
Landing somewhere between mainstream and true luxury brands, the 2012 Buick LaCrosseThe 2011 Buick LaCrosse lands somewhere between the mainstream and serious luxury brands—in the nowhere land occupied by vehicles like the Nissan Maxima and Saab 9-5.
The Maxima has more of a performance emphasis, and it's slightly smaller inside than the LaCrosse, but it appeals to some of the same crowd that wants a stylish large sedan that's sportier if not high-performance.
The Acura TL and Lexus ES are true luxury sedans, though they're both front-wheel drive and have more of an emphasis on comfort—though the TL is available with all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual and as such is more of a driver's car.
And for those who want more of a traditional large luxury sedan, the Hyundai Genesis might appeal; it has rear-wheel drive and a choice of V-6 or V-8 engines and is an especially strong value.
For those who are considering the LaCrosse V-6, the Infiniti M might be worth comparing; it's more of a sport sedan and more dynamically engaging, but its feature set is remarkably close to that of the LaCrosse.
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Quick Specs | ||||
As a sophisticated, roomy, tech-savvy premium sedan—now with up to 36 mpg—the 2012 Buick LaCrosse hits the mark for a lot of shoppers who want luxury on a limited budget. |
The 2012 Acura TL is a surprisingly well-rounded luxury sedan, with a host of advanced tech features, and in top SH-AWD trim morphs into a complete and compelling sport sedan. |
The 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is one of the best performance-car values, with several models fitting the needs of either daily commuters of track-day enthusiasts. |
The 2012 Infiniti M sedans are true super-sedans, delivering sharp handling, scorching performance, and impressive comfort, with a beautiful but not overwrought design inside and out. |
The 2012 Nissan Maxima is a great pick if you want a stylish, sporty, comfortable, and lavishly trimmed sedan; serious sport-sedan enthusiasts should look elsewhere, however. |
MSRP From | ||||
$30,170 | $35,705 | $22,250 | $47,700 | $32,420 |
Gas Mileage | ||||
16 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 29 MPG Hwy | 16 MPG City / 30 MPG Hwy | 16 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy | 19 MPG City / 26 MPG Hwy |
Engine | ||||
Gas/Electric I4 | Gas V6 | Turbocharged Gas I4 | Gas V6 | Gas V6 |
EPA Class | ||||
Midsize Cars | Mid-Size | Subcompact | Midsize Car | Mid-Size |
Style Name | ||||
4-Door Sedan Base FWD | 4-Door Sedan Automatic 2WD | 2-Door I4 2.0T Manual | 4-Door Sedan RWD | 4-Door Sedan V6 CVT 3.5 S |
Drivetrain | ||||
Front Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel drive | Rear-Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
Passenger Capacity | ||||
5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Passenger Doors | ||||
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Body Style | ||||
Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | 2 Door Coupe | 4-Door Sedan | 4 Door Sedan |
Transmission | ||||
Automatic w/manual shift | Automatic | Manual | Automatic | Continuously Variable |
Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
2012 Buick Lacrosse vs. 2012 Acura TL | 2012 Buick Lacrosse vs. 2012 Hyundai Genesis | 2012 Buick Lacrosse vs. 2012 INFINITI M | 2012 Buick Lacrosse vs. 2012 Nissan Maxima |