Overview & Reviews

The Buick Lucerne was the last sedan of what we'd call traditional Buick design. Without a doubt, this front-wheel-drive, full-size car put passenger comfort as its top priority. Seating was spacious and luxurious front and rear, and Buick's "Quiet Tuning" measures, which covered everything from the thickness of the carpet padding to the design of the windshield wipers, made the Lucerne one of the quieter cars on the market. Soft suspension tuning provided a plush, absorbent ride.

Although this Buick's coddling nature was a strong attribute, consumers looking at used full-size sedans should be aware that the Lucerne has numerous faults, the main ones being a lack of desirable luxury features, sloppy handling, unimpressive V6 acceleration, subpar brakes and a dated four-speed automatic transmission. Traditional Buick buyers may be willing to overlook these faults, but otherwise we think used luxury sedan shoppers can do better with other, more highly regarded choices such as the Hyundai Genesis or Toyota Avalon.

Most Recent Buick Lucerne
The Buick Lucerne full-size sedan was produced from 2006 through 2011. Trim levels initially consisted of the CX, CXL and CXS. Powering the CX and CXL was an underwhelming 3.8-liter V6 good for just 197 horsepower. The more desirable CXS came with a 275-hp, 4.6-liter V8 that was optional for the CXL. The 4.6 could move the big sedan to 60 mph in a respectable 7.7 seconds.

The base CX was well equipped with alloy wheels, full power accessories (including driver seat), a CD player and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls among its standard features. The CXL added larger wheels, rain-sensing wipers, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control and an MP3-capable stereo with an auxiliary audio jack. The CXS featured driver-seat memory, a Harman Kardon audio system, satellite radio, 18-inch wheels and a Magnetic Ride Control suspension.

The Lucerne was essentially unchanged its sophomore year, while '08 saw the debut of the Super (which replaced the CXS and offered a more powerful 292-hp V8) as well as the adoption of modern technologies such as lane departure and blind-spot warning systems.

For 2009, the 3.8-liter V6 was finally retired as the Lucerne got a new 227-hp (219 hp in California-emissions states) 3.9-liter V6. That year also saw the addition of Bluetooth connectivity. The following two years brought minor styling and equipment updates, though the final year saw stability control become standard across the board.

Mostly unchanged throughout the years, the Lucerne's cabin has a clean design with solid materials and simple, well-organized controls. Unfortunately, there are some cheaper plastics thrown into the mix, and build quality can be inconsistent.

Though the CXS and Super boast adaptive "Magnetic Ride Control" shock absorbers (that automatically firm up the suspension when the car is pushed on a curvy road), the Lucerne still won't appeal to demanding drivers. However, its comfortable cruising demeanor was hard not to like on long road trips. Braking was not one of the Lucerne's strong points, as testing revealed stopping distances that were the longest in the full-size sedan class.

User Reviews:

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  Great car - 2008 Buick Lucerne
  By stur01 - June 30 - 6:15 pm

  Was looking to trade in our 2007 Yukon for something with better MPG and picked the Buick. Was worried about sitting low in a car, but the car is great. Has more power then the Yukon and a better ride. The car is getting allot of looks and people have stopping me in the grocery store parking lot and asking, "is that a Buick?" The car handles great, and the MPG in town on the first tank is 16.9 MPG. My wife loves it more ever time she drives it and she loved her Yukon. The nav system and radio took a little time to understand the options.

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  Good car, but not a Park Ave - 2007 Buick Lucerne
  By happylegs - June 30 - 4:01 pm

  I own a 2003 Buick Park Avenue, and I bought the 2007 Lucerne CXL in February 2008 as a retirement vehicle. It only took one 400 mile trip to make me appreciate my Park Avenue, and be glad that I did not sell or trade it. I love the way the Lucerne handles on a rainy road however, the seats are not comfortable, the gas mileage is poor, the entry and exiting process is a torture for me at 6 2, and left turns and parking are a chore. My long road trips will continue to be made in the Park Avenue. My wife can drive the Lucerne around town. I will only buy another Buick if they improve on the issues mentioned.

