2019 Buick LaCrosse

2019 Buick LaCrosse Overview

Is the 2019 Buick LaCrosse a Good Used Car?

Yes, the 2019 LaCrosse is a very good used car. Its standard four-cylinder engine is supplemented by an eAssist mild-hybrid system that helps return the best gas mileage numbers among all large cars. If you prioritize performance over fuel economy, you can find LaCrosse models with powerful V6 engines. This sedan offers a comfortable ride and seating, and it features a long list of user-friendly technology. It does have some drawbacks, including subpar cabin quality and less trunk space than most class rivals.

Why You Can Trust Us

We analyzed 31 Buick LaCrosse reviews – along with reliability ratings, fuel economy estimates, and more – to help you decide if the 2019 LaCrosse is the right used car for you.

U.S. News & World Report has been ranking cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our team has more than 75 years of combined automotive industry experience. To remain objective, we don't accept expensive gifts or trips from automakers, and an outside team manages the advertising on our site.

How Much is the 2019 Buick LaCrosse?

Based on listings for the 2019 Buick LaCrosse, the average list price is $21,928. Prices range from $29,570 to $47,070 and vary depending on the vehicle’s condition, mileage, features, and location.

See the Best Used Car Deals »

How Much Does the 2019 Buick LaCrosse Cost to Own?

The 2019 LaCrosse’s five-year costs for gas, insurance, taxes, fees, repairs, and maintenance are projected to be about $27,400, or $5,480 per year. That’s about average for the class.

2018 vs. 2019 Buick LaCrosse: What's the Difference?

Buick introduced the Sport Touring trim for the 2019 LaCrosse, which is the only major difference between it and the 2018 model. This trim mostly adds some enhanced exterior design elements. The 2019 LaCrosse was the final model produced for the North American market.

Compare the 2018 and 2019 LaCrosse »

Here are the key changes for the Buick LaCrosse over the past few years:

• 2016: upgraded infotainment system
• 2017: fully redesigned with standard V6 engine and more trunk space
• 2018: four-cylinder engine became standard; Avenir trim added; nine-speed automatic transmission paired with V6 engine
• 2019: Sport Touring trim introduced

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2016 LaCrosse, 2017 LaCrosse, and 2018 LaCrosse full reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.

How Reliable Is the 2019 Buick LaCrosse?

The 2019 Buick LaCrosse has a slightly above-average predicted reliability rating of 3.5 out of five.

Read more about LaCrosse reliability »

2019 Buick LaCrosse Recalls

There have been 2 safety recalls issued from NHTSA.

See more information on Buick LaCrosse safety recalls »

Which Used Buick LaCrosse Trim Is Right for Me?

The 2019 Buick LaCrosse comes in six trims: 1SV (base), Preferred, Essence, Premium, Sport Touring, and Avenir. A four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive are standard. A V6 engine is available in the Preferred, Essence, and Premium trims and standard in the Sport Touring and Avenir. All-wheel drive is available in V6 models.

You can stick with a base model and still get a nicely equipped car, with features such as synthetic leather upholstery, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. However, it's worth stepping up to at least the Essence trim, which comes with leather upholstery and heated front seats, and it’s available with blind spot monitoring, navigation, and a Bose stereo.

• Buick LaCrosse 1SV: Standard features in the 2019 LaCrosse include synthetic leather upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, and an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, voice recognition, multiple USB ports, an eight-speaker stereo, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and Bluetooth. Also standard are alloy wheels, proximity keyless entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote start, a universal garage door opener, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and Teen Driver.
• Buick LaCrosse Preferred: The Buick LaCrosse Preferred adds a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and satellite radio.
• Buick LaCrosse Essence: The LaCrosse Essence gains genuine leather upholstery, heated front seats, driver's seat memory settings, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, wireless device charging, and adaptive headlights. Available features include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, a panoramic moonroof, a rear-window power sunshade, navigation, HD Radio, an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo, and an adaptive suspension.
• Buick LaCrosse Premium: Additional features found in the LaCrosse Premium include a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, ventilated and massaging front seats, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, a following distance indicator, and a safety alert seat. The Premium trim is available with adaptive cruise control, automatic parking assist, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking.
• Buick LaCrosse Sport Touring: The Lacrosse Sport Touring has most of the same features as the Essence trim, but it comes with larger wheels and a sporty grille, fender, and spoiler.
• Buick LaCrosse Avenir: The LaCrosse Avenir features a panoramic moonroof, an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo, navigation, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist.

See 2019 Buick LaCrosse trims and specs »

What Does Buick's Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Cover?

Buick offers a certified pre-owned program for vehicles six years old or less and with fewer than 75,000 miles. Eligibility is determined by the vehicle’s initial sale date. Qualifying vehicles receive a one-year/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty after the four-year/50,000-mile new-car warranty expires. This warranty includes free maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles, and the original new-car powertrain warranty is extended to six years or 100,000 miles. For models sold in 2020 or newer, Buick changed the new car warranty to three years or 36,000 miles, but the one-year/12,000-mile limited warranty remains the same. Buick CPO models must pass a 172-point inspection. Additional benefits like towing and roadside assistance may be available, so read Buick’s warranty page carefully.

According to our analysis, Buick has one of the better CPO programs among affordable carmakers, alongside Kia and Mitsubishi. 

See the best CPO programs »

How Safe Is the LaCrosse?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2019 LaCrosse an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with five stars in each of the frontal crash, side crash, and rollover tests.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2019 LaCrosse the highest rating of Good in the five crash tests conducted. The IIHS gave the car's headlights the lowest rating of Poor for how well they illuminate the road ahead.

