2018 Buick LaCrosse Review

Name: 2018 Buick LaCrosse Review
Brand: Buick
Rating: 4.2 (73 reviews)

Price Range: $16,545 - $25,990

Buick LaCrosse Premium Sedan Exterior Shown

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Edmunds' Expert Review

by James Riswick^{Edmunds Contributor
James Riswick has been testing cars and writing about them for more than 20 years. He was the senior reviews editor for Autoblog and previously served multiple editor roles here at Edmunds. He has also contributed to Autotrader, Car and Driver, Hagerty, JD Power and Autoguide Magazine. He has been interested in cars forever; his mom took him to the Toronto Auto Show when he was 18 months old and has attended at least one every year since (OK, except in 2020). He owns a babied 1998 BMW Z3 in James Bond blue and a 2023 Kia Niro EV.}

Pros

Comfortable and composed ride on rough roads
Quiet and genuinely luxurious interior
Surprisingly adept handling with Dynamic Drive package
Good fuel economy

Cons

Low-mounted seats front and back may limit comfort
Questionable price jump from base trim level to Preferred

What’s new

A new base engine debuts for 2018. Dubbed eAssist, it features a small electric motor and battery in addition to a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The result is exceptional fuel economy for a large sedan. The V6 engine also gets a new nine-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel-drive availability is extended to the Essence trim level. The new Avenir model sits above the Premium to become the LaCrosse's top trim level.

Vehicle overview

Buick has been trying for years to re-establish itself as a luxury brand, and the 2018 LaCrosse represents a solid step toward reaching that goal. Though it certainly delivers for shoppers simply seeking a larger, more comfortable and more refined car than what is offered in the midsize sedan segment, this big Buick transcends its typical large sedan competitors by staking a legitimate claim to luxury status. Possessing a nicely crafted cabin, attractive styling and sophisticated driving manners, it genuinely competes with cars from Lexus and Lincoln. In other words, this is so not Grandma's old Century.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near San Antonio, TX

9 listings

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2018 Buick LaCrosse
Preferred Sedan
$15,267
- 92,241 miles
- Insurance loss reported, 1 owner, personal use only
- 4cyl automatic
- America's Xtreme Auto (193 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
- Power Driver Seat
Close
Located in Houston, TX
WHAT IS A BRANDED TITLE? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djssRiZ0q_s We Can Finance! We Take Trade IN-S! CALL US AT 832-553-0010 Car comes with 2 mont...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Issue reported
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (25 City/35 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1G4ZN5SZ5JU131058
Stock: 21520
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 08-20-2024
New Listing
2018 Buick LaCrosse
Premium Sedan
$16,998
great price
$3,894 below market
- 61,206 miles
- 1 accident, 4 owners, rental vehicle
- 4cyl automatic
- CarMax Palmdale (1,203 mi away)
- Delivery available*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Palmdale, CA
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (25 City/35 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1G4ZR5SZ5JU133820
Stock: 26886699
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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For 2018, Buick has diversified the LaCrosse's lineup with a new base engine that puts an emphasis on fuel economy. Called eAssist, this mild hybrid system subtly helps the four-cylinder engine return a Buick-estimated 35 mpg highway. It's important to note that the eAssist is not a full hybrid like those offered by several of the LaCrosse's key competitors. However, it is cheaper than those competitors, and it's really best to think of the eAssist as simply a fuel-economy-focused base engine.

Regardless of the engine you get, the 2018 Buick LaCrosse delivers an impeccably quiet and comfortable driving experience. We also like the LaCrosse's surprisingly adept handling when the car is fitted with the highly recommended Dynamic Drive package. Overall, we recommend the LaCrosse if you're searching for a comfortable and luxurious large sedan.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

The 2018 Buick LaCrosse boasts attractive styling, a comfy ride and a roomy cabin that's whisper-quiet. It's definitely worth a test drive, though make sure to try one with the Dynamic Drive package to sample the LaCrosse at its best.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2018 Buick Lacrosse Premium eAssist (2.5L inline-4 | 6-speed automatic | FWD).

Driving

The LaCrosse is a thoroughly unhurried car. The shifts are smooth and the steering has good on-center feel, making for an easy freeway cruiser. But the engine feels overtaxed, and the body wallows through corners while its tires protest at even moderate requests for performance.

