2017 Buick LaCrosse Photos, engines & full specs

Buick continued its attack on the premium segment with the introduction of the third generation of its mid-size sedan LaCrosse, which it launched in 2016 for the 2017 model year.

GM pushed the skinny pedal harder on its R&D department to launch the third generation of the LaCrosse as soon as possible. As a result, just three years after it unveiled the facelifted version of its predecessor at the 2013 New York Auto Show, it was ready to deliver the new model. Moreover, in the summer of 2016, the car was already in showrooms waiting for its customers. Buick built the car on a new platform named P2XX, which was the long-wheelbase version of the one used by Chevrolet to create the Impala and by Opel/Vauxhall to make the Insignia. Buick was also a very famous brand in China, so GM used it to get a bigger slice of the market. It even created specific versions of the LaCrosse, with designated engines and transmissions according to its customers' needs.

By 2016, the car's front fascia was already recognized by customers thanks to the waterfall grille, with black vertical slats, and adorned by the brand's logo supported by wing-like, almost horizontal chromed slats. Its headlights resembled those from the European Insignia, with upper-outer L-shaped daytime running lights. Lower, on the bumper, the automaker added a horizontal chromed slat that crossed the car from side to side in front of an air intake placed in the apron.

From its profile, the sculptured body panels evoked older Buick models, with wider shoulders at the back over the rear wheels. Like its predecessor, the 2017 LaCrosse featured a low-slung greenhouse with a sloped-down rear window and a short, curved deck. Finally, at the back, the automaker installed L-shaped LED taillights that were extended from the quarter panels onto the trunk lid. Buick made the car for several markets, including the Chinese one, where it enjoyed great success.

Inside, customers found a high-tech ambiance with a modern dashboard that neatly integrated the infotainment's touchscreen between the vents on the upper side of the center stack. In front of the driver, Buick installed a clean-designed instrument panel where the speedometer took center stage. Like in the previous generation of the LaCrosse, it was flanked by the tachometer and the oil temperature dials on the left and by three additional gauges on the right for the fuel level, water temperature, and ammeter. The high-bolstered front seats kept their occupants in place during high-speed cornering, while in the back, the bench profiled for two was comfortable.

Under the hood, GM installed different engines, depending on the country. For U.S. customers, the automaker used a 2.5-liter hybrid drivetrain and a 3.6-liter V6 powerplant, while for the Chinese market, it used inline-three and inline-four engines, with or without an electric motor assistance. Power went to the front or in all corners, depending on the market and engine version.