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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  Needs tighter turning radius - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By Noel - July 24 - 5:21 pm

  Have had car for 3 months. Just got out of shop to repair major coolant leak. Dealer very nice, loaned us another Lucerne. Car is extremely quiet, peppy and smooth and overall comfort is good. On down side, is very hard to park due to excessive turning radius, poor visibility due to wide pillars at windshield. Gas mileage not as good as on my old 97 Lesabre with 3.8 Engine. Doesnt seem as stable at high speed as old LeSabre was.

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  First Buick a Keeper - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By Rich - July 22 - 5:18 pm

  Ive driven the Lucerne CTS for two months, and so far Im very satisfied. It is a very comfortable, easy handling car, great on the road and very quiet in all traffic. It has great features, including the park assist, remote start and an outstanding sound system. The controls are straightforward, even those on the wheel and column. The V8 delivers the power it drives with a robust if not sporty feel. On the downside, the backseats dont fold down, and the little pass-through port is fairly useless. The 18" chrome wheels look great but make for a pretty wide turning radius. This is my first GM vehicle, and so far it feels like a keeper.

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  Lemonade out of Lemons - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By Justin Case - July 22 - 12:00 am

  Wow, what can I say. Car has been in the repair shop 3 times for various problems since I have purchased it. Electrical short, Rear trunk malfunction, brakes needed replacement, and starter had to be replaced. What next? I traded in my 1999 Lexus GS for this?? took the word of reviewers and did some research, boy do I feel silly now. I am looking into replacing soon. For a buyer in my demographic (50, semi-retired) this is really a dissappointment.

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  Lucerne review. - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By bbrassas - July 13 - 9:17 pm

  My wife and I thoroughly enjoy driving the Lucerne. It handles well and is a great car on the highways. We think its appearance is great, second to none. All in all, a wonderful car. We enjoy the accessories, especially the automatic windshield wipers, and the automatic seat/mirrors that adjust to each of us. Its the nicest car weve ever owned!

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  All around a good vehicle for the price - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By Happy in WinterHaven - July 13 - 10:20 am

  Have been with GM Since 96. This is my 6th since then. Have been pleased with all but look forward to the better warrenty in this one. Like the retro ports in the design The back is a little plain. Color selection was good. Got the White Gold Flash. Rides very well, seats are comfortable. Plenty of space. Large trunk. Quiet. Found a bubble in the headliner. Dealer Holly was very responsive as usual. Navigation system not as good as my Garmin in some ways, but I had that for three years so I hope I get to know this one as well. I may not be used to it yet.

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  An Amazing Luxury Car! - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By Dave - July 12 - 8:50 pm

  This car was well worth my 6-month wait as it has already exceeded my high expectations. The comfort, styling, performance it provides rivals that of much more expensive luxury cars such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Infinity, Cadillac and the like. It is also fun to learn how to use all of the options and realize how sophisticated the electronics are in choosing how you want to operate the car. Im also very pleased with the OnStar service as it is very easy to use.

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  Cool Car - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By RC - July 11 - 11:48 pm

  Bought CXS with all the options. Have had the car for about 3 weeks. Really like the ride and the comfort. Engine has excellent power and the trans is really smooth. Have owned a Park Ave. in the past and really liked it. I have the sharkskin color and it is really an awesome paint color. I am pleased with the car. The 18" wheels give it a very nice look and ride. Looking forward to many comfortable miles. Would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a quality car at a very good price.

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  New car problems - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By chew54 - July 9 - 9:00 pm

  I just bought this car and I have problems with alignment and the traction control. Hopefully they can remedy this problem.

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  Lucerne CXS - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By J.S. Martin - July 5 - 4:03 pm

  After reading lots of reviews and taking several test drives, I had narrowed the field down to the Toyota Avalon and the Buick Lucerne. The 0% financing coupled with a bit of patriotism shifted the balance to the Lucerne. So far, I have not been disappointed. The car feels extremely solid and is whisper quiet, even on Oklahoma roads. Acceleration is acceptable, but not exactly breathtaking. This is probably the most comfortable car I have driven.

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  AWESOME!!! - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By goodcarl - July 3 - 2:36 pm

  I ordered my car on Nov. 25 and picked it up on Jan. 25. This is the first time that I have ever owned an American brand new car. It was Infiniti 35M or Lucerne. Options on Lucerne not on Infiniti. The acceleration is smooth and quick. You hardly feel the gears shifting. At 70 MPH on the hwy, with the windows closed, the car is so quiet that the only noise you hear is the faint hum of the engine. Its a little eerie. Enough room in the back for a football game. I got two remotes, 1 for memory setting 1 and 1 for memory setting 2. I was using rmt 2 but setting 1 in car. Hitting mem 1 didnt work too well until the dealer figured it out. OnStar features are exceptional, esp. the phone.