Driving Impressions

The Buick Rendezvous rides more smoothly and feels lighter on its feet than a sport-utility vehicle. Its long wheelbase smoothes surface irregularities without the road vibration inherent in many SUVs. Overall, the road demeanor of the Rendezvous is pleasing. It stopped well, and was quiet for an SUV, though a little road-noisy by luxury sedan standards. We found the Rendezvous comported itself surprisingly well on winding roads. Even when pushed it was thoroughly honest and never felt incapable of dealing with stringent demands. At high speeds it feels more like minivan than sedan or truck. Strong side gusts affect it more than they do a car. The Rendezvous works quite well in treacherous conditions when equipped with all-wheel drive. Driving through sandy, rocky arroyos, the SUV side of its personality came to the fore. Its all-wheel-drive system, called Versatrak, requires no input from the driver. Versatrak drives just the front wheels until sensors agree that some traction assistance from the rear is advisable. Versatrak is clever: Power is meted out separately and individually to each rear wheel, not just to the rear axle. That is a fineness of traction disbursement not available in most other four-wheel-drive systems. The result is better traction and increased stability, making the Rendezvous more capable in the snow and easier to drive in the slush. Versatrak helps Rendezvous cope with gnarly weather and marginal off-highway tracks with dignity. With its 185-horsepower 3.4-liter V6 the Rendezvous accelerates with reasonable aplomb. This engine uses an iron block and pushrod-operated overhead valves. Models equipped with the 3.6-liter V6 accelerate more quickly. It's smoother, revs more freely and feels more responsive. The 3.6-liter V6 is an entirely new engine, with all-aluminum construction and dual overhead camshafts. A 32-bit microprocessor continuously adjusts its valve timing according to conditions; GM calls this technology VVT (for Variable Valve Timing). The same computer also manages its more advanced fuel injection and coil-on-plug ignition systems. In short, the dual overhead-cam 3.6-liter V6 is a more modern, more sophisticated design than the overhead-valve 3.4-liter V6. And the 3.6-liter produces significantly more power: 242 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 232 pound-feet of torque at 3500 rpm. More important, 90 percent of that peak torque is present and accounted for between 1500 and 6000 rpm. That means power is instantly available at all engine speeds. Rendezvous deserves a look on the basis of economy alone. It uses regular unleaded gas, not premium, and its thirst is temperate for its size. Fuel economy ratings: 18/27 mpg City/Highway for the overhead-cam 3.6-liter, 19/26 mpg for the older 3.4-liter. With AWD, the numbers are 18/25 for the larger engine, 18/24 for the smaller. The load-leveling suspension, available as part of the trailer towing package, uses compressed air to fill bladders in line with the rear shock absorbers. The air pressure keeps Rendezvous level when carrying a heavy load or towing a trailer. The system comes with an auxiliary air outlet, rubber air hose, and pressure gauge, for inflating tires or toys.

Final Word

Buick Rendezvous is as comfortable as it is practical. It offers a smooth ride, reassuring road manners, and a pleasant cabin. It can be configured to haul six adults in comfort, or a load of lumber from the home-improvement center, or a combination of people and cargo. Rendezvous offers an attractive value with a compelling price and decent fuel economy. It's priced significantly below such luxury all-wheel-drive vehicles as the Lexus RX 330 and Acura MDX. New Car Test Drive correspondent Denise McCluggage first test drove the Rendezvous, with Mitch McCullough reporting from Los Angeles.