Buick LaCrosse vs. Hyundai Genesis - Guess who wins

[wallymn]

Admin edit: Please add some of the article to these links to reviews.. Please.. I'm not pointing any fingers but it seems I come here every day and do this. I would really appreciate it if everyone would post some of the article.. Thank you...

P.S. I'm moving this into the "Hyundai Genesis vs. The Competition" forum...

Comparison: 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS vs. 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6

We were quite excited early last week to take delivery of a 2010 Buick Lacrosse. After all, when was the last time we've seen a truly new mid-size Buick? (Answer: 1988)

Buick hopes the LaCrosse will continue the success it has enjoyed with the Enclave crossover and establish the brand among younger, more affluent shoppers. With a base price ranging from about $27,000 to $34,000 and a choice of three engines (a four-cylinder and two V-6s), the LaCrosse, Buick says, will compete with everything from Chrysler 300s to the Lexus ES.

But as we perused the $39,325 sticker of our well-equipped CXS model, we couldn't help but think of our Four Seasons Hyundai Genesis 4.6, which has a similar price and a similar mission. Like Buick, Hyundai hopes to grab the attention of buyers who have historically snorted derisively at the idea of driving one of its cars. And although the two may differ in packaging - the LaCrosse relies on front/all-wheel drive and a direct-injection V-6 while the Genesis goes with rear-wheel drive and a V-8 - both come packed with technology and refinement in hopes of enticing near-luxury buyers.

We spent the better part of an afternoon driving - and being driven - through the finer parts of Ann Arbor to determine which of these sedans stands a better chance of capturing a slice of the luxury pie. Read on for our thoughts.

 

[dataguy]

Re: Buick v. genesis - Guess who wins

Oy! As much as I've liked Buicks, I'm a bit offended that they ding the Genesis' styling while giving faint praise to the LaCrosse, which still retains a very Buick grille and the acres of chrome concept. Since there are very few new auto designs and since everyone takes cues from what is the current fashion, I'm not sure that the new GM is that much different from the old GM. Certainly, if it was "most improved" I think Hyundai would win that hands down.

 

[jwaters943]

Re: Buick v. genesis - Guess who wins

While they really liked the Buick, it's pretty clear to me which car they preferred overall. The Buick is a nice car, but it's a bit slow (even compared to the V6 Genesis) and it's disconcerting to here it has squeaks and rattles already (something Edmunds also experienced w/ their Long-Term CTS). With a bit more power and polish it seems Buick would really have a runaway hit w/ the LaCrosse. But then very few would feel the need to buy the CTS over the cheaper Buick (RWD purists excluded).

Go Genesis!

 

[TJPark01]

Re: Buick v. genesis - Guess who wins

While they really liked the Buick, it's pretty clear to me which car they preferred overall. The Buick is a nice car, but it's a bit slow (even compared to the V6 Genesis) and it's disconcerting to here it has squeaks and rattles already (something Edmunds also experienced w/ their Long-Term CTS). With a bit more power and polish it seems Buick would really have a runaway hit w/ the LaCrosse. But then very few would feel the need to buy the CTS over the cheaper Buick (RWD purists excluded).

Go Genesis!

Anytime you add big power to a FWD platform, bad things happen....of course only if you have to turn or brake. Going in a straight line, it's brilliant.

 

[jwaters943]

Re: Buick v. genesis - Guess who wins

I'm well aware of the phenomenon known as torque-steer.

That's why the Buick offers AWD. Unfortunately they don't offer it on the top-spec engine.

 

[Seattle Genesis]

Re: Buick v. genesis - Guess who wins

No competition !

 

[YEH]

Re: Buick v. genesis - Guess who wins

Oy! As much as I've liked Buicks, I'm a bit offended that they ding the Genesis' styling while giving faint praise to the LaCrosse, which still retains a very Buick grille and the acres of chrome concept.

I think the Automobile writers had their blinders on - the LaCrosse borrowed just as many styling cues as the Genesis.

 

[TJPark01]

Re: Buick v. genesis - Guess who wins

I'm well aware of the phenomenon known as torque-steer.

That's why the Buick offers AWD. Unfortunately they don't offer it on the top-spec engine.

Seems backwards doesn't it? You would think they would pair the bigger engine with the AWD. I guess they couldn't keep the cost down.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Great points made on another website:

I see one of my neighbors who normally has a MB S550 and a 7 series BMW bought (or leased) a new Genesis and its a dam good looking vehicle. I believe they have a new S550, got rid of the 7 series and ordered up the Genesis.. Certainly seems comparable.

I think this post illustrates the difference perfectly. Your neighbor who normally has two high-end german cars in the driveway suddenly has a Genesis sitting there in place of one of them and you see it as a perfectly suitable replacement.

If you drove by the same house and it had a Buick LaCrosse sitting there instead you would have thought they had a visitor, I guarantee it. That just goes to show how far Hyundai has come in a very short time.

 

[TJPark01]

I really like a lot of GM's new designs. The problem I have with them and the other two domestic automakers is that they can't seem to piece a whole car together. They seem to get the exteriors correct and leave out the inside. Or they get both those right and the drivetrain is FWD, or the car is too heavy (taurus), etc, etc.... They can't seem to build a car from A-Z, there's always something lacking.

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[Sal Collaziano]

I really like a lot of GM's new designs. The problem I have with them and the other two domestic automakers is that they can't seem to piece a whole car together. They seem to get the exteriors correct and leave out the inside. Or they get both those right and the drivetrain is FWD, or the car is too heavy (taurus), etc, etc.... They can't seem to build a car from A-Z, there's always something lacking.

I agree.. There IS always something lacking.. But they've been so, so close lately. They're really turning it around.. I just hope it's not too late...

