Buick Park Avenue

Buick Park Avenue Models

Two models are available: Park Avenue and Park Avenue Ultra.

Buick Park Avenue comes with a 205-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine. Interiors come trimmed in cloth, with power windows, power mirrors, climate control, cruise control, automatic headlights and other convenience features. Anti-lock brakes and side air bags are standard.

Buick Park Avenue Ultra gets a 240-horsepower supercharged version of the same V6. Trimmed in leather and wood, the Ultra adds heated front seats, mirrors with parallel park assist, a compass, moisture-sensing wipers, GM OnStar communications system, and other features. In addition to its more powerful engine, the Ultra comes with StabiliTrak traction control, a heavy-duty transmission and magnetic speed-sensitive power steering.

Buick released a limited-edition, special appearance package for Park Avenue Ultra. Exclusive Laguna Green paintwork will complement a two-tone Shale/Neutral interior with Southern Walnut inserts for the instrument panel and inner doors. Expect the package to include a long list of otherwise optional equipment.

Driving the Buick Park Avenue

GM's 3800 Series II V6 offers enough smooth, quiet power to provide brisk acceleration. Available in 205-horsepower normally aspirated (Park Avenue) and 240-horsepower supercharged (Ultra) versions, the 3800 delivers lots of low-rpm getaway power, instant throttle response, and plenty of punch for passing.

Power is transferred to the front wheels through one of GM's butter-smooth electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmissions. They're among the best in the business. Anti-lock brakes come standard.

Park Avenue also offers surprisingly good fuel efficiency, with an EPA-estimated 19 miles per gallon city, 30 mpg highway for Park Avenue and 18/27 mpg for the supercharged Ultra.

This car uses one of the stiffest chassis in the entire GM warehouse. That's a big plus. A stiff chassis helps the suspension engineers create ride and handling traits appropriate to a particular car's target market. It also makes it easier to keep noise out of the car, and pays long-term durability benefits.

Given this trait, it was interesting to see the handling distinctions between the basic Park Avenue and the flagship Ultra. The ride and handling traits of the standard Park Avenue are indistinguishable from its predecessors, traits that have earned big Buick sedans a stodgy image over the years. Park Avenue seems to float atop its wheels, with pronounced body roll and vague power steering.

We prefer the livelier performance of the Park Avenue Ultra. With its supercharged engine and touring suspension, it can easily take on the best Lincoln and Chrysler have to offer. All in all, the Ultra's enhanced control and firmer ride lends a contemporary feel that's a pleasant step forward for Buick.

If the Ultra's extra performance isn't important to you, the standard Park Avenue may be the way to go. The Park Avenue comes well equipped and stacks up as an exceptional buy among large cars.

An optional Gran Touring suspension improves the responsiveness of either model. On Ultra it costs $200 and includes Goodyear Eagle LS Touring tires, albeit in the standard 225/60R16 size. It can be ordered on the standard Park Avenue as well, but then it costs $285 and requires the $1692 Prestige Package. That's because it includes not only the upgraded suspension, wheels, and tires but also a leather-wrapped steering wheel and Ultra's dealer-programmable magnetic variable-effort steering. This system varies the amount of power assist as vehicle speed and/or steering wheel angle increases, providing a significantly better sense of where the front wheels are pointed. So let the dealer know if you want less steering effort or more feedback. The stiffer suspension package reduces the ride height slightly and yields much sharper responses in quick maneuvers. The tradeoff in ride quality from the standard Park Avenue is insignificant.

Last year, Buick made StabiliTrak stability control standard on Ultra and optional on Park Avenue. StabiliTrak monitors yaw rate (how fast the vehicle is turning) compared to steering-wheel angle (how fast the driver wants the vehicle to turn) and selectively applies one or more wheel brakes to help the driver maintain control when the car is in danger of sliding or skidding.

Quiet operation has always been a top priority for Buick sedans, and here too the Park Avenue represents a step forward. Wind noise has been reduced to a mere whisper, and the unit-body does a superior job of keeping road noise out of the cabin. The supercharged engine is audible at full throttle, but we think it's worth a little extra noise to have its superior thrust.

Add roomy seats with real move-around comfort, and the going becomes positively serene, particularly during freeway cruising. The Park Avenue isn't quite as quiet as a $54,000 Lexus LS 430, but the distinctions are academic in most operating situations - unlike the distinction in price.

Optional Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist can detect objects that are close behind the car, but below trunk-lid level, out of the driver's normal field of vision. Shift into reverse, and the system transmits ultrasonic beams. Four sensors in the rear bumper detect echoes, and alert the driver with a chime. The system also activates three light-emitting diodes (LEDs) set in the rear headliner, where they are visible in the rear-view mirror. Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist works at speeds up to 3 mph; at higher speeds a flashing LED warns drivers that they're on their own.