2019 Buick LaCrosse Review

Name: 2019 Buick LaCrosse Review
Brand: Buick

Buick LaCrosse Premium Sedan Exterior Shown

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byCalvin Kim^{Vehicle Test Engineer
Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.}

Pros

Comfortable and composed ride on rough roads
Quiet and genuinely luxurious interior
Surprisingly adept handling with Dynamic Drive package
Good fuel economy

Cons

Low-mounted seats front and back may limit comfort
Small cargo space
Unremarkable handling without Dynamic Drive package

What's new

A V6-powered front-wheel-drive Sport Touring trim debuts
The Premium trim now comes with a new air ionizer
Part of the third LaCrosse generation introduced for 2017

The 2019 Buick LaCrosse carries over the significant changes that took place back in 2017 and a powertrain update in 2018, as part of the brand's plan to reinvigorate and claw back to its position in the luxury segment. And we like what we're seeing. Rather than a hyperstylized version of a coupe or a sport sedan that does neither very well, Buick has rightly chosen to make a comfortable, efficient and traditional car.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 Buick LaCrosse 1SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$148/mo

$219/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The interior is roomy and comfortable, and the seats feature a wide range of adjustability that is perfect for long stints. Buick's easy-to-use touchscreen infotainment system is compatible with both Apple and Android products to help melt away the miles.

The standard eAssist powertrain features a mild-hybrid system, a small electric motor paired to the four-cylinder engine that allows for unobtrusive stop-starts and a little nudge to help get the car off the line. The larger V6 engine, standard in the new Sport Touring model, provides smooth power at the expense of the eAssist's economy. While all models come as front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive is available in the top trim models.

Power and handling aren't the LaCrosse's forte. The heavy sedan drives well enough going straight down the road and has good steering feel, but any dynamic maneuvers will leave the tires squealing in most trim levels. Ride quality and noise are also surprisingly disappointing. Things improve considerably with the Dynamic Drive package, but that's only available on the priciest trim levels.

Still, there's no denying that some buyers don't want to get beat up with stiff suspension and confusingly complex technology. For them, the Buick LaCrosse should be appealing. Otherwise, this big Buick leaves a lot to be desired relative to its competitors.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

6.3 / 10

The LaCrosse falls short of top-tier mainstream sedans, providing less in the way of performance and luxury than we'd expect, and the eAssist system feels like a missed opportunity. In straddling price points, the LaCrosse has compromised in too many places to be a competitive luxury alternative.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Buick LaCrosse Premium eAssist (2.5L inline-4 | 6-speed automatic | FWD).

Scorecard

Overall	6.3 / 10
Driving	6.0
Comfort	7.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	6.0
Technology	7.5

Driving

6.0

The LaCrosse with eAssist is a thoroughly unhurried car. Shifts are smooth, and the steering has good on-center feel, making for an easy freeway cruiser. But the mild hybrid engine feels overtaxed, and the body wallows through corners while its tires protest at even moderate requests for performance.

Acceleration

5.0

The LaCrosse accelerates smoothly, but the relaxed throttle requires deliberate input to find a hint of urgency. When the engine is pressed it sounds strained. Passing maneuvers require lots of room. Our tested 0-60 mph time of 8.3 seconds is slow for the class. Optional V6 is much more competitive.

Braking

8.0

The pedal effort is linear, if a bit soft, and braking force is easy to regulate. There's no noticeable regenerative action, making for very smooth stops. We measured a panic-stop distance from 60 mph of 119 feet, which is good for a car like this, and the car is stable under hard braking.

Steering

6.5

The on-center feel is very good, making freeway driving easy, and steering resistance builds through turns, going from very light to surprisingly heavy. However, there's no sense of what the front wheels are doing, and what feel there is seems rubbery and artificial.

Handling

5.0

The LaCrosse does fine in low-speed turns, but when pushed even a little it feels unsettled. The suspension never seems to settle fully, leading to wallowing body motion. The tires begin protesting audibly at even relatively low speeds. In short, the LaCrosse fails to inspire confidence.

Drivability

7.0

The no-defeat stop-start system is mostly unobtrusive. Shifts are generally smooth, except for the occasional harsh shift at low speed. Using the shift paddles results in unhurried responses. The LaCrosse is mostly inoffensive, but it feels large and heavy on the road.

Comfort

7.0

We'd hope for quiet and plush from the big Buick, to match its relaxed driving characteristics. The seats are certainly a comfortable place to spend time. But the ride is busy, and there's disappointingly elevated noise at freeway speeds. Less expensive cars offer similar levels of refinement.

Seat comfort

8.0

The seats balance support and padding nicely, and strong heating and cooling help make these all-day comfortable. The seat cushion is a bit narrow, but since the bolsters are very flat, this won't impact comfort for most drivers. Of course, the seat does little to hold you in place.

Ride comfort

6.5

The suspension manages to smooth the edges off bumps. But there's pronounced bounce over larger bumps, and smaller imperfections make the car feel heavy-footed and jiggly. There's more going on than we expect from a car in this class, and it hurts the LaCrosse's luxury aspirations.

