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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  2 Months Later - still great! - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By loveRDV - June 28 - 10:00 am

  Wrote a review after owning our RDV for 1 week. It has now been 2, months, (3000 mi), and we have never been happier with a new car. Fit and finish is pefect, as we looked in vain for some defect in manufacture, but have found none. The engine is powerful enough for passing on two lane roads and getting up to speed to enter a city trafficway. Who needs more? The comfort is outstanding, comparable to a nice sedan. If you want the room of a van and the ride of a car you should look at the RDV.

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  Like it so much, we bought a second one! - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By scuba1n - May 31 - 10:00 am

  As a new family with an infant, we needed a car to replace my wifes VW GTI VR6. After much research, we decided on the Rendezvous. Dropped by Avery Greene Motors and were very well taken care of by Bruce Rodger and Juan Mancha. The entire team was terrific and met our needs and our budget. I liked the vehicle so much,I just bought one for myself to replace my SAAB 900. Feels god to support the U.S. economy and get a quality product too! Keep up the good work.

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  Love the car! - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By paulson1 - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I was looking for an SUV that wasnt a gas guzzler and that rated fairly well in safety testing. I drove a million cars, and I definitely got the most bang for my buck with the Buick. I drove an explorer before, and there is no compairson. The ride is smooth, there is no road noise, and the back seats are easy to remove. I could not be happier!

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  Excellent deal - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By nextmoon - May 20 - 4:56 pm

  Ive test driven several other SUVs and crossovers but this one clearly stood out from the rest. The ride is more like a large sedan. The view out back is not super large but its not worst than other SUVs. The interior room is outstanding. Even two adults in the back can ride in comfort of a good distance. Seats are very comfortable in all THREE rows. Radio buttons are in good reach and sized properly for larger hands. The disc brakes do a very well job of stopping the vehicle.

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  nice compromise - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By doranski - May 8 - 10:00 am

  Problem free nice mix of minivan features and good looks

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  Very satsified with this vehicle - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By David Flowers - April 30 - 2:00 am

  After a year and a half of ownership, my wife and I both really like the RV. We have had no problems. My wife is the main driver and she really likes the hands free cell phone as well as the good vision out the front. Interior design remains very convenient with the 3rd row seating being great to have when needed. Tinted windows in the back are nice but make backing up at night an exercise in blindness. Backup sensors in the rear bumper are nice in tight spots. We added some small convex mirrors to the side mirrors to get rid of a huge blind spot that was there despite the big mirrors. Engine power is borderline.That aside, we would buy the RV again. It continues to be a great ride!

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  love my SUV - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By Annette - April 2 - 5:00 am

  It is a great SUV, that met all of my needs. It drives like a luxury sedan, is AWD, has seating for 7 (like my previous van) and is at a good price point.

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  The Ride is Awesome! - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By RDV Fan - March 17 - 2:00 am

  We continually amazed at the ride and tight turning radius. Very comfortable. We get tons of compliments. The RDV is really catching on in our city. The 8 speaker sound system is quite good. Have heard numerous comments about being underpowered. I used to think that as well. Now I believe if it is, its very slight. Great vehicle. High Polished wheels are beautiful.

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  A terrific decision - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By Liz Sihto - March 17 - 2:00 am

  Our Buick Rendezvous is the MOST comfortable vehicle ... after test driving many models in this class, we decided to buy the buick. Our decision was based on the most vehicle for the best price, but we were so pleasantly surprised it even surpassed our expectations. Dont let anyone tell you different - this is a great vehicle.

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  Perfect vehicle for Mini Van Denial - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By JBinOhio - March 9 - 4:36 am

  After a long and extensive search, we settled on the Buick Rendezvous. It is smooth, plenty powerful, and has lots of room. I am 66" and I have more headroom than in my Crown Victoria. The vehicle is solid and rides beautifully. While it may not be the best looking vehicle on the road, all the kids in the neighborhood think the car is pretty cool!