2008 Buick Lucerne Super priced at $39,395
By Zach Gale
The Buick Lucerne Super -- with an MSRP of $39,395 including a $765 destination charge -- has the most expensive base price of any 2008 Buick. For the money, a Super driver gets a healthy dose of standard equipment, starting with a tweaked 4.6-liter Northstar V-8 engine delivering 292 horsepower, up from the Lucerne CXS's 275 horsepower Northstar, but curiously down eight horses on the 5.3-liter V-8 in the LaCrosse Super.
Nevertheless, the Lucerne Super is set apart from lesser Lucernes with its specially-calibrated version of GM's Magnetic Ride Control technology for reduced body roll, suede inserts in the interior, a leather-covered instrument panel with French stitching, and the larger chrome waterfall grille, which will likely be applied to all Lucernes soon. The Lucerne also comes with heated and cooled front seats, Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist, XM radio, a nine-speaker 280-watt Harman Kardon audio system and floor mats embroidered with the Buick insignia.
Loaded Supers will be equipped with a Lane Departure Warning System, which uses a camera located between the rear view mirror and the windshield, to alert drivers they can't keep their Buick in one lane. Buick also offers the Side Blind Zone Alert, a radar-based system which can detect vehicles in a zone 11 feet on either side of the Lucerne and up to 16 feet behind the side mirrors. The system's sensors are located at the rear corners of the car.
Surprisingly, Buick lists 18-inch chrome wheels, a touch screen DVD-based navigation system, and even a power sunroof as "available features" we think should be covered in the MSRP, and no, using OnStar as a navigation system does not provide the same experience as having an in-dash screen like the one pictured below.
A V-6 Toyota Avalon is in the same price range as the V-8 Lucerne Super, but for those drivers who want a bit more exterior style with their full-size entry luxury sedan, the Buick makes a convincing argument.