Buick Lucerne: A V8 Sedan With a Front Bench Seat for Six

In the early 2000s, Buick offered an unusual sedan: the Lucerne, which paired a V8 engine with a front bench seat, two features that were fading from the American car market. Named after a city in Switzerland, the full-size Lucerne arrived for the 2006 model year and stayed in production for six years.

8-liter V6 making 197 hp, upgraded to 227 hp in 2009. 6-liter Northstar V8 initially produced 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, then switched to a version with 292 hp and 288 lb-ft in 2008. Every engine used a four-speed automatic transmission.

Inside, dual-zone climate control and power-adjustable front seats were standard, with higher trims adding heated and ventilated seats and leather upholstery. The standout option was a $295 40/20/40 front bench seat, offered only on CX and CXL trims, which raised capacity to six and moved the gear selector to the steering column.

V8-powered Lucernes could be ordered with it, though the Super trim could not. The middle seat included a fold-down armrest with cupholders, so it worked as a console when not needed.

Reliability complaints varied, with the 2006 model year drawing the most NHTSA complaints at 330, falling to just 49 by 2011. Common trouble spots included bodywork and paint, the engine, electrical systems, wheels, and the fuel system. Recalls were most common in the first two model years, with four each, then dropped to two per year by 2009.

Those recalls involved the ignition, windshield wipers, power steering, and sunroof.

For 2011 models, used prices range from about $7,000 to $13,000, with V8 versions only slightly more expensive than V6 trims, which run from roughly $5,000 to $11,000. The closely related Cadillac DTS shared the same platform and Northstar V8, also offered a front bench seat, and earned an 83/100 JD Power Quality and Reliability Score in its final year.

After the Lucerne ended in 2011, the second-generation LaCrosse took its place. That model dropped both the V8 and the front bench seat, so it seated five at most. S. market in 2019 but remains in production overseas, and the current generation, launched in 2023, is offered only with an inline-four engine.