Vehicle: 2012 Buick LaCrosse e-Assist with Convenience Group and power moonroof
Price as tested: CDN$41750
Performance: While the uplevel 3.6 liter has uprated to 303hp, its the e-Assist which is the highlight of LaCrosse’s changes. The e-Assist is basically a set of lithium-ion batteries located at the back of the trunk, which uses regenerative braking to power all the necessary power items. Another benefit is the e-Assist uses the extra energy on top of the 2.4 liter Ecotec 16-valve engine’s performance and efficiency, for those who don’t need to upgrade to the V6. In real life driving, we won’t noticed anything during the transition between e-Assist and gasoline engine. Its as seamless as any gasoline engine out there, with the benefit of exceptional fuel economy. Another credit is where GM is honest about their energy rating. With the 4-cylinder combined with the batteries. The LaCrosse has 182hp and 172 lb/ft of torque. The e-Assist alone cost 15hp and 79 lb/ft of torque. For many carmakers, especially those who hybrid driven, they would cooked their figures for better marketing purpose. For GM, its all about fact. That said, the Ecotec has benefitted from direct fuel injection, variable valve timing and electronic throttle as a host while adding the sweet 6-speed automatic to the mix. All of these have combined to make LaCrosse to achieve such an excellent fuel economy for such a heavy 3775kg of luxury ride. We are able to combined 7.3 liters per 100km, as a combined figure. That’s dare close to Buick’s posted 7 liters per 100km. Without the proper gear ratios of GM’s wonderful 6-speed automatic, we won’t be able to achieve such a nice numbers. This is a rarity with anything gas and batteries combined, which is usually pretty far off to a complete disappointment. The engine start/stop system wraps up e-Assist’s economical equation, which turns the engine off while keeping all the power accessories working while stuck in traffic on in short traffic light stops. As a whole package, e-Assist impressed. 
Handling: While everyone would have lamented LaCrosse as a traditional Buick luxury sedan, which put more emphasis on luxury over dynamics. The LaCrosse continues to be impressed. Along with the Epsilon 2 architecture, which has been famous for its world-class rigidty and stiffness. It has served as a great foundation for suspension to hang its hats. That means it provides the equally compelling ride quality as one expects from a Buick, without losing anything when it comes to handling. In fact, LaCrosse handles as good as anything else from Japan and Europe at its pricepoint. The suspension is soft without feeling like a wet noodle, while adding a sense of suppleness and firmness to add to driver’s confidence. The result is a full-lined luxury sedan which is as capable in any corners as on the open highway. The steering provides progressive feel and feedback even though it feels a bit vague, off-center. Its not too hard to induce understeer when pushed into limits. While you certainly won’t mistaken a LaCrosse as a Porsche Panamera on black-top twisties, the amount of confidence and inspiring dynamics would certainly delight many of those naysayers who won’t believe a Buick full-sizer is actually a capable car. Whenever a driver rears the ugly heads, there is always GM’s Stabiliztrak waiting in the wings to control under and oversteer.
Brakes: Hybrids used to feel spongy with regenerative braking. With LaCrosse’s e-Assist, it doesn’t feel anything numb or spongy at all. In fact, the pedal always feels firm and solid even when nailed the pedal to the metal. The stopping distance is short, while pedal feels confidence-inspiring. An ABS doesn’t have any annoying intervention basically has told how well-engineered LaCrosse as an entire package.
Interior: LaCrosse as a full-size luxury car, its rear head and legrooms are very impressive. It has limosine-like space for 2 adults while there are more than enough for 3 adults without feeling a bit of squeeze. The same goes for the huge luggage space. Even with the lithion-ion batteries eaten some of the luggage space, it still has a large 10.9 cubin feet of cargo space.
Up front, LaCrosse’s use of materials and fit-and-finish continue to be impressed. The interior appointment is world-class right from the initutive of the controls to how well the materials are put together. The use of a nice wood trim combined with classy plastic and leather materials have shown how far GM interior has come along in last few years.
Conclusion: The holy grail of e-Assist is the ability to get the posted fuel economy without having to pay the premium. Or the premium which have to justify for the hybrids for years down the road. All this technology has done to LaCrosse’s overall package is marvelous. It doesn’t upset anything good about the LaCrosse while provide the fuel economy and performance at a stylish package. Its a whole package for those who won’t need to upgrade to 303hp V6. Its like having a cake and eat it too.
Competitions:
Acura TL
Audi A4
BMW 3-Series
Lexus ES350
Infiniti G25
VW CC
OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2012 Buick LaCrosse e-Assist
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Performance: 4.5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 5/5
Value-for-money: 4.5/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5