Overview & Reviews

At its debut for the 2002 model year, the Buick Rendezvous midsize crossover SUV was touted as a cross between a luxury sedan, an SUV and a minivan. But in reality, the Rendezvous didn't offer the level of interior design and driving excitement that luxury car buyers expected. And although Buick's crossover could seat up to seven and had the requisite fold-flat third-row seat, it was too small to appeal to minivan buyers, and it didn't have much of a styling advantage over them anyway.

An optional all-wheel-drive system made the Rendezvous a less costly alternative to true SUVs for buyers needing a snow vehicle, but otherwise this Buick wasn't particularly rugged. Over the years, the Rendezvous fell behind the rest of the crossover SUV crowd, which exploded into a very competitive market dominated by the leading import brands.

Rather than update the Rendezvous, Buick decided to halt production midway through the 2007 model year. For used car consumers who can accept the Rendezvous' faults, it could still prove to be an affordable, practical choice for a family vehicle. But we think the vast majority of shoppers would be better served by other, more refined crossovers, including Buick's own Enclave.

Most Recent Buick Rendezvous
Sold from 2002 through the first half of 2007, the Buick Rendezvous was typically offered in two basic trim levels, CX and CXL. There was also a high-line Rendezvous Ultra model in 2004 and '05. Since Buick considered the Rendezvous a premium crossover, even the base CX trim came with a decent list of standard features, including keyless entry, power accessories, air-conditioning and a CD player. The Rendezvous CX came with a five-passenger seating arrangement.

You could pick up a third-row seat on the CXL as a standard or optional feature, depending on the model year. This was also your ticket to leather upholstery, power front seats, automatic dual-zone climate control, wood-tone cabin trim and alloy wheels. In addition to a more powerful engine, the Ultra model came with second-row captain's chairs (dropping seating capacity to six), satellite radio and a head-up display. These items were moved to the CXL's options list when the Ultra was discontinued.

But Buick stopped short of its competitors when it came to high-end amenities. Key safety features like ABS and front-seat side airbags were moved to the options list after the '02 model year, and items like stability control and side curtain airbags were never available. Buick did at least offer a DVD-based navigation system (starting in 2004) and a rear DVD entertainment system (starting in 2003) as options.

Although the Rendezvous' interior design and materials were better than most General Motors fare of the time, it wasn't quite up to import-brand standards. It was, however, one of the roomier crossover SUVs on the market, with plenty of passenger room in the front and back. It wasn't quite a minivan substitute, though, as the third row was best left to the kids. Cargo room was generous, too (with a maximum capacity of 109 cubic feet), though Buick's packaging of the third-row seat made for an uneven load floor.

Three different engines were offered on the Buick Rendezvous, and all were paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. For 2002 and '03, the only choice was a 3.4-liter V6 with 185 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Acceleration was sluggish, but fuel economy was above average for this class. In 2004 and '05, you could get either this engine or, on the Ultra model, a more sophisticated 3.6-liter DOHC V6 good for 245 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque. For 2006, Buick replaced the old 3.4-liter with a more vigorous 3.5-liter V6 rated at 201 hp and 216 lb-ft of torque. It still wasn't a very refined engine for this class, but acceleration was improved. The 3.6-liter V6 remained optional for '06, but was discontinued at the end of the model year.

All-wheel drive (AWD) was standard on all 2002 Rendezvous models, but lower-cost front-wheel-drive versions were added the following year. Oddly, AWD was discontinued altogether for 2007, making the Buick Rendezvous the only crossover SUV not to offer any kind of all-weather capability.

In road tests we found the Rendezvous similar to most other Buicks in its driving characteristics, which is to say it focused on comfort at the expense of road feel. The vehicle's handling was sloppy, with considerable body roll around most corners. Neither the 3.4-liter nor the 3.5-liter engine was particularly competitive when it came to response or refinement, and the four-speed automatic's wide gear ratios didn't take full advantage of the power reserves. Although Rendezvous models equipped with the 3.6-liter V6 still had this old-tech transmission, they felt much stronger during passing and merging maneuvers. The 3.6-liter's power delivery was smoother and quieter as well.

Consumer reviews of the Buick Rendezvous have generally been favorable, as owners are pleased with its combination of interior space, ride comfort, fuel economy and overall value. Resale value has never been a strong point for the Rendezvous, so if you're in need of an affordable family vehicle, it might be worth a look on the used car market. We'd advise you to zero in on 2004-'06 models equipped with the 3.6-liter V6.