Noise & vibration

6.5

The windows do an excellent job of filtering out the sound of surrounding traffic, but there's lots of road noise over bumps and at freeway speeds. At speed, there's also excessive wind and tire noise, as well as extra engine noise when going up inclines.

Climate control

7.0

The dual-zone system works well left to its own devices, and the seat heaters and coolers are quite strong. However, only a few basic controls are button-based. Full manual control requires interacting with the touchscreen, which may be an annoyance for some.

Interior

7.0

The interior aims for a midpoint between luxury and mainstream cars. But there's a lot of obvious plastic, and the interior space isn't as open or roomy as what rivals offer. The limited physical controls are easy to find and use, but many features require interacting with the touchscreen.

Ease of use

6.5

The steering wheel-mounted controls are easy to use, but with only a handful of buttons in the cabin, many controls require the touchscreen. While the system is straightforward, the busy ride can make tapping smaller virtual buttons hit or miss. Some may find the screen a bit of a reach, too.

Getting in/getting out

7.5

The front openings are large and square, although the high bottom sill creates a stepover. Ample rear legroom makes stepping in easy, except in tight parking spaces where the longer rear doors can't open far enough. Adult passengers will have to duck under the raked roofline in the rear.

Driving position

7.5

The armrests on both sides of the driver are high enough to be usable, making you feel ensconced in the car and more comfortable on longer drives. The seat offers plenty of adjustability for drivers of different sizes. Some center stack controls can be a reach for long-legged drivers.

Roominess

7.0

The high, wide center console takes up a lot of space, impinging on knee room and making the front feel smaller than it is. The rear seat offers plenty of legroom, but headroom is compromised for adults over average height. Overall, it's less room than other full-size luxury cars.

Visibility

5.5

The rear window is short, partially obscuring the view and making the rearview camera a necessity. Thick front and side pillars create blind spots, and the small sideview mirrors don't help much without blind-spot monitoring. The rear-most side window helps over-the-shoulder visibility.

Quality

5.5

The LaCrosse's interior has a lot of obvious plastics. Most have a soft-touch coating, but it's still a lot of plastic surface area. The wood trim and seat leather also feel a bit plasticky. We had issues with a nonfunctioning head-up display.

Utility

6.0

The big surprise is the limited amount of usable trunk space due to a number of intrusions that leave only a relatively small square of flat flooring. There's a decent amount of space for small items in the cabin thanks to a lateral pass-through under the center console.

Small-item storage

7.0

The shelf that occupies a pass-through under the center console offers a decent amount of storage space. The center console box is relatively small, as is the glovebox. The door pockets can hold regular water bottles but not much more, and the seatback pockets are comically small.

Cargo space

5.0

At 14.3 cubic feet, there's surprisingly little usable trunk space for this segment. Flimsy wheelwell coverings impinge on the sides, and the eAssist battery creates a rise in the trunk. The 60/40-split folding seats help for longer items, but bulky items will be a struggle.

Child safety seat accommodation

6.5

There are clearly marked LATCH anchors. But the bottom anchors are recessed in the seat cushions and not very accessible, though the top anchors are easy to access. There's enough rear-seat room to accommodate even bulky seats.

Technology

7.5

General Motors' technologies are fully deployed in the LaCrosse, although many driver aids and active safety features are optional. They compare favorably against mainstream cars but are outclassed when stacked up against offerings from luxury manufacturers.

Audio & navigation

7.5

The Bose audio system doesn't provide anything exceptional, but GM's navigation system is as strong as ever. It's easy to use and it supports plenty of voice commands that work well. That said, when stacked up against those in luxury rivals, the system feels outdated and outclassed.

Smartphone integration

8.0

Bluetooth pairing is straightforward to accomplish, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work smoothly. The wireless charging pocket in the center console is a tight fit for large phones or phones in cases, but it provides easy access. The car will notify you of messages and read them aloud.

Driver aids

7.0

Only a few active safety features are standard, even on higher trims. Adaptive cruise works smoothly, albeit a bit conservatively. Lane keeping assist tends to overcorrect so the car ping-pongs between lane markers. It's not always easy to figure out what'll set off the vibrating Safety Alert seat.

Voice control

7.0

Prompts are helpfully displayed on the touchscreen, but there isn't as much functionality as with some competitive systems, especially in the luxury market, and phrasing has to be precise. The navigation system responds well to voice input and isn't overly prone to misunderstanding.

2019 Buick LaCrosse models

The 2019 Buick LaCrosse is available in base 1SV, Preferred, Essence, Sport Touring, Premium, and Avenir trim levels. All except the Sport Touring and Avenir come standard with a mild hybrid powertrain known as eAssist that features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a six-speed automatic, and a small electric motor that together produce 194 horsepower and 187 pound-feet of torque. A 3.6-liter V6 (310 hp, 268 lb-ft) paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission is standard on the Avenir and Sport Touring, and optional for the Preferred, Essence and Premium. Front-wheel drive is standard, while the Essence, Premium and Avenir can be fitted with all-wheel drive (V6 only).

