Used 2014 Buick LaCrosse for sale 

The Buick LaCrosse is offered in four major trims and two powertrain options. The base trim gets a pretty extensive list of fitments which makes for a very comfortable and value-for-money experience alongside the hybrid powertrain which also helps in saving money in the long run. The higher Premium trim gets a more powerful V6 engine and more premium features and creature comforts to justify the high price tag.

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The Leather trim with all the additional features and leather upholstery, makes for a high-value proposition, as it also does not cost considerably more than the base trim and undercuts the more premium trims which go into premium sedan territory.

The 2014 Buick LaCrosse features a hybrid powertrain that is mainly powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine which is assisted by a battery pack, and both together generate 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. The higher trims get a powerful 3.6-liter V6 engine under its hood which is rated at 304 hp and 264 lb-ft. 

Both the engines are mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and the power is sent to the front wheels as standard. The AWD setup is available only on a couple of trims and one might have to compromise on some level for it, in terms of the available features list. 

The Lexus ES 300h is basically a fancier and a more luxurious variant of the Toyota Avalon, but the performance from both these cars is pretty different. The Toyota Avalon is the quickest in the acceleration tests while the Buick LaCrosse lies at the last, despite the other two making use of a CVT automatic transmission.

Considering the fact that the LaCrosse employs a hybrid powertrain, one would expect high fuel economy figures from it, but that’s really not the case. Even with the base hybrid powertrain, the LaCrosse is rated by the EPA for a combined 29 mpg of city and highway driving while opting for the larger V6 engine brings it down to 21 mpg. The optional all-wheel-drive would reduce the efficiency even further and should be considered when opting for the right powertrain choice.

The Buick LaCrosse stands no chance in this aspect against the Japanese giants as both of them offer exceptional fuel economy figures while the larger gas tank together results in a much longer driving range. The small 15.8-gallon gas tank employed by Buick does not help improve the driving range at all, although it still has a pretty solid 500 plus mile range and a pretty frugal engine for such a large car.

The interior of the LaCrosse oozes class and premiumness with stylish curves and premium materials alongside the ambient lighting which enhances the overall feel of the car.

The materials are high quality, so is the build quality and the cabin is more focused on comfort as that is what it is intended for in the first place. There is ample space inside for all passengers and the seats are really supportive and comfortable as well.

The trunk is on the smaller side in the Buick, especially with the hybrid powertrain, but opting for the regular gasoline-only V6 opens up a bit more space inside the trunk. The Avalon has the largest trunk here but is marginally more compact at the rear seat section, while the Lexus is almost on par with Buick in terms of cabin space but also suffers from limited boot space. 

• 8-way power front bucket seats w/4-way power lumbar
• Heated and Ventilated front seats
• Perforated leather-appointed seating
• Memory settings w/"presets" for 2 drivers, 8-way power driver/passenger seat with easy exit driver seat and outside mirrors
• Tilt and telescopic leather-wrapped heated steering wheel
• Dual-zone automatic climate control w/rear HVAC vents
• Ambient lighting

How is the 2014 Buick LaCrosse Sedan’s infotainment system?

The updated touchscreen should have come as a welcome change but its placement might be a concern for shorter drivers, making it difficult to reach comfortably when driving. Add to that the painfully slow response timings and unintuitive placement of controls make it irritating to use in most scenarios. 

• 8.0-inch touchscreen Buick IntelliLink infotainment display
• 11-speaker Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound premium audio system
• USB port with iPod connectivity
• Bluetooth streaming for audio
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio w/3-month trial to the XM All Access package
• OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation

The LaCrosse is not the most stylish or exciting looking car but it isn’t too mundane or boring to look at as well. The large front grille with large headlamps flanked on either side does look imposing and premium but the awkward shape of the grille does not impress us. Also, the shoulder line that drops from the front fender and then rises from the rear door handle also does not make much sense to us. 

The LaCrosse is the largest sedan in this comparison and also has the longest wheelbase and the highest ground clearance to boast about. The Lexus ES 300h is much shorter and narrower than its Toyota sibling but has an identical ride height and wheelbase. The Avalon is the lightest of them all while the LaCrosse weighs the most. 

• Halogen composite automatic on and off, automatic delay, and warning buzzer headlamps
• LED center high-mounted stop/brake light and rear stop tail lights
• Outside heated power-adjustable mirrors w/integrated turn signal indicators, ground illumination, driver-side memory, and an auto-dimming feature
• Chrome waterfall Grille w/active front lower grille shutters
• Body-color door handles w/chrome strips
• 20-inch machined-face Silver-painted aluminum wheels

The LaCrosse is intended at a more premium set of buyers and hence safety is of paramount importance for Buick, which is evident from its crash tests. The 2014 LaCrosse scores a perfect 5-star rating from the NHTSA, while it is also rated as ‘Good’ in all the aspects of the tests conducted by the IIHS. There is a considerable amount of safety features and driver aids offered as standard, a highlight of which is listed below. 

• StabiliTrak stability control system with Traction Control
• Electronic Grade Braking
• Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist w/Rear Vision Camera
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• OnStar 6 months of Directions and Connections plan w/Automatic Crash Response, Stolen Vehicle Assistance and Roadside Assistance
• Dual-stage frontal and side-impact, driver and right-front passenger, head curtain side-impact, front and rear outboard seating positions, and rear seat-mounted thorax Airbags
• Passenger Sensing System

The Buick LaCrosse may not serve as the most premium or the most frugal or the most powerful large sedan, but what it does is provides a much-balanced offering that caters to the more money-minded buyer segment who do not want to compromise on the comfort front. If you can live with the rather awkward styling of the car, the 2014 LaCrosse does offer great value for first-time large car buyers.