At the top of the chart and price sheets is the Cadillac XTS, which was introduced last year.
Coming in with a much lower starting sticker price is the 2014 Chevrolet Impala. It went on sale earlier this year.
And, right in the middle is the Buick LaCrosse, revised for the 2014 model year. Even though it shares a basic architecture with its General Motors siblings, General Motors has given each car a distinctive feel all its own.
"To drive all three entries, you wouldn't know they were anywhere close to each other so it helps us from the efficiency stand point but the cars are truly different," said Doug Osterhoff of General Motors
The 2014 Buick LaCrosse ($34,060 base price) actually has more quiet and a smoother ride than even the Cadillac. And with the restyle, the look has been sharpened. It was already winning over many buyers in its previous form, even people who had previously driven import luxury brands. It was a homerun for Buick on many levels.
"Basically all the things that we looked at that we wanted to do including bringing in new customers and higher income, broadening our range of buyers and changing the image, the car really delivered in all that," said Osterhoff.
So not wanting to mess with a good thing too much, Buick's goal was to further refine the car that many said reminded them of a Lexus, but with a distinctive American flavor.
Technology is playing a much bigger role in this car than before. Electronic systems to keep you in your lane and prevent a forward collision are both available on this latest big Buick.
The V8 isn't needed. General Motor's 3.6 liter V6 does a good job on both acceleration and fuel economy. As for the bench seat, sorry, but designers and engineers need that console space in the center for controls.
But even though the LaCrosse is a modern take on the big Buick, it still has plenty of traditional luxury feel for people who like a large, plush car.
