For 100 years, Buick has been building vehicles that have presented themselves as being a cut above the common. The top-of-the-line Rendezvous Ultra, which made its way into showrooms earlier this year, continued that theme.
You can think of the luxuriously equipped, $46,070 Ultra as being a cut above the common $32,200 CX and less common $39,855 CXL version of the crossover-style sport-utility vehicle that was introduced a few years ago to become Buick's first "truck."
It's not actually very trucky, in the traditional sense at least, as it shares its unibody platform with the much reviled (mainly for its styling) Pontiac Aztek and both are based on the underpinnings of General Motors' current minivans.
Unlike an Aztek, however, the Rendezvous has truly attractive exterior styling. It looks at once luxurious in the Buick tradition, with that big toothy grille, yet somehow compact and self-contained.
Touches like the under-bumper valance that masquerades as a skid-plate add a bit of pretend off-road toughness to the overall look. It is supposed to be an SUV after all, not a minivan.
Sharing its basic architecture does provide some good things for Rendezvous, including an all-independent suspension that makes it an easy rider and decent levels of handling.
A moderate step-in height is another bonus, although the driving position remains high enough to give that comfortably commanding feel. And that vaguely van-like bodywork can hold up to seven people or be crammed with no less than 3,084 litres of cargo. The larger, more traditional looking, body-on-frame Chevy Trailblazer, by comparison, seats five and offers 2,268 litres of cargo room.
The CX is well-equipped and the CXL borders on what only a few years ago would have been considered lavish, but they fail to deliver that final expected feature in an upscale vehicle: performance. Both offer only adequate levels of acceleration from a less-than-inspired pushrod, 3.4-litre V-6 engine. The Ultra obviously needed something more. It addresses not only performance with an all-new high-tech power plant, but also adds an additional layer of luxury equipment.
In Ultra, looks and equipment come first. All Rendezvous Ultras have a monochrome paint job, with colour-keyed grille and chrome trim for that dash of sparkly bling. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels and beefy P225/60R17 touring all-season tires complete the look.
Inside, there's a leather-wrapped steering wheel with simulated wood inserts matched by other trim pieces, leather upholstery with suede inserts, second-row captain's chairs and a third-row bench, memory power seats, automatic dual climate control, compass and outside temp readout, heated exterior mirrors, Onstar communication system, six-disc CD audio system, rear seat audio controls, rear parking assist, theft deterrent system, a heads-up display, chrome bezel instruments with blue needles, a trip computer and a few other Ultra-specific bits and pieces.
Our tester added an upgraded (and very good stereo), plus navigation system and DVD entertainment system with fold-down rear seat area monitors and various games-oriented bells and whistles.
Safety features include front and side airbags. Options totalled $4,290 and with A/C tax and destination charges brought the total cost to $51,410.
All this luxury stuff has been incorporated effectively and attractively into a roomy interior that remains quiet at highway speeds with just a little wind and perhaps motor noise apparent.
The heads-up display unfortunately is framed and flanked by unintended displays of reflection from the dash top. A handy bin on the driver's side of the centre console has a spring-loaded top that snaps shut with the force of a bear trap. Watch your fingers.
There are a pair of cup holders in the console and a large bin whose lid works as an elbow rest. Outside mirrors are large and provide excellent coverage, but large headrests on the centre captain's chairs limit rear vision to directly astern.
A little clumsy feeling around town or on tight back-road curves, this machine comes into its own on the highway. It is a great cruiser, which follows another Buick tradition.
The division might have liked to drop a bigger engine into its Ultra, but its minivan roots dictated it stick with a V-6. It didn't just pump up the power of the existing unit though, but opted for one of GM's new family of engines: A 3.6-litre, dual-overhead-cam V-6 with variable valve timing, electronic throttle control and various other high-tech bits and pieces.
It produces 245 hp at 6,000 rpm and 235 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm, much of it available from 1,600 rpm to 5,800 rpm, which means there's plenty on tap any time the gas pedal is depressed. A five-speed automatic would have been icing on the cake, but the four-speed it comes with gets the job done smoothly and unobtrusively.
Acceleration to 100 km/h requires a reasonably peppy 9.5 seconds, while 80 km/h to 120 km/h for passing or merging takes 9.3 seconds. Fuel economy is rated at 13.3L/100 km city and 8.5L/100 km highway, but the trip computer showed an average of 15.2L/100 km when I picked it up and 14.7L/100 km when I returned it.
It's not a serious off-roader, but GM's Versatrack "on-demand" all-wheel-drive system and its ground clearance will help get you through moderately rough stuff and make things safer in the snow or rain. Four disc anti-lock brakes deliver a decent level of stopping power.
It's big, but not too big, luxuriously equipped but not over-the-top pricey, comfortable while offering plenty of utility, goes well, handles acceptably and looks good.
In other words, just what a lot of people want.
Specifications
2004 Buick Rendezvous Ultra
Type: Mid-size luxury SUV
Price: $46,070 (as tested, $51,410)
Engine: 3.6-litre V-6 (DOHC)
Transmission: Four-speed
automatic
Output: 245 hp/235 lb-ft of torque
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 13.3 city, 8.5 highway
Alternatives: Lexus RX 330, Acura MDX, Infiniti FX35
Like: Style, comfort; overall performance
Don't like: Rear vision; console box finger trap
