If ever a General Motors division needed some help, it’s Buick. This GM marque has stayed on the sidelines through much of the SUV boom, having to be satisfied peddling four conservative sedans as the market craved other products.
Buick is finally getting some attention this year with the introduction of the Buick Rendezvous, its version of the unloved and ugly Pontiac Aztek. The Rendezvous competes with other SUV hybrids, such as the Toyota Highlander, Acura MDX, Lexus RX300 and other vehicles with SUV bodyshells riding atop car or minivan platforms. Like those competitors, the Rendezvous is available as a front-wheel-drive base model, dubbed CX, and as an all-wheel-drive model, dubbed CXL. Buick provided a CXL for testing.
Certainly the Buick is more handsome than its Pontiac cousin, especially from the front. A large grille with a dollop of chrome announces its arrival in a bold, tasteful manner. The chiselled turn signals sit atop the fender. But the design gets bulky as you get toward the back end, especially the unwieldy bumper, an area that’s equally hideous on both the Aztek and Rendezvous. Still, the silver-colored test vehicle was distinctive enough to turn heads, especially younger ones.
Inside, the styling is distinctive as well. It has an art deco/machine-age look that is unusual. There is an absence of wood trim, but the interior still felt upscale and solidly built. The gauges have a distinctive font, but they’re somewhat difficult to read. The test vehicle had an optional “heads up” display, which projected the speed onto the windshield. This helped immensely.
The interior is practical as well as stylish. The large center console is large enough to hold a laptop computer, and has a power point to power it as well. There’s a second area that’s large enough to hold cell phones, as well as storage for two pair of sunglasses.
The Rendezvous can be had with three rows of seats, although two rows are standard. Front seats are buckets with armrests. They proved to be rather flat. The second row is a split bench, with captain’s chairs available as a $250 option. They proved to be just as a flat as the front row and a little low.
Leg room was adequate for adults. The third row seats are a $750 option and are suitable only for children or masochistic adults. With the third seat up, cargo space is limited to grocery bags or briefcases. Cargo is a good deal better with it folded. Hooks and nooks help give cargo-carrying some flexibility. An inexpensive fabric cover is provided to hide cargo.
Overall, the interior is as flexible as any SUV, but not as good as a minivan.
Performance is adequate.
Being a CXL, all-wheel-drive is standard. Dubbed “Versatrak” by GM, it uses front-wheel-drive until conditions merit using the rear wheels as well. It’s all automatic and works rather invisibly. Powering the Rendezvous is GM’s 3.4-liter pushrod V-6. It pumps out 185 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. It’s hitched to a smooth-shifting 4-speed automatic transmission. But the Rendezvous weighs just over 4,000 pounds. That means the powertrain is adequate for most situations, but could use more oomph when climbing hills or passing on the highway. Couple this with all-wheel-drive and you’ll understand the dismal fuel economy.
City driving returned 15.5 mpg, with highway driving reaching 19 mpg. The EPA rating seems like wishful thinking at 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.
The interior was extremely quiet in the Buick tradition. The ride wasn’t quite Buick-like. The four-wheel independent suspension pounded firmly over bumps, yet there was plenty of body lean and turbulence over bumps. It was especially pronounced in the rear seats. More work is needed here.
Braking was quite good. Four-wheel-discs with anti-lock are standard.
The front-drive CX starts at $25,499, while the all-wheel-drive CXL starts at $27,452. Opting for the CXL nets not only all-wheel-drive, but adds a cassette player to the AM/FM/CD audio system as well as electronic dual climate control, leather seats and minor trim differences as well. But the test vehicle had a healthy $6,015 worth of options. Most of that was the CXL Luxury Package which added the luxury features that made this vehicle pleasant, including 6-way power driver and passenger seats with memory, auto-dimming rearview mirror, overhead console, leather seats, with footrests, heated seats, chrome wheels, touring tires, theft deterrent system, rear parking aid, universal garage door opener, OnStar, driver information center heads-up display, rear seat audio controls, cargo mat, luggage mat and premium stereo.
In addition, the captain’s seats and third row seating added another $1,000 to the tab, with the sticker bottom-lining at $34,042.
While it doesn’t excel at any one thing, it’s versatile enough and stylish enough to bring younger buyers into the Buick fold. With a bit more power and better seats, it could be a lot better. Still, its price is more reasonable than Japanese competitors and that could be its biggest attraction. BUICK RENDEZVOUS CXL AWD
Engine: 3.4-liter OHV V-6
Převodovka: 4stupňová automatická
Rozvor kol: 112.2 palce
Délka: 186.5 palců
Šířka: 73.6 palců
Hmotnost: 4,024 liber
Cargo volume: 18.1 cubic feet (third row up), 54.5 cubic feet (third row folded)
Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds with towing package
Základní cena: 27,452 USD
Podle testu: 34,042 XNUMX $
EPA rating: 18 city, 24 highway
Test mileage: 19 mpg
Fuel type: Regular
Built in: Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
Auto writer Larry Printz
The Rendezvous is the first Buick truck since 1923. Buick truck? Technically, yes. Sport-utility vehicles are still immensely popular, especially new-wave «crossover» vehicles that combine the best traits of two or more vehicular genres to make something new, unique, and useful. Something that’s not quite a traditional truck, but not quite a car, either. And the Rendezvous is definitely a crossover, combining elements of a car, minivan, and sport-utility. It is built on a car-like unibody chassis platform and combines the look of a sport-utility with the ride comfort of a car and the seating and cargo versatility of a minivan.