Acceleration

The LaCrosse accelerates smoothly, but the relaxed throttle requires deliberate input to find even a hint of urgency, and when the engine is pressed it sounds unhappily strained. Passing maneuvers require plenty of room. Our measured 0-60 mph time of 8.3 seconds is slow for the class.

Braking

The pedal effort is linear, if a bit soft, and braking force is easy to regulate. There's no noticeable regenerative action, making for very smooth stops. We measured a panic-stop distance from 60 mph of 119 feet, which is good for a car like this, and the car is stable under hard braking.

Steering

The on-center feel is very good, making freeway driving easy, and steering resistance builds through turns, going from very light to surprisingly heavy. But there's no sense of what the front wheels are doing, and what feel there is seems rubbery and artificial.

Handling

The LaCrosse does fine in low-speed turns, but when pushed even a little, it feels unsettled. The suspension never seems to fully settle, leading to wallowing body motion. The tires begin protesting audibly at even relatively low speeds. In short, the LaCrosse fails to inspire confidence.

Drivability

The no-defeat stop-start system is mostly unobtrusive. The shifts are generally smooth, except for the occasional harsh shift at low speed. Using the shift paddles results in an unhurried response from the transmission. The LaCrosse is mostly inoffensive, but it feels large and heavy on the road.

Comfort

We'd expect quiet and plush from the big Buick, which would match its relaxed driving characteristics. The seats are certainly a comfortable place to spend time, but the ride is busy and there's noticeable noise at freeway speeds. Less expensive cars offer similar levels of refinement.

Seat comfort

The seats balance support and padding nicely, and strong heating and cooling help make these all-day comfortable. The seat cushion is a bit narrow, but since the bolsters are very flat, the narrowness won't impact comfort for most drivers. Of course, the seat will do little to hold you in place.

Ride comfort

The suspension manages to smooth the edges off bumps in the road, but there's pronounced bounce over larger bumps and smaller imperfections make the car feel heavy-footed and jiggly. There's more going on than we expect from a car in this class, and it hurts the LaCrosse's luxury aspirations.

Noise & vibration

The windows do an excellent job of filtering out the sound of surrounding traffic, but there's lots of road noise over bumps and at freeway speeds. At speed there's also wind and tire noise and noticeable engine noise when trucking up inclines.

Climate control

The dual-zone system works well left to its own devices, and the seat heaters and coolers are quite strong. However, only a few basic controls are button-based; full manual control requires interacting with the touchscreen, which may be an annoyance for drivers who prefer this approach.

Interior

The interior aims for a midpoint between luxury and mainstream cars, but there's a lot of plastic and the interior space isn't as open or roomy as what many rivals offer. The limited physical controls are easy to find and use, but many features require interacting with the touchscreen.

Ease of use

The steering wheel-mounted controls are easy to use, but with only a handful of buttons in the cabin, many controls require the touchscreen. While the system is straightforward, the busy ride can make tapping smaller virtual buttons hit-and-miss. Some may find the screen a bit of a reach, too.

Getting in/getting out

The front openings are large and square, although the high bottom sill creates a stepover. Good rear legroom makes stepping in easy, except in tight parking spaces where the longer rear doors can't open far enough. Adult passengers will have to duck under the raked roofline in the rear.

Driving position

The armrests on both sides of the driver are high enough to be usable, making you feel ensconced in the car and more comfortable on longer drives. The seat offers plenty of adjustability for drivers of different sizes. Some center-stack controls can be a reach for long-legged drivers.

Roominess

The high, wide center console takes up a lot of space, impinging on kneeroom and making the front feel smaller than it is. The rear seat offers good legroom, but headroom is compromised for adults over average height. Overall, the cabin is less roomy than those of other full-sized luxury cars.

Visibility

The rear window is short, partially obscuring the view and making the backup camera a necessity. The thick front and side pillars create blind spots, and the small sideview mirrors don't help much without blind-spot monitoring. The rear-most side window helps over-the-shoulder visibility.