 

[dataguy]

Admin edit: Please add some of the article to these links to reviews.. Please.. I'm not pointing any fingers but it seems I come here every day and do this. I would really appreciate it if everyone would post some of the article.. Thank you...

As a reader, I would prefer that folks would italicize, quote, or do something else to distinguish quoted text from a linked article. Not only is that easier to read and to differentiate between the quote and the poster's commentary, but frankly, significant quotation of someone else's work may be a copyright violation, even if there's a link to the source.

 

[TJPark01]

I agree.. There IS always something lacking.. But they've been so, so close lately. They're really turning it around.. I just hope it's not too late...

I hope you're right. Aside from the truck market I think consumers have lost a lot confidence in the Big 3. Most of it is perception, but as the saying goes, it's the reality as well. Their brands may have been damaged to the point of no return.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

As a reader, I would prefer that folks would italicize, quote, or do something else to distinguish quoted text from a linked article. Not only is that easier to read and to differentiate between the quote and the poster's commentary, but frankly, significant quotation of someone else's work may be a copyright violation, even if there's a link to the source.

Noted. The only reason I don't use italicized text is because I've seen too many complaints that it's difficult to read. As long as we don't copy too much text (I know - how much is too much?), we should be okay...

I hope you're right. Aside from the truck market I think consumers have lost a lot confidence in the Big 3. Most of it is perception, but as the saying goes, it's the reality as well. Their brands may have been damaged to the point of no return.

It's their own fault. They all rested on their laurels for far too long...

 

[wallymn]

What Laurels? I turn 40 this year, in my life time american cars have not been the Premier car/brand. With a few exceptional models... The industry talks about the glory years, that was 50 years ago.

As a kid it was BMW for Dad, Toyota for Mom.

As a young man it was almost always an import (toyota,honda,vw) when I did go native (1999 Tahoe followed by the new design Dodge Ram in 2002) I was very disappointed in quality. neither lasted 2 years...

Even today their designs can be excited, CTS, G8, but the execution seems to always miss a little,

Having said that, if I could buy a GM LSx engine in car like the Genesis (size and quality) I would in a SECOND!.

Why can't GM build a modern STS size car using a quality drive train....

The G8 was close but missed on luxury, the CTS misses on size and switch gear feel.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

The answer, Wally, is politics.. Unfortunately, there's a lot of politics involved in all the decisions.. UAW, healthcare, pensions, etcetera...

 

[Yama1yzf]

They tested a pre-production model of the lacrosse I believe.....has anyone seen one in person? It is a very substantial good looking car. The one I saw was loaded to the gills and was $37500 with a $1000 cash incentive. Just a bit more than I paid for the Genesis w/PP.

There are a lot of folks who have formed opinions about current model american cars without actually owning them. They are making good stuff.

 

[ImInPA]

I agree.. There IS always something lacking.. But they've been so, so close lately. They're really turning it around.. I just hope it's not too late...

With my job, I get to rent quite a few vehicles. While I agree that the domestics are doing better, it is the longevity that is still needing improvement. I have been in a pontiac G6 with 1K miles on the odometer and it seemed like an ok car. Then I have been in a G6 with 18K miles and am amazed at the number of squeaks and rattles. They just don't seem to be bolted together for the long run. I have also recently read of squeaks and rattles in the new CTS, a car that, in my opinion, comes the closest yet for GM in getting the interior and exterior right. Ford seems do better on the quality of assembly, and just forget about the current Chrysler offerings.

 

[TJPark01]

With my job, I get to rent quite a few vehicles. While I agree that the domestics are doing better, it is the longevity that is still needing improvement. I have been in a pontiac G6 with 1K miles on the odometer and it seemed like an ok car. Then I have been in a G6 with 18K miles and am amazed at the number of squeaks and rattles. They just don't seem to be bolted together for the long run. I have also recently read of squeaks and rattles in the new CTS, a car that, in my opinion, comes the closest yet for GM in getting the interior and exterior right. Ford seems do better on the quality of assembly, and just forget about the current Chrysler offerings.

The secondary market aka Resale value is the true measure of the vehicle. Essentially what the market determines what your car is worth. A lot of this has to do with perception. Whether true or not the perception is that the big three ,healthcare is a mess, management in a mess, financials in a mess...therefore human intuition assumes that their cars will be a mess. So people stay away. It's a cancer that grows and eats itself.

 

[wallymn]

With my job, I get to rent quite a few vehicles. While I agree that the domestics are doing better, it is the longevity that is still needing improvement. I have been in a pontiac G6 with 1K miles on the odometer and it seemed like an ok car. Then I have been in a G6 with 18K miles and am amazed at the number of squeaks and rattles. They just don't seem to be bolted together for the long run. I have also recently read of squeaks and rattles in the new CTS, a car that, in my opinion, comes the closest yet for GM in getting the interior and exterior right. Ford seems do better on the quality of assembly, and just forget about the current Chrysler offerings.

I also get stuck in a lot of rentals from all makes,
a couple of comments.

by 10k every rental is a wreck. Honda, Chevy, etc doesn't matter, they are just beat to death. Also I rent "low end" "mid-size class c" so these are not great cars to begin with. in the class my fav rental is the Mazda 6... if you get one early enough they are almost fun to drive.

My view of American isn't based on rentals it is based on ownership in the past 10 years. Burned twice so shame on me.
On my "never buy again" list
Chevy (new brakes and rotors every 10k)
Dodge (tranny under warranty twice)
Honda (never buying a 3.5K tranny again)

I admit I never considered a buick (it's not your great-grandfather's buick) excluding the Grand national, when I was a kid I loved that car.