Visit any Buick dealer, and chances are you’ll be introduced to a slew of vehicles that walk the blurred line between premium and standard consumer vehicles. From streamlined, compact sports utility vehicles like the 2019 Buick Envision to sleek premium styled vehicles like the 2019 Buick Regal Sportback. The Buick family lineup is diverse and appealing to a wide range of drivers. Of the many vehicles that they offer in their lineup, the 2019 Buick LaCrosse exists as a challenger for vehicles like the 2019 Chrysler 300 and the 2019 Nissan Altima. Designed like a luxury car but slapped with an affordable price tag, the 2019 Buick LaCrosse, like most Buick vehicles, exists in an intriguing gray area. That said, in order to draw the wandering eyes of potential buyers, who are often enthralled by the appeal of a compact SUV, the LaCrosse will have to offer more than just affordable pricing.
Styling, Price, and Filling a Unique Category
If you spot the 2019 Buick LaCrosse on the road, chances are you might suspect that this sleek mid-sized sedan would have a starting price around the 50k range. Hopeful buyers will be pleasantly surprised to discover that the 2019 Buick LaCrosse has an entry-level price of $29,570 MSRP. That said, if you want something beyond the standard, you might find yourself spending more cash than you would have originally planned. The 2019 Buick LaCrosse comes in six trim options the 1SV, Preferred, Essence, Premium, Sport Touring, and the Avenir. The top trim level price does skyrocket to a surprising $47,070 MSRP. While this top trim option may bring plenty to the table, this price can serve as a deterrent for drivers hoping to take advantage of the premium build at an affordable price.
However, it is important to mention that the 2019 Buick LaCrosse certainly has an outer appeal worthy of the ranks of luxury-build vehicles. The low-profile, angular edges, swooping headlights, and elegant front grill design all exude a level of elegance worthy of top luxury brands. Love it or hate it, the design of the 2019 Buick LaCrosse is one that attempts to mimic other challenging luxury vehicles, and it does so quite brilliantly.
With all of that taken into account, appearance, with a low starting price, don’t make a great vehicle. One of the most influential components to what can make or break a truly remarkable car is the engine installed beneath the chassis.
The Look and Feel of Luxury
The outer shell of the 2019 Buick LaCrosse is more than just a pretty wrapping. The elegant design is felt in the machinery that this mid-sized sedan is tooled with. Base models of the 2019 Buick LaCrosse can expect to find a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine beneath the hood which offers up 194 horsepower and 187 lb-ft worth of torque. This engine comes with a mild hybrid driving as well, pairing this four-cylinder engine with an electric motor which dramatically improves gas mileage significantly. Speaking of gas mileage, the 2019 Buick LaCrosse earns a decent 25 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. While nothing to write home about, we’re pretty satisfied by the level of savings this mid-sized sedan provides drivers.
Those who want something more than a punchy partial hybrid four-cylinder engine can instead take up the 3.6-liter V6 engine which pumps out 310 horsepower and is tooled with the worthy support of a 9-speed automatic transmission. All of this comes together to create a smooth yet exhilarating driving experience. Even when loaded to the brim, the 2019 Buick LaCrosse is responsive and jumpy, providing a drive that borders on performance level. The LaCrosse also does a fantastic job at canceling road-noise, making for a peaceful ride through and through.
An Interior that Strives for Comfort
From the front dash to the rear seats, Buick brought incredible attention to detail when designing the 2019 Buick LaCrosse. The front seats are plush and comfortable, and even standard models receive a synthetic leather upholstery. If you want something a little more robust, higher-end models like the Premium trim option receives real leather. And don’t forget about the truly remarkable massaging feature that will have you begging to get behind the wheel again.
Unfortunately, while the front seats received the royal treatment, rear seating was put on the back burner. For starters, there is very little legroom to be had in the rear, no matter what trim option you go for. The swooping design of the LaCrosse plays against itself here, causing a low-ceiling effect that crushes down rear wiggle room even more.
We wish that these shortcomings could be saved by the trunk space, but the Buick LaCrosse is pretty standard fare when it comes to the storage room. The LaCrosse offers only 15 cubic feet of space in the back. That said, the interior accents on even the base models, make it worthwhile; just don’t expect to be transporting anymore than three people comfortably in the back.
Safety Tech and Infotainment Features
As we mentioned prior, the 2019 Buick LaCrosse starts small, offering an entry-level price that will be quite refreshing for some potential owners. That said, these base models are quite spartan when it comes to safety and infotainment technology. This is possibly why the base model starts at such a low price. Buick decided to offer drivers the option of stripping some of the more premium pleasantries to provide this starting sticker price.
In terms of infotainment, base models of the LaCrosse come with a bland eight-speaker audio system, front power seats, and an 8.0-inch infotainment display that we’re relieved to announce is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. Higher trim options take things up a bit incrementally. At the Premium level, drivers will find a more luxurious driving experience including features like a heated steering wheel, front-seat lumbar support, a dazzling heads up display, and cooled front seats. All the way at the top in the Avenir trim option, you can expect even more leather dressings and accents which brings the price dangerously near $50,000.
Safety is a similar subject for the Buick LaCrosse. Starting models get the bare basics, like airbags and seat belts. If you want safety features that are proactive instead of reactive, you’ll need to spend a considerable amount of money. That said, Buick makes this extra spend worth it, as at the top of the lineup, drivers can expect adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, automatic emergency braking and rear-cross traffic alerts.
Our Verdict of the 2019 Buick LaCrosse
If you’re shopping for a true entry-level vehicle, the 2019 Buick LaCrosse should not be your vehicle of choice. The amount you can spend on a base model of this vehicle can provide you with much more in less premium-level cars. While you may not get things like real leather accents or heated and cooled front seating, you’ll get an array of modern safety and infotainment features that are being considered standard more and more. That said, if you’re looking to turn heads in a luxury vehicle with a reasonable entry-level price, the 2019 Buick LaCrosse is certainly the ideal choice. Whether spotted at a local Buick dealership, or out in the wild, it’s difficult to disregard the regal elegance that this mid-sized sedan exudes completely. For that, we suggest that you go out and test drive one out for yourself.