Quality

The LaCrosse's interior has a lot of plastics. Most have a soft-touch coating, but it's still a lot of plastic surface area. The wood trim and seat leather also feel a bit plasticky. We had issues with a nonfunctioning head-up display and noted a creak in the cabin.

Utility

The big surprise is the limited amount of usable trunk space due to a number of intrusions that leave only a relatively small square of flat flooring. There's a good amount of space for small items in the cabin thanks to a lateral pass-through under the center console.

Small-item storage

The shelf that occupies a pass-through under the center console offers a good amount of storage space. The center console box is relatively small, as is the glovebox. The door pockets can hold regular water bottles but not much more, and the seatback pockets are comically small.

Cargo space

At 14.3 cubic feet, there's surprisingly little usable trunk space. Flimsy wheelwell coverings impinge on the sides and the battery creates a rise in the trunk, so there's a relatively small area of flat flooring. The 60/40-split folding seats help for longer items, but bulky items will be an issue.

Child safety seat accommodation

There are clearly marked LATCH anchors, but the bottom anchors are recessed in the seat cushions and not very accessible. The top anchors are easy to access. There's enough rear-seat room to accommodate even bulky seats.

Technology

General Motors' technologies are fully deployed in the LaCrosse, although many driver aids and active safety features are optional. They compare favorably against those in mainstream cars but are outclassed when stacked up against offerings from luxury manufacturers.

Audio & navigation

The Bose audio system doesn't provide anything exceptional, but GM's navigation system is as strong as ever. It's easy to use and supports plenty of voice commands that work well. That said, when stacked up against luxury rivals, the system feels outdated and outclassed.

Smartphone integration

Bluetooth pairing is straightforward to accomplish, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work smoothly. The wireless charging pocket in the center console is a tight fit for large phones or phones in cases, but it provides easy access. The car will notify you of messages and read them aloud.

Driver aids

Only a few active safety features are standard, even on higher trims. Adaptive cruise works smoothly, albeit a bit conservatively. Lane keeping assist tends to overcorrect so the car ping-pongs between lane markers. It's not always easy to figure out what has set off the vibrating seat.

Voice control

The prompts are helpfully displayed on the touchscreen, but there isn't as much functionality as with some competitive systems, especially in the luxury market, and phrasing has to be precise. The navigation system responds well to voice input and isn't prone to misunderstanding.

Compare 2018 Buick LaCrosse trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2018 Buick LaCrosse models

The 2018 Buick LaCrosse is available in base 1SV, Preferred, Essence, Premium and Avenir trim levels. All except the Avenir come standard with a mild hybrid powertrain known as eAssist that features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a six-speed automatic, and a small electric motor that together produce 194 horsepower and 187 pound-feet of torque. Standard on the Avenir and optional for the Preferred, Essence and Premium is a 3.6-liter V6 (310 hp, 268 lb-ft) paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, while the Essence, Premium and Avenir can be fitted with all-wheel drive and the V6.

The base 1SV comes standard with 18-inch wheels, automatic xenon headlights, foglights, heated mirrors, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, keyless ignition and entry, remote engine start, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air vents, simulated leather upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable front seats (with two-way driver lumbar adjustment), OnStar (with an onboard 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot), an eight-speaker sound system and the Buick IntelliLink infotainment interface that includes an 8-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone app integration.

The Preferred adds a power-adjustable steering wheel, satellite radio and a cargo net.

Stepping up to the Essence trim gets you adaptive headlights, auto-dimming mirrors, driver-seat memory functions, leather upholstery, heated front seats, passenger-seat two-way lumbar adjustment and wireless smartphone charging. Optional for this trim level is the Driver Confidence 1 package that adds blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert systems.

The Premium trim includes the Driver Confidence 1 items and adds forward collision warning, a head-up display, lane departure warning and intervention, the Safety Alert driver seat (buzzes to get your attention to various safety warning systems), ambient interior lighting, a 110-volt household-style power outlet, an ionizing air cleaner, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats with massage and four-way lumbar adjustment.

The Essence and Premium can be bolstered with a couple of option packages. The Sun and Shade package has a panoramic sunroof and a power rear sunshade. The Sights and Sounds package adds a navigation system to IntelliLink, an 11-speaker, premium Bose surround-sound audio system and HD radio.

