- crossover 194,671
- Columbia, MO
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- autoshopper.com
- crossover 194,671 automatic
2002 buick rendezvous review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. A versatile five- to seven-passenger crossover vehicle. introductionbuick's all-new rendezvous crosses over all the lines that used to separate sedans, minivans, and sport-utility vehicles. The word 'crossover' is now becoming a word, as manufacturers are no longer putting quotation marks around it. It has fine manners on the highway, a benefit of its unibody construction normally associated with sedans. The three-row interior compares favorably with costlier vehicles. there is much to like here in terms of engineering, flexibility, and appearance. lineupbuick rendezvous comes in two models: cx 24,924) and cxl 27,452). cx comes with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Notable is the independent suspension, both front and rear, and anti-lock disc brakes all around. Both models come with 16-inch wheels, the clx with fancier ones. dual-stage airbags with side airbags (seat-mounted) for front-seat occupants are standard. Also standard on all models: roof rack, remote keyless entry, theft-deterrent system, am/fm/cd (the clx adds a cassette player), and power outlets in all three rows. cxl adds, among other features, dual automatic climate control, odor and pollen filter, ultrasonic rear parking aid, leather or upgraded cloth seating, and foot rests for second-row passengers. A tire inflation-pressure monitor will also be available. a number of options are available including a six-cd changer, onstar and a head-up display, which projects salient information on the windshield (low enough to be unobtrusive but clearly visible). The driver can read with a minimum of eye deflection the car's speed and radio or cd information. . walkaroundit is difficult to judge the size of the rendezvous without the context of another vehicle near it. That's usually a sign that the design team (headed, by the way, by a woman, liz wetzel) got the scale right. Although buick says the track of the rendezvous (64 inches between left and right tires) is wider than any suv, the body is still quite tall. But the eye is told otherwise by strong horizontal elements that say 'stability.' the traditional buick grille on the rendezvous emphasizes a familial resemblance to the park avenue but it somehow looks less formal and more cheery here. Additional hiding places and lockable bins are strategically placed here and there. the flexibility of the seating configurations is an exercise in automotive origami. The seats fold and tuck and fit into an amazing number of arrangements. For maximum capacity, however, the center row can be removed. the load-height is low, reducing back strain when loading or unloading heavy objects. Well, the rendezvous has a rear opening wide enough to take on board such building material flat. Well, the buick engineers found a way to do it. Too bad being unobtrusive is a mark of success because this needs to stand up and take applause. even with a 7-inch ground clearance and all-wheel drive, getting in and out of the rendezvous is more sedan-like than suv-like; small children, arthritic knees and tight-skirts can be grateful for that. All seats are easy to access and quite comfortable. access to the third row is far simpler than in most vehicles with three rows of seats. Once back there, the third row is pleasantly suitable for two full-size adults. That's best appreciated when driving with a full load of people and their stuff on a nasty, sleety, darkening afternoon with a slippery glaze on the street. but all is not sheer delight inside the rendezvous. The plastic used for the instrument panel looks dowdy compared with the rest of the interior. driving impressionon the road the rendezvous has a reassuring manner. Its long wheel base (6 inches longer that of the grand cherokee) smoothes surface irregularities like a sedan or a minivan. In handling the more sinuous highways, again it favors the minivan/sedan end of the scale. Driven in the truly twisty bits the rendezvous comported itself surprisingly well. Gm's all-wheel-drive system, called versatrak, requires no input from the driver. Versatrak drives just the front wheels until sensors agree that some traction assistance from the rear is advisable. Now this is where the versatrak is really clever: power is meted out separately and individually to the rear wheels, not just to the rear axle. The result is better traction and increased stability, making the rendezvous more capable in the snow and easier to drive in the slush. overall, the road demeanor of the rendezvous is pleasing. It stopped well, accelerated with reasonable aplomb (can't everything use more power?) and was quiet for an suv, though a little road-noisy by luxury sedan standards. summarythe rendezvous deserves a look on the basis of economy alone. In the first place it uses regular unleaded gas, not premium. Its thirstiness is temperate for its size: 22 miles per gallon on the highway for the versatrak, 24 mpg for the front-wheel-drive models. but where the rendezvous really shines is in the window sticker department: fully outfitted it is priced some $6500-$8000 below such all-wheel-drive vehicles as the lexus 300 rx and the acura mdx (and the lexus does not have three rows of seats). but the vehicle's flexibility, ease and variety of use are also strong points in its favor. If this be crossover, bring 'em on. model lineupcx 24,924); cxl awd 27,452). assembled inmexico. options as tested1se luxury package 5,035) includes leather seating surfaces, second-row captain's chairs, third-row flip/fold seat, dual heated six-way power seats, memory driver's seat and memory left outside mirror, automatic dual-zone air conditioning, head-up display, tire inflation monitor, overhead console, driver information center, universal garage door opener, storage system with sliding rear cargo tray, theft-deterrent system, passkey iii, rear park assist, onstar communications system, cargo mat. model testedcxl 27,452). Power Seats✔ AM/FM✔ Climate Control✔ CD Changer✔ Air Conditioning
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