Two trim levels are offered, the CX and CXL. Calling the CX the «base model» is misleading, as it is very well-equipped. The CXL adds the «Versatrak» all-wheel drive system, optional on the CX, leather seating, and a host of comfort and convenience features. A 3.4-liter, 185-horsepower V6 engine and four-wheel antilock disc brakes are used by both Rendezvous models.
I’ve been driving a Rendezvous CXL for the past week during which time I had occasion to make several trips to my favorite assemble-it-yourself furniture store. The Rendezvous was the perfect vehicle for the job. Fold down the third row, flip up the second, and stuff stuff in. No problem. Despite its large capacity, the Rendezvous is small enough outside to be easily parkable — the word «dock» doesn’t apply. The engine had plenty of power for everyday use, and gas mileage was very reasonable for its size and class. Although it will be overwhelmingly used as an urban/suburban family vehicle, Buick has enough faith in the Rendezvous’ ability to currently be running one in the «Inca Trail» rally in South America’s Andes Mountains.
VZHLED: Buick’s cars are known for conservative styling. Recognizably a Buick, the Rendezvous is not a Buick car, and it is anything but conservative. Although it has the standard two-box SUV shape, the unique treatment of the C-pillar and darkened rear windows de-emphasizes the boxy rear of the vehicle, especially in light colors, and gives the Rendezvous a rakish sedan-like look. The definably Buick oval grille utilizes a dark painted «waterfall» section in the front panel and a massive chromed crossbar at the leading edge of the hood. Textured trim, bright headlights, and unique signature three-dimensional wraparound turn signals complete the front. Angles and curves are blended homogenously in the body styling. Contrast-colored lower cladding is found on the sides. A venerable Buick styling fixture, a full-width taillight appliqu�, surrounds an oval license plate holder at the rear.
POHODLÍ: Like the exterior, the Rendezvous’ interior styling is much more radical than expected from Buick. The geometrically- interesting instrument panel could come from a spaceship, or at least an auto show car. The instruments are of a contemporary black-on-silver design, with metal-look trim in several textures featured throughout the interior. It’s flashy, but not at the expense of function. A successful design goal was minivan-like interior configurability. Minivan heritage also shows in the low, flat floor, a plus. With the available third-row seat, you can get seven passengers in three rows, 2+3+2. Flip either side of the second row up for access to the third, and there is surprisingly reasonable space back there especially considering the size of the Rendezvous. The third-row seat disappears into the rear floor when cargo carrying is necessary, and the second row seats fold flat or flip forward. The second row is even roomier than the third, and passengers have first-class accommodation, with three A/C vents, a power point, and auxiliary audio controls on the end of the console, and plenty of storage space and cupholders. Up front are two comfy power buckets. A steering column-mounted shift lever leaves plenty of space in center console, and it’s well used, with a cell phone sized covered storage with 2 power points, ashtray, and 2 cupholders above a huge open storage space, and a gigantic, deep compartmented console box.
BEZPEČNOST: Dual front and front side airbags, side-guard door beams, child safety locks, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, and daytime running lights are standard safety equipment.
ROADABILITY: A rigid unibody structure and fully independent suspension ensure that the Rendezvous has the supple, quiet, and comfortable ride associated with Buick. No surprise, it feels and handles more like a tall car or minivan than a traditional truck. Even with the CXL’s «VersaTrak» all-wheel drive system, the Rendezvous operates in front-drive mode in normal conditions, with power sent seamlessly to the rear wheels when needed.
PŘEDSTAVENÍ: The Rendezvous uses General Motors’ well- developed 3.4-liter V6 engine, matched to a four-speed automatic transmission. With maximum horsepower of 185 at 5200 rpm and 210 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm, it moves the two-ton vehicle reasonably quickly and efficiently. In mostly city driving, I averaged 18 mpg. That went up to 22 or better on the highway. Standard four-wheel antilock disc brakes stop quickly and efficiently.
Závěr: The Rendezvous combines Buick comfort with space and versatility.
ÚDAJE 2002 Buick Rendezvous CXL Base Price $ 27,452 Price As Tested $ 32,977 Engine Type pushrod overhead valve 12-valve V6 Engine Size 3.4 liters / 204 cu. in. Horsepower 185 @ 5200 rpm Torque (lb-ft) 210 @ 4000rpm Transmission 4-speed electronically-controlled automatic Wheelbase / Length 112.2 in. / 186.5 in. Curb Weight 4024 lbs. Pounds Per Horsepower 21.8 Fuel Capacity 18.0 gal. Fuel Requirement 87 octane unleaded regular Tires P215/70 SR16 Uniroyal Tiger Paw Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc, antilock standard Suspension, front/rear independent strut / independent short-and-long arm with coil springs Drivetrain front engine, all-wheel drive VÝKON EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed 18 / 24 / 18 0 to 60 mph 10.0 sec Towing capacity 2000 lbs standard, 3500 with towing package OPTIONS AND CHARGES CXL Versatility Package - includes: CXL ornamentation, 6-way power front seats, third row seats with storage system, dual-zone filtration climate control, light-sensitive rear-view mirrors, overhead console, leather seating surfaces with 2nd row footrests, theft deterrent system, rear parking aid, OnStar, universal garage door opener, driver information center, 8-speaker AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo, rear seat audio controls, luggage rack $ 4,030 Upgraded stereo with 6-CD changer (replaces package unit) $ 395 Heated front seats $ 225 Memory for front seats and mirrors $ 225 P215/70R16 touring tires (replace standard) $ 75