The Avenir comes with 19-inch wheels, a revised front fascia, upgraded leather upholstery, special floor mats, and the contents of both the Sights and Sounds and Sun and Shade packages.

Optional for the Essence, Premium and Avenir models is the Dynamic Drive package, which equips the LaCrosse with 20-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers and, for front-wheel-drive models, an upgraded front suspension design. You can also specify the Driver Confidence 2 package for the Premium and Avenir trims, adding adaptive cruise control; forward automatic emergency braking, which detects vehicles and pedestrians; and an automatic parking system.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Buick LaCrosse 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.71 per gallon for regular unleaded in Texas.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas

$115/mo

$170/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above Average

#15 out of 28 among Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Buick LaCrosse from 2008-2022.}

$447/yr

vs. $415/yr
for Average Midsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.81x/yr

vs. 0.87x/yr
for Average Midsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

12.7%

vs. 10.2%
for Average Midsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Buick LaCrosse Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.2

73 reviews

5(59%)

4(19%)

3(12%)

2(6%)

1(4%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Good value for retired folks

Richard Stewart, 12/09/2016

2017 Buick LaCrosse Premium 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

Being retired, I was looking for a quite comfortable roomy car with easy to use controls and lots of safety features for my wife and me to use for travel. The Lacrosse fit the bill. I was impressed with all the safety features (love the heads up display) and the ease of use of the entertainment and navigation systems. Most luxury cars don't have touch screens, which to me was a …

Best kept secret in automobiles

Elwyn H. Davis, 01/09/2018

2017 Buick LaCrosse Premium 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

We traded a 2010 Lacrosse CXS with 92,000 trouble free miles for this car 15 weeks ago. Ours is the Premium trim level. So far, in almost 5,000 miles we love the car and haven't found anything to complain about. Among the great things: Ride, smoothness of operation, seat comfort, Auto stop/start, gas mileage - 35 mpg on highway trips, 21-22 around town mileage, 24.2 overall probably …

A great car!

Bill A., 07/09/2017

2017 Buick LaCrosse Premium 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

I purchased a fully loaded 2017 Lacrosse with the premium trim level and couldn't be happier. I absolutely love the way it rides and handles, especially with the sport setting on. It has so many options I'm having a blast learning them all. It is by far the quietest, best riding, and best driving car I have ever owned. And I think it is the most stylish car on the market, not gaudy but …

The Perfect Car for Road Warriors

Greg Kelly, 11/07/2018

2017 Buick LaCrosse Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

My wife and I were looking for a large, comfortable sedan for our frequent trips around the United States, and the 2017 Buick Lacrosse AWD was the perfect choice. It is comfortable and quiet on the inside, and holds the road extremely well, even in the snow. (Because of the low ground clearance, it does not do as well in deep snow.) We appreciate the "out of site" luggage space in the …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 Buick LaCrosse, so we've included reviews for other years of the LaCrosse since its last redesign.

See all 73 reviews of the Buick LaCrosse

Write a vehicle review

2018 LaCrosse Highlights

Trim:

1SV

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$29,565
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$115/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the LaCrosse models:

OnStar: Provides automatic crash notification, an emergency call button and stolen vehicle assistance, among other features.
Front Automatic Braking: Detects an imminent front collision. It will then warn the driver and apply automatic braking if necessary.
Side Blind Zone Alert: Alerts you to cars in your blind spot with lights in the mirrors, helping to prevent accidents and limiting the amount of checking you must do.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.9%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

2018 Buick LaCrosse Review

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Vehicle overview

For sale near San Antonio, TX

2018 Buick LaCrossePreferred Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2018 Buick LaCrossePremium Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Which LaCrosse does Edmunds recommend?

2018 Buick LaCrosse models

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Buick LaCrosse 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.71 per gallon for regular unleaded in Texas.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Buick LaCrosse Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Good value for retired folks

Best kept secret in automobiles

A great car!

The Perfect Car for Road Warriors

2018 LaCrosse Highlights

Safety

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2018 Buick LaCrosse
Preferred Sedan

2018 Buick LaCrosse
Premium Sedan

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Buick LaCrosse 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.71 per gallon for regular unleaded in Texas.}