2001 Buick LeSabre Review
2001 Buick LeSabre Review
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
+50
Used LeSabre for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Modern interior with room for six, huge trunk, torquey and economical V6, dual stage airbags.
Cons
- Cheesy audio speakers, no split/fold rear seat, lacks V8 prestige.
What’s new
The best-selling U.S. full-size car for eight straight years, Buick's LeSabre has been mildly updated after being totally redesigned last year. Changes include dual-stage airbags, standard OnStar in-vehicle safety, security and information service and the engine oil change interval has been increased to 10,000 miles.
Edmunds says
A crowd-pleasing large sedan that offers space and safety in a value-packed, economical package. Lovers of the traditional American sedan can't go wrong, unless they want a V8 and rear-wheel drive.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2001 Buick LeSabre Custom 4dr Sedan (3.8L 6cyl 4A) 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 $5.35 per gallon for regular unleaded in California.
Monthly estimates based on costs in California
$311/mo for LeSabre Custom
LeSabre Custom
vs
$302/mo
Avg. Large Car
Vehicle overview
Evolutionary in style outside, and revolutionary in style inside, the Buick LeSabre, redesigned last year, appears to have met its designers' goals -- keep the good stuff and improve the rest. Give Buick credit for acting on customer input and coming up with a surprisingly competent overall package.
Though this big, front-drive sedan is about an inch narrower than its predecessor, much of its shape and many of its dimensions are little-changed from the previous generation. Buick's signature "waterfall" chrome grille is still there, and the clean-looking front and rear fascias set off the clear-lens headlamps and large tail lamps. Flush, body-colored door handles add a clean look to the LeSabre, and even the bodyside moldings have an integrated look.
Interior storage and safety has also been a Buick hallmark and the 2001 LeSabre doesn't disappoint. In addition to incorporating side airbags, the comfortable and supportive front seats have built-in "self-aligning" head restraints, reducing the risk of whiplash. Front seatbelts are now integrated into the seat frames, and all five seating positions come equipped with shoulder and lap belts. The LeSabre's interior meets the government's new head-impact requirements ahead of the federal deadline. The big news for 2001 is standard dual stage front airbags.
Rear headroom is as good as in the Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis, and though legroom back there isn't best-in-class, it is still comfortable. Large rear-door glass lowers nearly all the way down into the doors for better ventilation. Trunk room is a decent 18 cubic feet, bettering the 17 cubic feet found in the Chrysler Concorde.
The LeSabre's platform makes for a stiffer, quieter body than its predecessor. While the front suspension features MacPherson struts with coil springs, the rear's semi-trailing arm / coil-spring setup makes for a more-controlled ride. We'd opt for the LeSabre Limited with the Gran Touring Package, despite the fact that the top-of-the-line P255/60R-16 touring radials are not super handlers. Antilock brakes are standard, with the rear drums being upgraded to discs for better stopping power.
The only available powertrain in both the Custom and Limited models remains the trusty 3.8-liter Series II V6, mated to a smooth four-speed automatic transmission. This motor makes a healthy 205 horsepower at 5,200 rpm, with 230 foot-pounds of torque peaking at a useable 4,000 rpm. What's more, GM's V6 meets federal 2001 low-emission vehicle (LEV) standards.
LeSabres have consistently ranked better than average in owner trouble complaints over the years, and the 2001 model should improve that score further. While the median age of most LeSabre buyers has long been in the 60s, more family-oriented buyers are finding themselves in Buick showrooms. That will not only do much to help the brand shake some of its fuddy-duddy image, but also keep LeSabre among the best sellers.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2001 Buick LeSabre.
5 star(37%)
4 star(50%)
3 star(11%)
2 star(2%)
1 star(0%)
46 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.13 out of 5 stars
Update of last review
Doug Fresh, 07/14/2010
2001 Buick LeSabre Custom 4dr Sedan (3.8L 6cyl 4A)
14 months later, and now with 250,000 miles on this beast, it has still performed without a flutter from the engine or tranny. I can't believe this car still consistently delivers such solid performance at about 22 - 24 MPG. In the last year, I had to replace the two front axles at about 230K, the lower control arms at about 240K, and the master electrical control, but what can you … expect with this kind of mileage? She still turns over every day, looks great, and the interior, except for the cheap door skin pins, has held up well. Too bad they stopped making them, or I would now consider buying a 2010 when I give this one to my son in the fall for his high school commute.
5 out of 5 stars
What a car for the money!
