2008 Buick Lucerne

Buick’s line of two- and three-row SUVs are worth considering for shoppers looking for a nicer interior than in a Chevrolet or Ford without the luxury prices of a Cadillac, Lincoln, Lexus, or Acura. Options within Buick’s lineup start with the Envista, which is unusually sized between a large sedan and a subcompact SUV. The largest options include the three-row Enclave. Some of Buick’s models have earned Consumer Reports recommendations for having intuitive infotainment systems and quiet, pleasant interiors. Among U.S. car companies, Buick also ranks high in our new car reliability ratings. Some recent models also made our lists of recommended used cars.

The Lucerne is a large, front-wheel-drive four-door sedan that replaced the LeSabre and the Park Avenue. The standard powerplant is a rough-sounding 3.8-liter V6; a potent 4.6-liter, 275-hp V8 powers the CXS. The four-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly enough. The Lucerne has a quiet and comfortable ride, especially at low speeds. Handling is not agile and the steering lacks feedback. A tendency to fishtail easily at its limits reduces confidence. Stability control was available only on the CXS V8, and helped counteract that tendency. Braking is unimpressive. The roomy backseat is better than the one in the LaCrosse. The last year for the Lucerne was 2011.