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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  My Buick Rendezvous - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By John - April 27 - 1:24 pm

  Seems to be very well built compared to other autos I have purchased, So far, Im very pleased with the overall quality and performance of this vehicle. It rides quieter then the Cadillac we also own.

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  2002 Buick CXL AWD - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By Ralph A. Lia - April 25 - 9:14 pm

  This vehicle is a great everyday commuter. It The ergonomics are just right. My biggest dissapointment with the vehicle is that the power is marginal. The 185 Horsepower engine is just adequate. It rolls along smoothly and leisurly. The vehicle will let you know when it has to work hard to pull up a hill. The heads up display should not be an option. The gauges tend to get hard to see during the day. I have not had any problems with fit and finish of the material. I would like to see better materials for a vehicle in this price class.

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  Rendezvous is a hit - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By Bob Dixon - April 25 - 2:00 am

  The Rendezvous is a very responsive and comfortable car to drive in the city and on the interstates. Seats are comfortable and the controls are ergonomically great for short and long trips. Lots of room and very good gas mileage.

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  Excellent choice - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By MichaelBr - April 19 - 2:00 am

  Using it over a year now. Made our first 15,000 mile with nothing but sheer pleasure and enjoyment of the vehicle. Tested in the Mountains of Virginia and other "challenging" vacation trips. Versatrak AWD works perfect - very intelligent and fast in deep snow in the mountains as well as heavy rain in the city. Very driver- friendly vehicle, very popular among females.

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  Great Family Vehicle - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By Loretta - April 17 - 11:37 pm

  I love my Rendevous. I went to look at the Avalanche and fell in love with this one. The seats in the back recline some, both my boys have their own cup holder and storage place for change or games. And I can plug the cooler in to the plug in the back not drag it under the seats. Plenty of storage space also for trips. Even my chihuahua loves to go for a ride in it. Great vehicle.

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  I thought more of Buick - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By disapointed - April 12 - 9:25 pm

  I thought more of Buick. 05 Rendezvous CXL, for a driver, is very small. I want to warn folks about the winter freezing. All of my doors freeze when it is cold or windy. Took it to the dealer and there is no fix for it. I leased the car and had to put a remote starter in just to get in my car. Good luck, if you know of anything I could do let me know. Warning ask about the freezing

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  Beautiful Buick Rendezvous - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By M K - April 12 - 6:50 pm

  I used to own Ford Expeditions until I drove this Buick. I Love it. Rides as good as a Cadillac and gets good gas mileage. Even my husband enjoys the ride and he is strictly a Cadillac man.

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  Happy Driver - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By Brian Ritz - April 7 - 10:13 pm

  We have only had the vehicle for 2 months but we are happy with the comfortable ride and the roominess inside. We test drove many SUVs and while this one wasnt rated the best, we both liked the ride and how it handled. We feel it has adequate power and the gas mileage is no worse then my 1995 Mercury Mystique. We got 24 mpg on the highway trip we just took and are getting 17/18 mpg in city driving. The vehicle still has 24,000/2yrs of bumper to bumper warrenty left. We like the styling of the vehicle, doesnt look like all the other SUVs on the road.

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  Cant ask for more - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By his&hers - March 31 - 7:08 pm

  After my husband drove a Rendezvous for 18 months, we decided at the end of my Jaguar lease that it made sense for me to buy a Rendezvous. If 2 older people enjoyed driving a car from Baltimore to Florida without stopping overnight, it must be a great car. The cabin design is spectacular! Of course, it was designed by a female engineer!

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  User name says it all..."FORMER BMW" guy - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By formerbmw - March 31 - 10:00 am

  Our lease on a 1999 BMW 540iA is ending soon, and with a new baby, we decided to look at SUVs. We selected the Rendezvous after test driving other SUVs. Compared to a BMW X5, priced in the $60K range, the Rendezvous is the value of the year. The car has a unique look which seems to look better all the time.