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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  Never buy a Buick - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By pshank - May 6 - 5:33 pm

  I bought a used vehicle because of its spacious, comfortable, and excellent interiors. I burnt my finger in couple of months when the plastic around the seat started falling off, engine seal broke off and started heating my engine, transmission started slipping, and boy, brakes are very poor. It starts juddering when driving down the slopes and it wouldnt stop. I spent at least $3000 more than the price I paid for this car, and I drove it from $100K to $132K. I decided to sell the vehicle. Now the fun story began. The dealer who sold me wouldnt take the car back. He said he would pay me $2K. Wow!!! This car loses value like a piece of crap. I never ever will recommend this car/ make.

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  2006 Buick Lucerne CXL - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By feistyscot - July 8 - 11:25 am

  I bought this car used with 47,000 miles on it and have driven it 27,000 miles in one year. It has a very quiet ride and decent acceleration for a V6 powered boat of a car. Gas mileage on the highway ranges between 25-26 mpg in the winter to 27-30 in the summer. In town? 18-19. Not that great. The stock radio went to the recycle yard right away. I had to turn it up pretty much to the extent of its volume to hear. Chucked it for a Pioneer aftermarket and that solved the sound issues. The drivers seat isnt the most comfortable and the lack of a telescoping steering wheel doesnt help. Trunk space and lack of a true fold down rear seat are also drawbacks.

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  Quirks. Like every other GM. - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By buickreview - November 14 - 10:28 pm

  Will get 30+ MPG if driven 55-60 MPH (for the tank this car is, this is phenomenal). Gets 26 MPG 80/20 mix (highway/city), speeds up to 80 MPH and spirited. Proven engine. Absolutely smooth and quiet. New tires vibrate at certain speeds for 1200 miles (and then 1200 more when rotated). Horrendous blind spots. Great road car, crummy to drive in the city. Powerful on the highway. Awful seats extremely sore after driving car (and Im not old). Interior materials very cheap, nasty seat fabric. Ergonomics are bad. No telescopic steering wheel. Passenger seat rattles. Driver seat plastic cracked off. Would I buy it again? No. Tired of quirks. Probably last GM I buy.

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  Inside out something breaks every month - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By mimaw67 - October 20 - 6:07 pm

  Since i have bought this car I have had to have 2 of four doors fixed one wouldnt open other had the handle come off, The power window regulator went out! Motor mounts broke & Now transmission going out! The plastic around the front seats have all broken! Not a car to have, more issues then any other car i have had!

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  Never buy another GM product - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By tscor22 - December 27 - 9:13 am

  Bought an o6 Lucerne w/23500 mi in 09, & a 4 yr ext. WTY, + wheel & tire WTY for $1250. GM shut the DLR dn shortly after purch., DLR never sent in the P/W or the $. Now have 63K with repeat problems, 2 wheels wont balance, 3 sets of front brakes + rotors, one rear set+rotors, Trans slips & clunks when gog from D to R , & back to D. Play in the IM strg shaft every 20-25,000 miles. Worst of all is the stonewalling tactics by GM C/S, they retd the $279 for the wheel & tire, but whls cost $1400, and denied the $973 ext. WTY. Fact. Rep was a no show at an appt they made. Now they want me to drive 60mi to DLR in another state or pay $140 for diagnostics to a local DLR. 5 hrs on ph. w/5 Reps

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  Rear Bumper - 2009 Buick Lucerne
  By lbernard1 - May 16 - 1:26 pm

  Been driving my car for two years and enjoy the ride but I have a problem. Gravel get behinf the bumper and if touch by another car the stone goes through the bumper making a lump on the bumper I had to get it fixed cosating me over $500.00 and when approach the dealer they call it highways hassard. They should make sure that gravel doesnt get behind the bumper Leonce Been driving a buick most of my life but dont know if I will continue if they are not suitable to drive on road beside paved highways

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  Classic American Sedan - 2007 Buick Lucerne
  By burkewhb - March 23 - 7:27 pm

  I have owned my Buick Lucerne CX for 4 years and had almost no problems with it at all. The engine and transmission are both very smooth, and the acceleration, zero to 60 in 9 seconds, is not earth shaking but quite adequate. I love the looks of the car, especially the grille (I got the blacked out grille with ming blue) and the side view. The ride of the car is superb and extremely quiet. My only complaints about the car would be the around town mileage (16) is mediocre and the turning radius (44ft?) makes parking in tight spaces tricky. Over the road mileage (26) is ok.

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  Buick....this car makes me sad - 2008 Buick Lucerne
  By alpineweiss - January 10 - 12:57 pm

  This car is unbelievable in so many ways. Unfortunately none of them are good. The exterior styling is hideous, The car drives like you are in a sensory deprivation tank, and the interior is cheap and uninspired..unless by inspired you expect ugly and cobbled together by a committee of old car company fat cats. I have had the misfortune of being stuck with this car for 2 weeks now (loaner). I cant wait to give it back. The steering column controls are backwards and overly complicated, and everything in the interior feels like leftover parts from a 1990s car. There is good reason for this, its because they are. Most parts you find on the Lucerne have not been updated since 1994 or before.

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  Unsatisfied GM customer - 2010 Buick Lucerne
  By Judy - November 19 - 2:00 am

  Had I know my new Lucerne was going to look like all of the other foreign cars on the road I would have bought a Ford. The gas mileage "stinks" 22.3 on a long trip, never changes. Im sure part of that is the ethenol in the gas, but my 2010 Park Avenue was getting 30+mpg with 125,000 miles on it. I really wish I hadnt bought the car. I dont look at a car a fun to drive, a car is a necessity. The ride is not smooth - my 2001 was smooth! Ill never buy another GM product unless they improve and stop making their cars look like the foreign cars on the road. I realize they are after the younger market. Im almost tempted to trade this in!

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  Lucerne - 2008 Buick Lucerne
  By buicklucerne - November 2 - 2:00 am

  For people complaining about the speedometer being hard to see in day light, turn the lights on. It really helps. My Lucerne has day running lamps so the exterior lighs are already on. Very nice a comfortable car.