A Better-Looking Buick

Designed mostly in China, where Buick enjoys strong sales, the LaCrosse is an exercise in well-proportioned grace. The front juts out enough that it should give the car an ungainly, pancaked appearance, but GM still gets away with it. I can't quite explain how, except to say the car's face hides the overhang in a way the outgoing LaCrosse's bulbous nose could not. I'm no aesthete; I just know when a car looks right, and the new LaCrosse does. You might disagree, but 10 bucks says that most of you won't. (Actually, I make a journalist's salary. Let's make that five bucks.)

All versions of the LaCrosse get chrome accents on the door handles, trunk and grille. Unfortunately, they also get Buick's signature portholes, moved to an awkward perch atop the hood. Most onlookers agreed — these faux engine vents hurt an otherwise sharp design.

    See also:

    What to Use
    Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and one-half DEX-COOL® coolant. If you use this coolant mixture, you do not need to add anything else. CAUTION: Adding only plain water to your ...

    When to Check and Change AutomaticTransmission Fluid
    A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid level is when the engine oil is changed. Change the fluid and filter at the intervals listed in Additional Required Services on page 482, and ...

    If a Tire Goes Flat
    It is unusual for a tire to blow out while driving, especially if the tires are maintained properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is much more likely to leak out slowly. But if there ever is a bl ...