Buick LaCrosse dimensions

With the 2012 Buick Lacrosse, Buick has a fully competitive luxury sedan that doesn't nip at the heels of the large dogs, but instead can now run with the pack. Buick Lacrosse Hybrid offers the following pros: Elegant dashboard styling; smooth and quiet ride; admirable driving dynamics; hybrid's respectable fuel efficiency; good performance from V6 models; available all-wheel drive; top crash-test scores. Buick Lacrosse Hybrid drawbacks are: Limited luggage room, especially with Eassist trim; compromised rearward visibility; cluttered control design.

For 2012, Buick has revamped the Buick Lacrosse model lineup, replacing last year's three relatively uncomplicated versions with no fewer than seven various variants.

Base models come nicely equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, full performance accessories, dual-zone automatic conditioning, cloth upholstery, a performance driver bench and partial-power front passenger bench, split-folding back seatbacks, a tilt-and-telescoping helm with stereo controls, cruise control, Onstar, Bluetooth, and a seven-speaker audio system with a CD player, satellite radio, an optional stereo slot and an Ipod/usb stereo interface. Next step up would be the Comfort model (1SD), which adds a performance lumbar adjustment for the driver bench, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and remote ignition.

Spring for the Leather model and you get foglamps, heated mirrors with inbuilt turn signal repeaters, leather upholstery, heated front seatings and a full performance front passenger bench. The Luxury 1 version adds back parking assist, an auto-dimming driver-side mirror and driver bench memory options. The Luxury 2 (1SP) ups the ante with the 3. 6-liter V6, keyless ignition/entry, perforated leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seatings, a heated leather- and wood-trimmed helm and a performance back window sunshade. A Luxury 3 model contains 18-inch chromed alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a 120-volt household-style performance outlet and an 11-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound stereo system.

Rounding things out is the top-of-the-line Touring model, which features 19-inch alloy wheels, an adaptive suspension, xenon headlights, a blind spot warning system, a rearview camera, a head-up screen, digital audio cargo and a navigator.

Some of the features found on the upper versions can be added to the lower trims as features. Other notable features include a sunroof, back side airbags and a back bench video entertainment system with dual headrest-mounted diplays. .