Building a new image

srobertson

Buick's new Terraza is part SUV, part van

My most memorable ride in a Buick occurred when I was in high school and didn't yet have a driver's license. My buddy John had just gotten his, and as a reward his well-to-do-aunt gave him her four-year-old Buick convertible. John put a "cutout" on that old '58 V-8 that enabled him to by-pass the muffler and tailpipe by pulling on a knob hidden under the dashboard. The result was a racket that could raise the dead.

John picked me up one day and we headed over to our high school where the parking lot had been recently resurfaced. With the cutout open and low gear selected on the column-mounted manual transmission lever, John gunned the engine and popped the clutch. Much to my surprise, the big Buick just sat there, hardly moving, but belching smoke, fire, asphalt and outrageous noise to the delight of immature teenage onlookers. Finally, the Buick began to gather momentum, and we lurched away leaving a cloud of smoke and expensive rubber. I'm sure John's aunt would have been proud of him that day, because it was her tax money that paid for that new parking lot. A year later we could still see the two-inch-deep gash in the asphalt.

If someone told me then that Buick would someday build a van, I'd have thought him crazy. But with its new Terraza, Buick is reinforcing a new image, and going after a market segment between premium midsize vans and sport utility vehicles. Midsize vans caught on because of their fantastic passenger and cargo carrying versatility. But in recent years they have lost their luster and sales have fallen. Buyers have been steadily moving toward sport utility vehicles for more expressive styling, all-wheel-drive capability and luxury amenities. The big exception has been at the premium end of the van segment (those above $30,000), which has been steadily growing, with over 300,000 units sold in 2003 alone.

With SUV style, luxury and similar performance, the newest Buick also offers the utility, convenience and ride quality of a midsize van. It is targeted at upwardly mobile professional couples with relatively young families who want greater style and functionality, and are willing to pay extra for it. An ordinary experience will not do for these savvy buyers who are hip to the latest technologies and gadgets such as MP3 players and GPS navigators.

The Terraza may be a van, but it looks like a Buick with a strong sculpted presence that's defined by the prominent Buick grille. And like previous Buicks, it provides a premium car-like ride and comfort level, thanks to its independent front and rear suspensions and automatic leveling system. And this may be the quietest van I've ever driven, a tribute to Buick's quiet tuning program consisting of interior and exterior sound deadening materials, added insulation, and Buick's special laminated, sound-deadening glass.

But how can a Buick van seriously compete with the ever-popular SUV segment? By offering all-wheel-drive and serious towing capacity! Buick's Versatrack is an on-demand all-wheel-drive system that goes into action automatically. Under normal conditions the vehicle operates in front-wheel drive. As much as 44 percent of the power can be transferred from the front to the rear, and then between the left and right rear wheels to maintain traction on slippery surfaces. AWD is not available on most vans, as their fold-into-the-floor seats take up the space required by the AWD machinery. The Terraza seats do fold to create a flat loading floor, but they do not disappear into the floor like the competition's. Instead, Buick's van provides a nifty, hidden, under-floor storage compartment that can be accessed through the rear lift gate. The third-row seat folds down in a 50/50 split and the second-row seat folds forward. Rear occupants have access to storage bins that are built into the rear of the front and second-row seats.

The Terraza is built on the same platform as GM's other minivans -- the Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6 and Saturn Relay -- but Buick designers have fine-tuned the chassis and adorned the interior with plenty of leather and wood grain trim. And, the double-stitched leather is softer than that in a Pontiac, Chevrolet or Saturn.

Collapsible trays between the front seats and second-row captain's chairs double as cupholders, and a rear DVD entertainment system will turn your Terraza into a rolling movie theater. An available PhatNoise digital media system allows owners to store thousands of MP3 songs and/or several dozen movies that can be downloaded from your personal computer. The Terraza also offers a 115-volt AC outlet.

All Terrazas come equipped with a 3.5-liter V-6 that makes 200 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque. A four-speed automatic transmission is standard. Terraza can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

All models come standard with four-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction control and stability control. Side-impact airbags for front occupants are standard on the CXL, which I tested, and optional on the CX. One year of OnStar's safe and sound service is included, which has several novel features, including remote door unlocking and remote vehicle diagnostics.

My CLX was rated for 18 mpg/ city and 24 mpg/highway and had a bottom-line sticker price of $32,660. That's quite a bit more than John's '58 convertible cost, but then, John's car only got about 6 mpg in the city!

Steve Robertson of Robertson's Creative Photography is a car enthusiast and former staff writer/photographer for the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at sjr1@robertsonsphotography.com.