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 new Rendezvous - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By Sandy Steinle - July 12 - 10:00 am

  The dealership at Ancira was the best experiance I have had with a car dealership. I was looking for a new SUV to replace my 1998 Blazer, and had never noticed a Rendezvous before the day I took a test drive on 4-15-02. I was so impressed with the vehicle I almost bought on the spot. My husband convinced me to try out some other vehicles, so we shopped and drove several models before returning to Ancira to buy on 4-19-02. We have driven several short trips and plan a trip to Dallas later. We still love our new Rendezvous!

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  3.6 ltr AWD CXL - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By PaSteve - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Overall, we are very happy with the RDZ with the bigger engine (it is not an Ultra)providing strong acceleration and good gas mileage. Storage areas and interior space are excellent. Rear windows roll almost all the way down. Only problem to date is a gas gauge (this is a problem on some of the 2004 model, not earlier years). Viewing while backing up is very difficult due to back pillar design and obstruction. Handling could be tighter, but is good compared to minivans and truck-based SUVs. Leather interior is ok, but not upscale.

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  Rendezvous - fun to drive - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By benchdex - July 10 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive great on long trips versatile holds 6 people comfortably Stylish well thought out storage Exceleent visibility through large windows

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  BOOGEY WOOGEY - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By HANK LEESE - July 10 - 2:00 am

  THIS VEHICLE IS THE QUIETIST I HAVE EVER OWNED, HAVING PREVIOUSLY OWNED OVER 30 AUTOMOBILES, RECENTLY PRODUCED 28.3MPG ON A 370 MILE ROAD TRIP AND PROVIDES MY 64" , 290 LB. BODY LOTSA ROOM AND WHILE HAVING THE SMALL ENGINE IS NO SLOUCH. I CAN HONESTLY SAY IR REALLY LOVE IT AND HAVE RECOMMENDED IT TO ALL MY FRIENDS

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  Bynum - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By Harris Bynum - July 10 - 2:00 am

  Beautifully finished car, good metal & plastic finishes, very quiet for a SUV, good safety features

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  First Buick - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By mikeee - July 10 - 2:00 am

  We have kids and allways bought mimi vans for the cargo space. Our kids are older so we downsized a little but this car has more room than we expected. My wife really loves it and we have had no quality problems at all.

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  Review of Rendevous - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By bogiegolfer02 - July 10 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Rendevous as previously I had a 2002 model and have never had any problem with either car. Also really enjoythe onstar feature.

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  performance - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By GBJ - July 10 - 2:00 am

  comfortable and easy to drive

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  Rendezvoux is great - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By bdc94@sbcglobal.net - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Our Rendezvous is great to drive, fun to ride in and a great value for consumers.

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  great suv - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By W. Conrad Richards - June 18 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Rendezvous for 3 weeks now and think it is great. Im so happy that we made this choice. My wife is tall and likes lots of leg room and this SUV has plenty. The salesman said that we could take a test drive for a couple hours (imagine that) to see if it was the right car. Well we drove for an hour but had made up our minds in the first 20 minutes. What a quiet comfortable ride. We couldnt be happier.