Robert Steimle, 11/15/2017
2001 Buick LeSabre Custom 4dr Sedan (3.8L 6cyl 4A)
I bought this car in 2017 with 80,000 miles and although it was 17 years old it hasn’t a scratch on it and it looks almost brand new. The drivers seat does not have a single scratch or tare on it. The previous owner took extremely good care of this vehicle and preformed regular maintenance religiously. It just goes to show if you respect your vehicle and really take good care of it the. … It can last more then 20 years and look like it just came out of the factory. I paid $2,000 and have spent about $150 more flushing the dex-cool so now the coolant looks brand new. It took me about a week using the hose and adding cleaner/ flush to the system. I can not stress the importance of having clean coolant. The crud that builds up after 20 years will destroy the engine, even with regular coolant changes. After some new plugs and wires the vehicle is ready to last another 20 years. It is better to do preventative maintenance then to do repairs. What a jewel this car is.
3 out of 5 stars
16 year old beast
Howard Collins, 12/13/2015
2001 Buick LeSabre Custom 4dr Sedan (3.8L 6cyl 4A)
You probably couldn't find a 2001 Buick LeSabre for sale anywhere that's been maintained as well as mine for 151,000 miles. The reason being is because so many things have been done to it to keep it running, and in decent shape. Those of you who own one are familiar with the LeSabre problems. I have replaced the upper and lower intake manifold gaskets, upper plenum, valve cover … gaskets, oil pan gasket, transmission pan gasket, the window motors and regulators, fuel filler pipe, front lower control arms, CV axles, inner tie rods and tie rod ends, struts and shocks, water pump, fuel pump, alternator, radiator, AC compressor. and a host of minor things to numerous to mention. Hood pistons, sensors, brakes and rotors front and rear, tire's, so many things. All in all it's in perfect shape, but only because of all that's been done to it. You can imagine the cost of keeping this beast running if you had to take it to a garage for the work. I do my own wrenching and all the part's are from EBAY, except tires. That's a huge saving believe me. Much more than several thousand dollars. If you can't do this work it's probably not worth keeping the vehicle. It's probably no better than any other vehicle it competes with and may even have more problems than some of them do. You hear about how great the 3800 engine is, but consider everything that has to be replaced around it, and on it, to keep the car on the road. That said I think I'll squeeze some more miles out of it, and replace more things as needed.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Could be Worse..I think?
carlover53, 12/02/2011
2001 Buick LeSabre Limited 4dr Sedan (3.8L 6cyl 4A)
Bought used in 07 with 55,000 miles from a private party that moved out of country. Now has a little over 82,000 on the clock. Within the first year, rear running light (big red panel light on right) and front left headlight went out within a few days of each other. Driver heated seat quit working (passenger fine), would cost nearly $600 to repair! Dash started peeling up in 09 above … glove box, and a little have a half inch high by 5 inch wide hump in front of the steering wheel under the windshield. Would cost nearly $1,100 to repair! I'm just gonna glue it down and buy a cloth dash cover that sticks on w/ Velcro. SEE IMPROVEMENTS FOR REST OF STORY
2001 LeSabre Highlights
Custom
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $24,230 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 20 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $311/month |
Seating | 6 seats |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
Consider these recommendations
Related Used 2001 Buick LeSabre info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used Cadillac DTS 2011
- Used Audi S6 2015 For Sale
- Used GMC Acadia 2013
- Used Cadillac CTS-V 2014
- Used Kia K900 2015
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- Audi RS 7 2023
- 2023 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Series
- 2025 GMC Terrain News
- 2023 Audi RS 6
- Volvo V60 Cross Country
- Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid 2023
- Lexusrx500H
- 2024 Silverado 2500HD
- 2025 BMW M5 News
- M8
Research other models of Buick
- 2023 Enclave
- Buick Enclave V6
- Buick Envista
- Buick Encore GX
- Buick Envision 2023
- 2023 Buick Encore GX
- Buick Envision
Other models
- Used Mercedes-Benz Amg-Gt in Golden, CO
- Used Genesis GV60 in Woodside, NY
- Used Oldsmobile Aurora in La Jolla, CA
- Used Audi TTS in Goose Creek, SC
- Used Honda CR-Z in Inver Grove Heights, MN
- Used Lexus NX-250 in Bowling Green, OH
- Used Mazda 5 in Ruskin, FL
- New Kia Niro-Ev for Sale in Lynnwood, WA
- New Toyota Grand-Highlander for Sale in Converse, TX
- Used Lexus Is in Wetumpka, AL