If you can rein in your expectations, you begin to appreciate the Buick LeSabre.
It's not that the LeSabre, which gets a mild refreshening as one of the first 1997 models to arrive in showrooms, is a bad car. Far from it. Ask LeSabre owners, who tend to be among the most loyal in the industry and who've made it the best-selling full-size sedan for four years. Ask IntelliChoice, which annually ranks it among the best values of all American cars.And with a multitude of features, General Motors' very respectable 3.8-liter V-6 and a price tag in the mid-$20,000 that seems a real bargain, the LeSabre is an attractive entry.
The only problem is that the LeSabre isn't a BMW or a Lexus. It remains, despite refinements, a big American car with a semisoft ride and super-soft seats. Family Circle named the LeSabre the family car of the year in 1993 and 1995, but I don't see many families in California riding around in them. Instead, it seems better suited for empty nesters, those older buyers who gravitate to the familiarity of cars such as the six-passenger LeSabre but find other Buicks like the Park Avenue and Roadmaster too big or too expensive.
Of course, Buick doesn't pretend that the LeSabre is a rival to a Japanese or European luxury car. No, it competes with buyers of cars such as the Chrysler Concorde and LHS and Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight. Personally, however, when I heard that the LeSabre would be getting some changes for 1997, I got a little dreamy when thinking about the possibilities.
Instead, the car that showed up in the parking lot brought me back to reality. It wasn't far removed from the previous LeSabres I have driven. Changes for 1997 include integrating the grille with the hood and new looks for front and rear lamps. On the inside, upgrades include some safety improvements, better seats in the Custom model and small changes to the instrument panel and door trim.
The exterior of the red LeSabre Limited I drove remains very traditional and none too distinct. An oval grille, wraparound front lights, exaggerated body-side moldings and a combination of body-color, black and chrome trim pieces bespeak of luxury in a uniquely American way. There's little sportiness to this car.
On the inside, where comfort rules, the dashboard design remains a mess. The horizontal instrument panel is too small. The dash itself is all awkward outcroppings and recesses that remind me of the cliff-dwelling communities of the American Southwest. It's the opposite of almost every other car I drive these days.
The LeSabre's seats were wide and comfortable but a little slippery with the optional leather and vinyl coverings on our test model. I didn't like the interior door handles as they didn't provide a natural place to grab when you wanted to open the doors.
I do like the forward-thinking features of this car, which allows a driver to individualize things like the locking system, the perimeter lighting and the seats. Dual climate controls is another nice feature.
The best thing is the car's 3.8-liter V-6 engine. GM calls it Series II. With 205 horsepower and 230 pounds-feet of torque, it provides great acceleration - both from a stop and while on the road. It's standard in both Custom and Limited models. Even better is that it only requires unleaded regular gasoline and gets 30 mpg on the highway. I averaged close to 23 mpg in a mix of city and highway driving over 300-plus miles.
But, for me, it's hard to get over things like the old-fashioned chrome door handles that immediately give cues that this car isn't about something slick or faux-European. Perhaps Buick is comfortable with its place in the market and will leave attracting younger "older" buyers and taking sales from competitors to the up-and-coming Oldsmobile Division.
With the LeSabre, it's a loud and clear message: Let's keep the current owners coming back.
*****
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Nuts and bolts
What we drove: 1997 Buick LeSabre Limited, a large sedan with a 3.8-liter V-6 engine and a four-speed automatic transmission.
Base price: $26,114
Price as tested (includes options and delivery charge): $28,966
Curb weight: 3,430 pounds
Length: 200.0 inches
Turning circle (curb to curb): 40.7 feet left; 39.4 feet right
Standard features: Dual air bags; anti-lock brakes; power locks with memory; twilight sentinel; remote keyless entry; theft-deterrent system; tilt steering; air conditioning with dual controls; cruise control; rear defogger; power front seats; power windows; trunk net.
Options on test vehicle: California package with automatic level control, cornering lamps, power mirrors, upgraded AM/FM stereo with cassette and upgraded theft-deterrent system; leather/vinyl split front seat; Gran Touring package with suspension and wheel upgrades and leather-wrapped steering wheel; CD player.
EPA figures: 19 mpg (city), 30 mpg (highway)
Test mileage: 22.9 mpg
Fuel: Unleaded regular