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SUV
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As Buick has struggled to find a newer and more relevant product mix, a number of interesting vehicles have worn the Buick badge. As recently as 2007, Buick had the Rainier, a large body-on-frame SUV; the Rendezvous, a minivan derived crossover; and the Terraza, a minivan with a more SUV-like nose grafted on the front. All three are gone for 2008, replaced by one of the best new Buicks in a while, the Enclave.
The Enclave is a large crossover with luxury SUV styling and ample room for seven passengers. Although the Enclave is part of a trio of similar vehicles, it wears distinctive styling that sets it apart from its siblings, the Saturn Outlook and the GMC Acadia. The Enclave is an important part of Buick's more focused lineup, which now consists of only three vehicles.
The Lacrosse and Lucerne have also received some attention for 2008. The LaCrosse wears a new front end, but more importantly, now offers a V8-powered Super model for the traditional luxury buyer. The Lucerne also receives a performance-oriented Lucerne Super trim level.
Performance
For many, the way a car performs is a key criterion for which car to purchase. Our Velocity Index helps determine which vehicles are the best all-around performers taking in to consideration a balance of factors such as acceleration and handling.
For more information, view our new car performance guide.
What would we drive?
Based on our Velocity Index analysis, the 2008 Buick LaCrosse (5.3L) seems to provide a good trade-off between price and vehicle performance.
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy has long been a key decision factor when buying a new vehicle. While the EPA estimates may accurately predict your mileage with a given vehicle, they are useful for broad comparisons of vehicles. Note that many trucks and large SUVS are too heavy to be required to specify their fuel economy.
For more information, view our new car fuel economy guide.
What's popular
Here are the five cars that draw the most attention from our readers.