built in the USA. Until recently the Verano & Lacrosse were also built in the USA with the Regal coming in from Canada, but falling Sedan sales forced GM to kill the 3 models.