The Buick LaCrosse, introduced in 2005 as a successor to the Buick Century and Regal, is a mid-size sedan that has been evaluated for its safety performance. This review focuses on the 2007 Buick Lacrosse, drawing upon crash test data from models within the 2005-2007 range. Notably, the 2006 Buick LaCrosse CX model, equipped with optional front and rear side curtain airbags, served as the tested vehicle for these assessments.
It’s important to highlight a detail concerning side airbags in the 2006-07 LaCrosse models. While side airbags were generally standard, fleet vehicles could be ordered without them. This distinction is crucial because these fleet cars, lacking side airbags, may eventually enter the used car market and become available to retail buyers. Starting in 2008, Buick standardized side airbags across all LaCrosse models, regardless of whether they were for retail or fleet sales. This information is vital for anyone considering a 2007 Buick LaCrosse or models from the surrounding years.
The side impact crash test results for the 2007 Buick LaCrosse (and similar models from 2005-2007 equipped with side airbags) provide valuable insights into the vehicle’s safety.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | M |
| Structure and safety cage | A |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | P |
| Pelvis/leg | M |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
The overall side impact evaluation for the 2007 Buick LaCrosse is rated as Marginal (M). However, examining the component ratings reveals a more nuanced picture. The vehicle’s structure and safety cage received an Acceptable (A) rating, indicating a reasonably robust structural design.
For driver injury measures, the 2007 Buick LaCrosse demonstrates Good (G) protection for the head and neck, but Poor (P) protection for the torso, and Marginal (M) protection for the pelvis and leg areas. Crucially, driver head protection was rated Good (G), indicating effective performance of the side curtain airbags in safeguarding the driver’s head.
Regarding rear passenger injury measures, the 2007 Buick LaCrosse performed strongly, achieving Good (G) ratings across all categories: head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg. Rear passenger head protection was also rated Good (G).
Technical measurements from the crash test provide further detail.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CES0605 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -6.5 |
| Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline. |
The intrusion measurement shows that the occupant compartment experienced -6.5 cm of intrusion at the B-pillar relative to the driver’s seat centerline.
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CES0605 |
| Head HIC-15 | 398 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.5 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.2 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 57 |
| Lateral force (kN) | |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 60 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 47 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 8.77 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 1.93 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 3.3 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 3.1 |
| Combined force (kN) | 6.3 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.4 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 73 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 34 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CES0605 |
| Head HIC-15 | 605 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.4 |
| Compression (kN) | 2.2 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 37 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 37 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 26 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 4.20 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.63 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.9 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.9 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 1.2 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 172 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | -42 |
In conclusion, while the overall side impact rating for the 2007 Buick LaCrosse is Marginal, it’s important to consider the specifics. The vehicle provides good head protection for both driver and rear passengers due to the side airbags. However, driver torso and pelvis/leg protection are areas of concern based on these crash test results. Prospective buyers of a 2007 Buick LaCrosse, especially used models, should verify the presence of side airbags, and be aware of these side impact safety performance details.
