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Auto Profiles: 2002 Buick Rendezvous
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| SUV, minivan, or sedan? Learn more about Buick’s new crossover vehicle. |
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| Updated |
Mar 17, 2005 19:41:50 |
| Rating |
 16 ( -2 -12.5% ) | | Author | Brian Chee |
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Description:
Selecting a Rendezvous
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."
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 maybe even a crate of discount golf balls.
--By Brian Chee
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