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General Motors calls the 2010 LaCrosse the second chapter in Buick’s renaissance. The Enclave midsize crossover utility vehicle was the

first. It brought a younger buyer into the brand, and Buick is hoping the LaCrosse can do the same. It certainly has the looks inside and out to appeal to a wider audience, but is the LaCrosse enough to help

GM survive? Well, after a day behind the wheel, we think the LaCrosse’s brand of luxury stacks up nicely with the likes of the Lexus ES 350. Now, all younger luxury customers need to do is rediscover Buick. That might be easier said than done.

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse is offered in CX, CXL and CXS trim levels. Front-wheel drive is standard; the CXL is offered with all-wheel drive (AWD). Notable standard features of the CX include cloth upholstery, automatic climate control, XM Satellite Radio and 17-inch steel wheels. The CXL adds leather heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lamps and 18-inch alloy wheels. The CXS trim gets heated and ventilated leather seats and chrome-plated 18-inch wheels. The CXS

can be ordered with a Touring package that includes real-time suspension damping and 19-inch wheels.

Standard safety equipment includes dual threshold front airbags, side-curtain airbags, a tire-pressure monitor, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, traction control and GM’s StabiliTrak electronic stability control.

There are three engines to choose from here, two of which are new to the LaCrosse. For the first time, CX and CXL trims are offered with an updated version of GM’s Ecotec 2.4-liter 4-cylinder. Previously offered in other GM vehicles, the engine now features direct-injection technology that improves both power and fuel efficiency. Output is 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. A new 3.0-liter V6, which is a version of the 3.6-liter V6 that had been offered in the last model, also has direct injection and produces 255 horsepower and 217 lb-ft of torque. The top engine, offered only in the CXS, is a 3.6-liter V6 that adds direct injection as well, increasing horsepower from 240 to 280 and torque from 225 to 259 lb-ft. All engines are mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift gate.

This CXL’s available all-wheel-drive system can send 85 percent of the power to the rear wheels. It also comes with an electronic limited-slip differential to apportion the power between the rear wheels for optimal traction.

Now this is more like it. The LaCrosse interior was designed in China, where Buicks are status symbols and owners often have chauffeurs. As a result, the LaCrosse has one of the best cabins in the General Motors lineup. It is attractively designed, carefully assembled and has an abundance of soft-touch surfaces. Standard “ice blue” ambient lighting adds a quality touch and helps illuminate various controls at night.

Like most sedans today, the LaCrosse’s coupe like rear pillars limit the size of the trunk opening. The trunk is spacious, though, with 13.3 cubic feet of cargo room. That space can be enhanced by standard 60/40 split-folding rear seats. Buick also includes a rear-seat pass-through, so the car can accommodate four passengers carrying long cargo, such as skis.

The CXS is the closest to a sports sedan, especially when equipped with the Touring package, which comes with real-time damping and 19-inch wheels. While the CXS Touring may turn more willingly than the others, the wheels and low-profile tires tend to slap over pavement joints and highway tar strips. If you live in an area with rough roads, try the Touring suspension before you buy. On any version, the brakes are strong and easy to modulate, and the steering is light and a bit slow, but with decent road feel.

All engines come with a 6-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift gate. The CXS has a Sport mode that allows for manual shifting and also changes shift points, steering resistance and suspension firmness. Even in Sport mode, however, the CXS doesn’t feel particularly sporty.

Kirk Bell