The Lucerne is Buick's full-size luxury sedan aimed at the Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Toyota Avalon, and so on. When it was introduced in 2006, the Lucerne was the first Buick to offer V8 power in a decade. It also marked the beginning of a new design language for the automaker.

Lucerne buyers have two engines to chose from -- a 3.8-liter V6 delivering 197 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 227 pound-feet of torque at 3800 rpm. The more powerful V8 model uses a Cadillac Northstar engine producing 275 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 295 pound-feet of torque at 4400 rpm.

Three trim levels are offered -- CX, CXL, and CXS. A variety of options and standard features are offered with each.

Standard on CXL, CXS and available on CX, the "Comfort & Convenience" package includes heated outside mirrors, dual-zone climate control, universal home remote, trunk cargo net and a six-way power-adjustable passenger seat.

Standard on CXS and available on CX and CXL, the "Driver Confidence" package includes remote start, Ultrasonic Rear Park Assist, theft-deterrent system, heated washer fluid, RainSense automatic windshield wipers and StabiliTrak electronic stability control system. The new Side Blind Zone Alert and Lane Departure Warning systems are available as an optional upgrade with the Driver Confidence Package.

Lastly, the "Luxury" package comes standard of the CXS and is also available on the CXL. It includes eight-way power driver and front passenger seats, four-way power lumbar, heated front outboard seats, memory for driver seat and outside mirrors. A heated wood steering wheel and heated/cooled seats are available as an optional upgrade.

Lucerne 's overall ride performance can be improved with GM's Magnetic Ride Control, which first appeared on the new Corvette. Standard on the uplevel CXS, this system uses magnetically charged particles suspended in a fluid to continuously adjust the fluid's viscosity, thus adjusting suspension firmness.