Buick Lesabre Interior Review
Buick totally redesigned LeSabre's dashboard last year to give the interior a fresh, modern, luxurious look. The dash sweeps across the width of the car with a canopy over the instruments extending from the passenger side to the driver's door panel. This design gives the interior an open feeling and integrates the door trim into the dashboard nicely. A wide strip of faux wood trim extends along the door panels and across the center of the dashboard.
The driver information center on the Limited model has a digital readout that can display oil temperature, fuel consumption, tire pressure and other data. Round analog gauges are easy to read. At a touch of a button the speedometer will read speed in kilometers per hour, which obviates the need for a second set of small kph numbers on the dial.
A front bench seat is standard on the LeSabre, split 40/60 so the driver's side can be adjusted separately from the passenger seat. A bench seat does not usually provide much support for the driver compared to a bucket seat and the LeSabre's is no exception. Cover it in leather and you may find yourself sliding around on winding roads.
Our test LeSabre was equipped with optional separate 45/45 seats and a center console with two large cupholders that spring out at the touch of a button. A large flat writing surface also flips out. It could prove useful for people who need to have a notepad handy while on the road. But it sits at an awkward angle, and we found it difficult to use.
Wide doors allow easy access to the front and rear seats. Rear-seat passengers will find plenty of room. The slightly longer wheelbase and wider track of this latest-generation LeSabre increased rear seating space over pre-2000 models. It still gets a bit tight with three adults back there, however. An optional rear center armrest features an opening behind it to provide space for skis and other long objects.
Buick Lesabre Road Test
Big Buicks have not been known as cars that excel in the handling department. Their suspensions have been designed primarily to provide a soft, cushy ride, where the car tends to float over undulations and provides little feedback to the driver. At slow speeds this is fine, but at higher speeds, or on a winding road, a soft-sprung car is not as stable as one with a firmer suspension.
But when Buick redesigned the LeSabre last year, the engineers vastly improved its roadholding capability. As a result, the LeSabre now handles much better than previous versions. While you still cannot compare LeSabre's handling to that of a BMW, it is much improved over the old model. That floating sensation is gone. When you jam on the brakes, the nose does not dive the way the old one did.
Our LeSabre Limited was equipped with the Gran Touring package, which helped give the car more road feel. But even the base LeSabre should offer good handling.
The 3.8-liter V6 engine is one of GM's best. It performs well in the LeSabre, even though it has to propel a relatively heavy car. Likewise, the electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission provides smooth shifting between gears. Braking performance is good and, with anti-lock brakes acting on all four wheels, we never had any dramatic moments.
LeSabre packs plenty of sound insulation for a quiet ride. Although not officially billed as a luxury car, it provides a more luxurious environment than most luxury cars of just a few years ago.
Buick Lesabre Lineup
Two models are available: Le Sabre Custom ($24,107) and Le Sabre Limited ($28,796).
LeSabre Custom comes with front and side air bags, air conditioning, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, cruise control, power door locks, power windows, power mirrors, AM/FM/Cassette four-speaker stereo, power driver's seat with manual lumbar adjustment, adjustable steering column, automatic level control, theft deterrent system and a power trunk release.
The Limited model adds automatic dual-zone air conditioning, driver information center, upgraded Concert Sound II six-speaker stereo, remote keyless entry, heated power seats and alloy wheels.
For those who want better handling, the optional Gran Touring package ($235) comes with firmer suspension tuning, magnetic speed-sensitive power steering, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 16-inch wheels and fatter 225/60 all-season tires, and a 3.05:1 final drive ratio for quicker acceleration. Other options include traction control, leather seats, heated seats (for Custom) and a 12-disc CD changer.