User Reviews:

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  Disappointed - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By Rivi - July 31 - 4:38 am

  My wife and I got this car as a lease. She drives it mostly. We had to get out of the lease early. We traded her in for a Toyota and dont look back at the Buick anymore. We noticed as time went on, she seems to loose power. She no longer feels strong anymore. I dont think that 245 horses is strong enough for the weight of this vehicle. She handles the bumps terribly, feels like shes gonna break apart on me. Gas guage is on the frits and the dealer cant find anything wrong with her. One day, we have gas and the next, we dont. Her turn radius is lousy. Its a shame, becuase we love all the toys that the Ultra comes with.

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  3G5DA03E33S51199 - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By THOMAS STOKES - July 21 - 2:00 am

  NEEDED BRAKES 4 TIMES,STILL ISNT FIXED,TRANSMISSION SLIPS,OVERHEATS ALL THE TIME,NO ENGINE POWER,10 MILES TO THE GALLON,TRACION CONTROL LOCKS UP,ALMOST KILLED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY POOR VIEWING OUT THE REAR SIDES AND REAR AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN

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  Disgrace to the Buick tradition - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By TainoRico - June 15 - 10:00 am

  Absolutely disappointing. As a previous Buick owner,I feel that Buick should not even try to associate with such a poor performing vehicle. Whenever I come across anyone who asks me about this vehicle I say turn around and run. Do not even think about it. I am anxiously waiting to get rid of it next month. I have decided to buy foreign after buying about 20 new American cars in the last 25 years.

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  Utter Junk - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By Frosty - June 12 - 3:57 pm

  Bought this because my wife did not want to by typical looking minivan for the kids. What a bad choice. So far we have had the air conditioning overhauled at 10K miles, the engine seals blow at 20K miles, a complete transmission overhaul at 30K miles (had to call the mfg to get this covered under warranty), and now at 45K the wheel bearings and gas guage (800$ just for the gas guage repair)are toast. This is my second GM experience, fool me twice shame on me. As soon as I pay for the new bearings I am running to a Japanese or Korean car dealer ASAP.

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  Junk - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By Brian Bryans - March 2 - 11:04 am

  We have had several mechanical issues on our Rendevous. This first was a transmission problem that kept the car in 3rd gear. This was repaired under warranty. We had to replace the tires at 20,000 miles and Buick would not prorate the tires because we did not have full paperwork showing that we had rotated the tires.Our most recent problem was with a check engine light. The light came on with 43,000 miles on the car, 7k miles out of warranty.It ended up being that water was getting into the car under the carpet and had rusted sensors. The dealership had to strip all the interior out and fix the problem. Cost $1200. There is no wonder GM is on the verge of bankruptcy!

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  2002 - stay away - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By Tom - January 28 - 8:02 pm

  Various problems throughout the life. Initial purchase - rear hatch wouldnt relock, needed replacement, dealer broke the rear hatch when fixing it. 2005 - engine wont restart within 10 minutes of stopping engine - dealer has been unable to fix it after 3 tries, no help from GM. 2006 - Rear hatch problem again - the door unlocks all by itself. Dealer has replaced the body control module after replacing the lock against my advice. 2006 - The fuel guage doesnt accurately show the level.

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  Not Buicks best effort - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By autoworker239 - November 15 - 8:19 pm

  This vehicle is plagued with problems ranging from annoying to down right dangerous. Newer versions have corrected some of the problems but some of the more serious ones still remain including premature wheel hub failures, faulty wiring and bad transmissions. If you insist on buying one youd better purchase the extended warranty and towing insurance because youre going to need it.

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  Stress factor - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By booo buick - October 27 - 11:59 pm

  Ever since I got this car it has caused tension, especially in the winter. The electrical problem is such that the car just dies and its not the battery! The a/c has gone, the brakes have gone, and there was a bearing problem and tires getting worn due to easy skid on the turns, no control. Very disappointed with this car. I hope it lasts me another year or so at least.

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  Nothing but trouble - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By jbholt - August 12 - 10:50 am

  Let me start by saying that for the first 1.5 - 2 years, we loved this vehicle. At about 40,000 miles (just after the warranty ran out), we started to have problems that I dont think should ever occur on such a new vehicle. The air conditioning compressor cracked, and we were told that it was an engineering flaw (replaced to the tune of over $900). Just this week, we had to replace the head gaskets (Ive NEVER had to replace head gaskets before) and the fan motor --- this bill was $1331. Because of the problems we have had with this vehicle, we will never buy another GM (weve been loyal GM customers for the last 17 years).

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  Its been horrible - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By Hate it - August 10 - 3:50 pm

  I have had nothing but problems with this vehicle. Air conditioner several times, manifold gasket, bearings, etc. You name it and Ive put money in to it. I dont expect this vehicle to last the length of my loan. I had to call Buick and they did agree to pay some of the bills that Ive had. Ive put 3500 in to this car in a year and a half. I wont buy another Buick again, this was my second try and I got another lemon.