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2002 Buick Rendezvous
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| A new Rendezvous for Buick |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 21:51:00 |
| Rating |
 465 ( 38 +8.17% ) | | Author | Brian Chee |
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Description:
Autobytel Road Review
2002 Buick Rendezvous
--by Brian Chee
Test car
Rendezvous CXL
Writer's notes
Showroom appeal:
Refined, with character accents
Asphalt rating:
Good enough to get out of trouble.
Real World:
Hauls people, groceries, golf balls...
Cool factor:
Looks a little like the Aztek, but only a little.
Hauling:
Up to 3500 lbs.
Safety:
Side air bags, steel safety cage, ONstar.
Comfort:
Top line is the best value.
Handling:
Nicer than your average crossover
Engine
Type:
3.4-liter 3400 (LA1) OHV V6
Displacement (cu in / cc):
204 / 3350
Bore & stroke (in / mm):
3.62 x 3.31 / 92.0 x 84.0
Cylinder head and block:
cast aluminum heads, cast iron block
Valvetrain:
overhead valve: assembled steel camshaft, roller-type hydraulic lifters, pushrods, roller rocker arms, two valves per cylinder
Ignition system:
distributorless design with 24 reference pulses per revolution and extended-life platinum-tipped spark plugs
Fuel delivery:
sequential injection with top-feed twin-spray injectors
Compression ratio
9.5:1
Horsepower (hp / kw @ rpm:
185 / 138 @ 5200
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm):
210 / 285 @ 4000
Maximum engine speed (rpm):
6000
Exhaust / emissions controls:
combination stainless steel and aluminized stainless steel; PCV, EGR, catalytic converter, evaporative system
Estimated fuel economy
(mpg city / hwy / combined): FWD: 19 / 26 / 22; AWD: 18 / 24 / 21
Transmission
Type:
Hydra-matic 4T65-E electronically controlled 4-speed automatic with overdrive and torque converter clutch
Case material:
die-cast aluminum
Transfer system:
dual, out-of-phase, half-width link chains
Chassis/Suspension
Front:
independent, strut-type with coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear:
independent, short and long control arms with one toe-control link per side, coil springs, anti-roll bar, monotube shocks
Level control:
rear air shocks (available)
Traction control:
all-speed using brake application and engine torque reduction (available on front-wheel drive only)
Steering:
power-assisted rack-and-pinion
Turning circle, curb to curb (ft / m):
37.4 / 11.4
Brakes
Type:
four-wheel vented disc with power assist, anti-locking system
ABS:
Bosch 5.3 4-channel with electronic brake force distribution
Wheels/Tires
Wheels:
FWD standard: Steel 16 x 6.5-inch with full plastic cover
AWD standard / FWD available: Cast aluminum 16 x 6.5-inch
AWD available: Cast aluminum 16 x 6.5-inch with chrome finish
Tires:
Base: P215/70R-16 all-season blackwall radial
Available: P215/70R-16 all-season blackwall touring radial
Spare:
16 x 4 aluminum with compact tire
xxx
It takes 23,000 golf balls to fill the back of a Buick Rendezvous.
And that's with little Jane and Joe properly seat-belted in and ready to ride. Twenty-three thousand drives to the left of the fairway or chips into the water, if you're the typical 60-ish hacker who normally drives a Buick. But if you live in the demographic Buick hopes to reach, you're still thinking about those kids in the back seat, horrified-those poor children-or on your way to the sporting goods store.
Pardon-where is your bulk section?
Okay. So maybe you can't get that many golf balls in a Rendezvous. The point is that you can get quite a load in there, with a typical family of three to five along for a very nice ride. The Buick Rendezvous is comfortable, futuristic, has just enough power and looks nice, which is darn near everything you want in your typical multi-purpose crossover vehicle. Ahh. But wait. It's a Buick. Barney, my best friend's Dad, drove a Buick. The way he used to float down the street in that big machine, my friend used to wonder what was wrong with the roads. For Buick and GM, the only thing wrong with the road is that it always seems to wind up at Barney's front door. Whenever people think of Buick, they think of that guy and a bunch more like him.
The Rendezvous should change that. First, Rendezvous is a French word, mystery and romance hanging on every syllable. People don't say 'let's have a rendezvous' if they're going to spaghetti night at the local all-you-can eat buffet. Someone like Barney does not drive down the street in something called a Rendezvous. I can, however, see plenty of thirty-something people associating with the name, and that kind of association makes people at GM smile a lot.
They're still smiling, thanks to sales figures. And it's not surprising: from performance to comfort and convenience, the Rendezvous is a well-built vehicle, a solid do-everything that should contend with higher-priced utility vehicles. It helps that the Rendezvous is perhaps the first true crossover vehicle--meaning that you get the room of a minivan, the look of a SUV and a drive that's somewhere between utility and car.
"By combining the best features and design elements of today's SUVs, premium sedans and minivans, we've been able to create a vehicle with real comfort, all-road and all-weather driving security and flexible cargo versatility," said Rendezvous Brand Manager Jack Bowen. "The idea is to provide one vehicle that avoids the compromises inherent in traditional vehicles. With Rendezvous, consumers can have it all: style and functionality, performance and comfort, handling and roominess. Plus we're providing an impressive array of safety features, outstanding fuel economy and great overall value."
...From performance to comfort and convenience, the Rendezvous is a well-built vehicle, a solid do-everything that should contend with higher-priced utility vehicles. ...
We certainly like to have it all, and the Rendezvous offers significant benefits. It's easy to get into and out of, and the back can handle everything from groceries and soccer balls to a small Ficus tree. But one look at the Rendezvous and you know it will haul stuff. The real test for this utility-type vehicle is how it drives. Is it a shoebox on ten-speed tires?
Mostly, the Rendezvous was nimble for its structure and powerful enough to get a person out of trouble. Stomp on the accelerator to get through on a yellow and you'll feel it, though there is a moment or two of nervous reflection. The steering was sharper than expected, with none of that hope-I'm-lucky feel. It did trip on some mild corners, but that's to be expected for a vehicle that carries seven people and hauls up to 3500 pounds. According to Buick, the Rendezvous is one of the first vehicles to offer Versatrak, General Motors' "on-demand" all-wheel-drive system. Versatrak works by using front drive under normal conditions, adding torque to the rear when the vehicle hits a slippery surface. Versatrak is standard on the CXL model, so if you buy the Rendezvous, consider a jump up to this trim level. GM engineers also created a short-and-long-arm independent rear suspension for all Rendezvous models. Each rear wheel is attached to a cast aluminum rear crossmember by means of cast aluminum upper and lower control arms. Knuckle assemblies are also cast aluminum to minimize total and unsprung weight. Curved coil springs package neatly between each lower control arm and the rear-suspension crossmember. Buick claims that the independent rear suspension provides superior road-holding and ride characteristics more like a Park Avenue Ultra than an SUV or minivan.
If that means it rides easy, so be it. The Rendezvous is a nice riding vehicle, though it seemed a bit of a plodder on quick lane changes. No matter: Excellent visibility gives the driver a strong and safe feeling. Rendezvous designers have drawn up a vehicle with great sight lines and a unique style.
About that style: Like unique Uncle Pete, there's a little Aztek in the look. That's okay: it gives the refined Rendezvous a character of its own, something sadly missing from most of the vehicles on the same aisle. To get something with more style, ride or room, you'd have to open your wallet quite a bit wider than the $27 grand it takes to get into a decently equipped Rendezvous. And just think: with less than 30 thou, you get yourself a fine vehicle-one of the best in its class-and a crate of discount golf balls. |
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