The base 1SV comes standard with 18-inch wheels, automatic xenon headlights, foglights, heated mirrors, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, keyless ignition and entry, remote ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated leather upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable front seats (with two-way driver lumbar adjustment), a leather-wrapped steering wheel, OnStar emergency communications, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, an eight-speaker sound system, satellite radio, and the Buick IntelliLink infotainment interface that includes an 8-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. It is available only in black or white exterior paint.

The Preferred adds a power-adjustable steering wheel, a cargo net and more paint choices.

The Essence trim adds different exterior trim, 19-inch wheels, adaptive headlights, driver-side auto-dimming mirrors, heated front seats, leather upholstery, driver memory settings and wireless smartphone charging. The Sport Touring only differs with its special exterior trim. Optional on both is the Driver Confidence I package that adds blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert systems.

The Premium trim includes the Driver Confidence I items and adds forward collision warning, a head-up display, lane keeping assist, the Safety Alert driver's seat (buzzes to get your attention to various safety warning systems), an ionizing air cleaner, a 110-volt household-style power outlet, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats with massage and four-way lumbar adjustment.

The Sport Touring, Essence and Premium can be bolstered with a couple of option packages. The Sun and Shade package has a panoramic sunroof and a power rear sunshade. The Sights and Sounds package adds a navigation system to IntelliLink, an 11-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system and HD radio.

The Avenir comes with 19-inch wheels, a revised front fascia, upgraded leather upholstery, special floor mats, and the contents of both packages listed above.

Optional for the Essence, Premium and Avenir models is the Dynamic Drive package, which equips the LaCrosse with 20-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers and, for front-wheel-drive models, an upgraded front suspension design. You can also specify the Driver Confidence II package for the Premium and Avenir trims, which adds adaptive cruise control, forward automatic emergency braking that detects vehicles and pedestrians, and an automatic parking system.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above Average

#15 out of 28 among Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Buick LaCrosse from 2008-2022.}

$447/yr

vs. $415/yr
for Average Midsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.81x/yr

vs. 0.87x/yr
for Average Midsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

12.7%

vs. 10.2%
for Average Midsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2019 Buick LaCrosse.

5 (63%)

4 (17%)

3 (12%)

2 (5%)

1 (3%)

4.3

83 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Good value for retired folks

Richard Stewart, 12/09/2016

2017 Buick LaCrosse Premium 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

Being retired, I was looking for a quite comfortable roomy car with easy to use controls and lots of safety features for my wife and me to use for travel. The Lacrosse fit the bill. I was impressed with all the safety features (love the heads up display) and the ease of use of the entertainment and navigation systems. Most luxury cars don't have touch screens, which to me was a …

Best kept secret in automobiles

Elwyn H. Davis, 01/09/2018

2017 Buick LaCrosse Premium 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

We traded a 2010 Lacrosse CXS with 92,000 trouble free miles for this car 15 weeks ago. Ours is the Premium trim level. So far, in almost 5,000 miles we love the car and haven't found anything to complain about. Among the great things: Ride, smoothness of operation, seat comfort, Auto stop/start, gas mileage - 35 mpg on highway trips, 21-22 around town mileage, 24.2 overall probably …

Most Improved Player

Kevin S., 03/11/2019

2019 Buick LaCrosse Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 9A)

This is the second LaCrosse the family has purchased. The first was a 2013. Each car is as comparably equipped as could be. The new one is a much better car. The tech features have obviously improved between now and 2013. The back up camera with the guide that twists and turns as the wheel does, for example. The adaptive cruise is a cool feature. The posted speed limit indicator is …

A great car!

Bill A., 07/09/2017

2017 Buick LaCrosse Premium 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

I purchased a fully loaded 2017 Lacrosse with the premium trim level and couldn't be happier. I absolutely love the way it rides and handles, especially with the sport setting on. It has so many options I'm having a blast learning them all. It is by far the quietest, best riding, and best driving car I have ever owned. And I think it is the most stylish car on the market, not gaudy but …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2019 Buick LaCrosse, so we've included reviews for other years of the LaCrosse since its last redesign.

See all 83 reviews of the Buick LaCrosse

Write a vehicle review

2019 LaCrosse Highlights

Trim:

1SV

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$29,570
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$148/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the LaCrosse models:

OnStar: Provides automatic crash notification, an emergency call button and stolen-vehicle assistance, among other features.
Front Automatic Braking: Detects an imminent front collision. It will then warn the driver and apply automatic braking if necessary.
Side Blind Zone Alert: Alerts you to cars in your blind spot with lights in the mirrors, helping to prevent accidents and reducing driver workload.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.9%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

2019 Buick LaCrosse Review

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Buick LaCrosse 1SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Which LaCrosse does Edmunds recommend?

2019 Buick LaCrosse models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Good value for retired folks

Best kept secret in automobiles

Most Improved Player

A great car!

2019 LaCrosse Highlights

Safety

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