The IIHS uses a different scale for grading collision avoidance features. When equipped with available forward collision warning, the LaCrosse received the lowest rating of Basic for front crash prevention. Models with the Driver Confidence Package 2 – which includes automatic emergency braking – earned the highest rating of Superior.

Standard advanced safety features:

• Rearview camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Teen Driver (lets you do things like set speed and audio volume parameters for secondary drivers)

Available advanced safety features:

• Adaptive headlights
• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Head-up display
• Forward collision warning
• Following distance indicator
• Safety alert seat
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic parking assist
• Pedestrian detection
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist

See LaCrosse safety scores »

2019 Buick LaCrosse Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: 2019 Buick LaCrosse or 2019 Toyota Avalon?

The 2019 Toyota Avalon ranks near the top of the large car class. It has an elegant interior that's much nicer than the Buick's. The Avalon also has several more standard active safety features, as well as the best predicted reliability rating in the segment. However, the price range for used Avalons is several thousand dollars higher than for used LaCrosse models. The LaCrosse’s advantages over the Avalon include better fuel economy and a more user-friendly infotainment system. Buy the Buick if you like those positives, but pick the Toyota if you want more luxury.

Which Is Better: 2019 Buick LaCrosse or 2019 Chevrolet Impala?

The LaCrosse and the 2019 Chevrolet Impala are the only large cars to feature a four-cylinder engine. Though neither is particularly engaging, the Buick's gets better fuel economy. Other aspects of performance are similar: Both cars have a muscular V6 engine option, along with a composed, balanced ride. These large sedans are both products of General Motors, and they share the same user-friendly infotainment interface and an overall similar list of features. The Impala has a much larger trunk than the Buick, as well as the lowest price ceiling in the class. If you're on more of a budget, it's likely the better buy.

Compare the LaCrosse, Avalon, and Impala »

2019 LaCrosse Performance

How Does the 2019 Buick LaCrosse Drive?

The Buick LaCrosse comes standard with a four-cylinder engine that provides sufficient power for most driving situations, but it certainly won't wow you with forceful acceleration. An available V6 engine is a better fit. It's much stronger off the line and helps you get up to speed faster when you have a full complement of passengers.

This Buick cruises in comfort, and the ride remains plush even with larger wheels or when traversing big bumps in the road. The steering is light, which makes this sedan easy to maneuver in tight spaces.

• Base engine: 194-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder
• Available engine: 310-horsepower 3.6-liter V6
• Drivetrain: standard front-wheel drive; available all-wheel drive
• Transmission: standard six-speed automatic; available nine-speed automatic

Does the 2019 Buick LaCrosse Get Good Gas Mileage?

The LaCrosse's standard four-cylinder engine has the best EPA-estimated fuel economy in the large car class. Nearly all other rivals come standard with a V6, and the LaCrosse's available engine is on par with those competing powertrains.

• Four-cylinder, FWD: 25/35 mpg city/highway
• V6, FWD: 20/30 mpg
• V6, AWD: 20/29 mpg

Read more about LaCrosse performance »

2019 LaCrosse Interior

How Many People Does the 2019 LaCrosse Seat?

The 2019 LaCrosse sedan seats five people in two rows. The front seats are comfortable, but the cushions might be a bit narrow for some folks. There's ample space in the second row for taller occupants to relax.

The cabin features a noticeable amount of hard plastic surfaces that keep the LaCrosse from feeling as upscale as some rivals. The range-topping Avenir trim is a little more nicely appointed than lower trim levels.

Standard seating features:

• Synthetic leather upholstery
• Eight-way power-adjustable front seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel

Available seating features:

• Genuine leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Ventilated and massaging front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
• Driver's seat memory settings
• Rear-window power sunshade

How Many Child Car Seats Fit in the 2019 Buick LaCrosse?

The 2019 LaCrosse has two complete sets of LATCH car-seat connectors for the rear outboard seats and an upper tether for the rear middle seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this LATCH system the second-lowest rating of Marginal for ease of use. The lower anchors are set deeply in the seats, and it requires some force to attach the car-seat straps.

2019 Buick LaCrosse Features

The LaCrosse's infotainment system is intuitive and easy to operate. Plus, you get standard support for smartphone integration via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There's a large volume knob right below the touch screen, as well as physical buttons for tuning and exiting out of menus. The climate controls are clearly marked.

• Standard infotainment features: an 8-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, voice recognition, multiple USB ports, an eight-speaker stereo, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and Bluetooth
• Available infotainment features: satellite radio, wireless device charging, navigation, HD Radio, and an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo
• Additional standard features: proximity keyless entry, remote start, a universal garage door opener, and dual-zone automatic climate control
• Other available features: an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a panoramic moonroof

See 2019 Buick LaCrosse specs »

Read more about LaCrosse interior »

2019 Buick LaCrosse Dimensions

Buick LaCrosse Cargo Space

With its standard four-cylinder powertrain, the 2019 LaCrosse has 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space. That's tied for the lowest volume in the large car class. Models with a V6 engine have 15 cubic feet of space, which is still low for a large car.

2019 Buick LaCrosse Length and Weight

• Length: 16 feet, 5.5 inches
• Curb weight: 3,490 to 3,840 pounds

Where Was the 2019 Buick LaCrosse Built?

General Motors built the 2019 Buick LaCrosse in Michigan and in China.