Like many previous Buicks, the Lucerne's primary attributes are its cushy ride, along with a roomy and mostly quiet interior. While the model also has a steadier ride and better fit and finish than the LeSabre and Park Avenue models it replaced, the Buick didn't rival the best competition. Its 197-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 engine is responsive, but sounds coarse and doesn't have outstanding acceleration or fuel economy. The powerplant was upgraded to 3.9-liters and 227 hp for 2009. Braking distances are long and the Lucerne fishtailed easily in our avoidance maneuver. Stability control is available – but only as an option, which we highly recommend.
