LeSabre is a solid performer for Buick. In fact, during the past four years, Buick's six-passenger, four-door mainstay has been the best-selling, full-size sedan in the United States. Built from the same platform as General Motors' sporty Pontiac Bonneville and plush Oldsmobile Eighty Eight, the front-wheel drive, more conservative looking LeSabre targets itself to growing families and empty nesters seeking room and comfort. LeSabre got a jump start on most other 1997 model-year vehicles by debuting all the way back in January of this year. Aside from a series of cosmetic tweaks, not a whole lot changes from the 1996 version. New exterior styling updates include a front grille, now integrated into the hood with Buick's tri-shield logo. New front and rear lights and facias also provide a smoother look. Last year, Buick relocated the radio antenna, embedding it into the rear window, preventing possible havoc during trips to the car wash. Chrome, thumb-operated exterior door handles provide a nostalgic ambiance. A 205-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engines continues powering both the base Custom and upscale Limited trim levels. Currently it's the only engine offered. The powertrain includes extended-life spark plugs and long-life transmission fluid. The smooth sifting engine provides ample pick up while still delivering decent fuel economy. We test drove a light blue, LeSabre Limited. Manufactured suggested retail price starts at $25,505, including popularly-ordered options. In fact the bottom line, with $590 destination charge totaled $27,966 very nicely equipped. LeSabre Custom, with a few less doodads, starts at $21,955. Anti-lock brakes are standard, but traction control is a $175 option. Like all 1997 General Motors cars, daytime running lights come standard, as do dual front air bags. Included in the base price the Limited are air conditioning with dual comfort zones, cruise control, electronic rear window defogger, automatic transmission, power sideview mirrors, power windows and six-way power front seats. Inside, analog instrument panel gages, including speedometer and fuel gage, were comparatively small. Because it's a six seater, the dashboard design sports a rectangular-shape, rather than a wrap around, cockpit design found in some four and five passenger cars. The long, flat-topped dash is reminiscent of large sedans from years past. A steering-column mounted transmission shifter and long wheelbase (110.8 inches) create a spacious front seat with room for three adults. Headlights and parking lights activate from two large, square push buttons found on the driver's door, which wraps around and molds into the dashboard. Several times during the week-long test drive, a warning tone chimed reminding us that our turn signal was active, after switching lanes on the highway. The left-hand side turn signal stalk activates both cruise control and the windshield wiper controls. Duplicate radio and temperature control buttons are found on the steering wheel. The flat- floored trunk is home to a spare-tire jack, housed in its own vertical storage box on the left side. The back seat has ample head and leg room for three adults. A center arm rest folds down when two or less passengers occupy the back. However, no cup holders are in back, and there is no trunk access from the back for carrying skis or other long items. Also, adding interior, horizontal straps on all doors would give riders something more to grab when reaching to close them from a sitting position. Fuel estimates check in and a respectable 19 miles per gallon city and 30 mpg highway. Our test drive LeSabre, with 2,100 odometer miles, registered 25 mpg in combined driving. The fuel tank holds 18.0 gallons of regular unleaded gas. The fuel tank door does not lock, but the cap is tethered to the vehicle. Suburban families needing a large, roomy V-6-powered sedan priced well under $30,000 should not overlook LeSabre. It's front-wheel drive design provides solid traction on snow and ice during frigid winter months. Sales figures should continue strong, as they have been for the past several years. GM assembles LeSabre in Flint, Mich. |
