2012 Buick LaCrosse with e-Assist mates 4-cylinder with electric motor

(General Motors/Associated Press) - This June 2011 photo made available by General Motors shows a 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist technology.

By Associated Press, Published: April 11

  Finally, there’s a Buick LaCrosse sedan that puts many of today’s most topical fuel economy features into its base model, at no extra charge.

The new, 2012 Buick LaCrosse lineup has a base model with four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor, with regenerative braking, wind-smoothing, aerodynamic touches and automatic engine stop at traffic lights, to deliver improved gasoline mileage. It’s called the LaCrosse with eAssist.

 

A LaCrosse with only four cylinders isn’t offered anymore, because who would want it?

The 2012 LaCrosse with eAssist delivers 6 more miles per gallon in both city and highway driving than a solitary four cylinder did in the 2011 LaCrosse, according to federal government estimates.

Specifically, the 2012 LaCrosse with eAssist is rated by the federal government at 25 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

This compares with 19/30 mpg for the 2011 LaCrosse with four cylinders and no eAssist.

Better yet, real-world, combined city and highway driving, as opposed to government laboratory testing that provides those government fuel rankings, can net between 31 mpg and 33 mpg in the LaCrosse with eAssist, based on the test car and federal government posting of real driver data.

Plus, the 2012 LaCrosse earned five out of five stars for driver and front-passenger protection in government front crash testing and five out of five stars for front-seat occupant protection in a side crash. Rear-seat occupant protection in a side crash garnered four out of five stars.

To be sure, the LaCrosse, which is Buick’s most expensive sedan in terms of base price, doesn’t come cheaply.

Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $31,045 for a base, 2012 LaCrosse with front-wheel drive, 182-horsepower, Ecotec, four-cylinder engine mated to a 15-kilowatt electric motor and a six-speed automatic transmission. This base car doesn’t have leather interior, navigation system, rearview camera, rear park assist, sunroof or power-adjustable front passenger seat.

Buyers must move up to models with options and packages to get these items. As an example, the test car had leather-trimmed seats, eight-way, power front passenger seat, navigation and rear park assist, among other items, and topped out at more than $37,000.

The 2012 LaCrosse is available with all-wheel drive, too. But it comes only with a 303-horsepower V-6. A V-6-powered, 2012 LaCrosse has a starting retail price of $35,745. The government fuel economy rating is 16/26 mpg.

LaCrosse competitors include the 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, which has a 156-horsepower four cylinder mated to an electric motor. Starting retail price is $35,630, and the government fuel economy rating is 41/36 mpg. Because the MKZ Hybrid is tuned to tap its electric power frequently in slower-speed driving, its city mileage is higher than the highway mileage, where the engine is the primary power source.

Another competitor to the LaCrosse is the non-hybrid, 2012 Acura TL sedan, which starts at $35,705 and is rated at 20/29 mpg.