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  Well Pleased! - 2007 Buick Lucerne
  By John - June 24 - 5:53 pm

  Bought new. Classy looks, smooth and quiet ride, fun to drive. Satisfied with gas mileage, e.g., 31mpg on highway and 19.5mpg suburban driving. Blind spots at center and front roof supports. DIC extremely helpful. Dimming mirror great for night time driving. Front seat lumbar supports too high. Had to buy seat pillows for driver and front passenger seats. Rear seats slanted too sharply, making it hard to get out...especially for elderly. OnStar system easy to use. Only one repair was needed in 14 months (steering).

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  Excellent Family Sedan - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By RC702 - June 18 - 11:40 pm

  I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a sedan, especially a family sedan. It has plenty of power with the V6, the interior is top- notch, and the rear seat room is excellent. Overall, the Lucerne is an excellent value AND a great car. This Buick is far superior to any other GM vehicle I have ever owned.

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  Great Car but... - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By Rob1958 - June 18 - 3:38 pm

  I have owned this car for 10 months. Mostly highway driving. I love the ride of the vehicle and have no complaints about the gas mileage that this V8 gets (22+mph). My complaint is about the oxygen sensor. My check engine light has been a problem since 5,000 miles and it all revolves around the oxygen sensors. I have had the car in for service on 8 times and all but one was for the oxygen sensor. When I took the car in for the PA Annual Vehicle Inspection, Penske Buick had the car for over one week and finally got it to pass inspection after replacing the oxygen sensor and part of my exhaust system. Thank God for the warranty! Buick has a winner here. Just need to correct this problem.

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  Great for a Tall Family - 2008 Buick Lucerne
  By Cardiomac - June 16 - 10:23 pm

  I am 64", my wife is 62", my 12 year old son is 510" and my 8 year old daughter is 5 4". Clearly, front and rear head and leg room were the most important features in our buying decision. I had never owned a Buick before but I must say that I am very pleased with this one. No other car in its class has the same mix of size, comfort and convenience. And it is so incredibly quiet! I absolutely love it. he V6 engine has plenty of power for the kind of driving I do - short commutes and the occasional interstate road trip. I got the bench front seat which really lets me stretch out on long trips.

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  Disappointed and disgusted - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By Linda Whitley - June 16 - 2:53 pm

  I have had my car for 2 years now. The car only had 7000 miles on it when the first oil leak was discovered. I have had it in the shop 3 times for the oil leaks, 5 times for fuel sensor, 1 time for traction sensor, once for the rack and pinion. It is in the shop now for the same noise it was make when they replaced the rack & pinion but they said it is not the same problem, but cant find what it wrong.

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  2007 Lucerne CX - 2007 Buick Lucerne
  By John - June 16 - 11:39 am

  Bought this car new over a year ago. Love the design, smoothness & quietness of ride. Get 18.5-20.5 mpg suburb driving and 27-31 mpg on trips. Reasonable pickup. Arrive at distant destinations rested. Somewhat difficult getting in and out, especially for elderly. Seating comfortable but non- adjustable lumbar support too high (Im 5ll")and seat seems short front to back. A 2 1/2" seat pillow corrected the lumbar problem. Roof supports create dangerous blind spots that took six - eight months to accommodate. Inside trunk release button awkwardly located. After 14000 miles, no mechanical problems.

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  Quietest car Ive ever owned - 2008 Buick Lucerne
  By chillaw - June 2 - 10:43 pm

  This is our sceond Buick. I am very pleased with the quality of construction. The sound-proofing is so good that I cant tell whether the engine is running when stopped at a traffic signal. Bought car in New Orleans and drove almost 200 miles home on a 1/4 of a tank. The gas needle didnt move until we had driven 107 miles. Ill keep buying Buicks as long as they keep making them like this. A very nice car for the money.

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  Lucerne is a Pretty Darn Good Car! - 2007 Buick Lucerne
  By Joe - May 28 - 8:15 pm

  Bought this car one year old when my Avalon started acting up down in Florida. Drove 800 miles one day heading North, never could have driven that far with my Avalon and the horrible seats. This Lucerne is far superior to my old Avalon. Have had new Caddys Saabs, and my Toyota Avalon, this is by far the best car I have owned!