2012 Buick LaCrosse Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Buick LaCrosse review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 LaCrosse, and includes Buick LaCrosse safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

With the departure of the Buick Lucerne for 2012, which was more of a ghost ship than a flagship, the modern and appealing Buick LaCrosse serves as the automaker’s top-of-the-line sedan for 2012.

Buick eliminates the CX, CXL and CXS trim levels this year, and adds standard equipment (Bluetooth, a USB port, and dual-zone automatic climate control) to what is now the standard model. Instead of trim levels, option packages produce a stair-step structure to better-equipped models.

Bigger news is the LaCrosse’s eAssist mild hybrid powertrain, which comes standard on most models. A mild hybrid is one that employs a battery and electric motor to assist the gasoline engine rather than provide a separate propulsion source. As such, the LaCrosse eAssist cannot operate on battery power alone. The EPA rates this model at 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

Top trim levels get a revised, direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 engine that makes 303 horsepower and is E85 flex-fuel compatible. New Buick IntelliLink technology allows for smartphone integration via USB port or Bluetooth. Finally, Crystal Red Tintcoat and Storm Gray Metallic join the paint chart for 2012.

For 2012, Buick drops the logical CX, CXL and CXS trim level designations in favor of “product equipment groups” – essentially option packages – that can be further enhanced with additional options.

The standard LaCrosse is equipped with dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, an eight-way power driver’s seat, power door locks with remote keyless entry, power heated side mirrors, power windows with express operation (down only in back), cruise control, and a tilt-and-telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel. Buick’s Quiet Tuning treatment helps to ensure a serene cabin, one bathed in ambient lighting at night. The stereo features a CD player and satellite radio, and the LaCrosse is equipped with six-free months of OnStar service with turn-by-turn navigation, Buick IntelliLink (Bluetooth, a USB port, color driver information center), and a compass. Floor mats, automatic headlights, and 17-inch steel wheels with plastic wheel covers complete the standard equipment list.

For upgrades, the Convenience model adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror, power lumbar support for driver’s seat, a HomeLink remote control, and remote engine starting.

Next up is the Leather model with, you guessed it, leather upholstery. This LaCrosse also comes with heated front seats, a power front passenger’s seat, LED side mirror turn signal indicators, fog lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

A series of three Premium models improves upon the Leather model. The LaCrosse Premium I provides rear park assist sensors, a rear vision camera, auto-dimming outside mirrors, and memory for the driver’s seat settings.

Step up to the Premium II model, and the eAssist mild hybrid powertrain is replaced by a 3.6-liter V6 engine. Inside, this model gets ventilated front seats, a heated leather-and-wood steering wheel, a power rear sunshade, and a keyless entry and push-button start system.

The Premium III model takes things a step further, upgrading the LaCrosse with a Harmon/Kardon surround sound system, chrome wheels, and a HiPer Strut front suspension system. The HiPer Strut suspension is designed to reduce torque steer, improve steering feel, and better isolate rough road surfaces.

At the top of the LaCrosse lineup sits the Touring model. It comes with a navigation system powered by a 40-gig hard drive, a Touring Package (19-inch alloys, real-time damping suspension with Sport mode), and a Driver Confidence Package (overtaking sensor, a head-up display, Xenon headlights).

Individual options, available depending on the “product equipment group” you’ve selected, include rear-seat side-impact airbags, a power sunroof, a Harmon/Kardon premium sound system, navigation, rear-seat entertainment, a side blind-zone alert system, and the Driver Confidence Package.

The LaCrosse eAssist system is comprised of a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, an electric motor-generator powered by a lithium-ion 115-volt battery pack, and a regenerative braking system. The eAssist model cannot operate on electricity alone, which makes it a mild hybrid rather than a full hybrid. The LaCrosse eAssist does, however, boast automatic start/stop capability and a fuel shut-off mode during deceleration to help conserve fuel. Active grille shutters also improve aerodynamics on the highway. Total system output is 182 horsepower, directed to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic with manual shift capability. EPA fuel economy estimates are 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

For 2012, Buick upgrades the available direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 in numerous ways, adding 23 horsepower with no loss of fuel economy. This E85 flex-fuel V6 makes 303 horsepower and is estimated to get 17 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. Additionally, with this engine the eAssist model’s electric steering is swapped out for a traditional hydraulic assist setup.

An all-wheel-drive system is optional with the V6 engine. Fuel economy with this model is estimated at 16-city/26-highway.

Buick provides LaCrosse buyers with six airbags, traction and stability control, and four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. Options include rear side-impact airbags, rear parking assist sensors, a reversing camera, and a side blind-zone alert system.

Another standard safety feature is OnStar telematics with six free months of Directions and Connections service. Included in this package is Advanced Crash Response, which allows a live operator to attempt contact with the LaCrosse’s occupants in the event that the airbags deploy. Even if nobody inside the car can respond, the operator can send emergency personnel to the LaCrosse’s exact location to speed rescue.

Chances of surviving a crash are excellent, if the LaCrosse’s 5-Star overall crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are a valid indicator. It doesn’t get better than that. Combine that with a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the structurally identical 2011 model, and it’s clear the LaCrosse is a stout ally in the event of a collision.

Consumer Reports says reliability should prove to be average. J.D. Power and Associates is more optimistic, giving the 2011 LaCrosse a predicted reliability rating of better than average.

The Buick LaCrosse was designed in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. to serve global markets. It has a huge rear seat, a feature that Chinese businesspeople expect to find in a car of this caliber.

Unfortunately, the generous rear seat accommodations mean that the LaCrosse’s trunk is woefully small. It measures just 11.4 cubic-feet with eAssist, 12.8 cu-ft with the Premium III and Touring models, and 13.3 cu-ft for all other models. Compare that to the entry-level Buick, the compact Verano, which has a generous 14-15.2 cu-ft trunk, depending on the model. That’s right. Golf clubs will fit better in the Verano than the LaCrosse.

Stylish, safe, fuel-efficient with eAssist, and likely dependable, the 2012 Buick LaCrosse suffers just one serious flaw, and that’s the size of its trunk. If you’re not planning to carry a bunch of stuff in there, Vehix recommends the 2012 LaCrosse.

By Christian Wardlaw