2001 Buick LeSabre Review (continued)
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Walkaround

From some angles LeSabre offers styling cues that would not look out of place on a Jaguar; yet it still retains a strong Buick identity, with nicely rounded edges and plenty of attractive curves. In particular, the side profile has a nice curvy upturn along the rear doors, leading to a high trunk; it's a nice classic touch, fitting LeSabre's position as a premium sedan.

At the front, the LeSabre has a distinctive Buick grille that sits well forward and is almost part of the front bumper. The headlights are well integrated into the lines of the car. Buick claims that the new body is much stiffer than the pre-2000 model, giving the car a better ride and crisper handling.

Safety is an important part of LeSabre's image and Buick has gone to great lengths to safeguard the occupants of the newest model. Dual front airbags are a given, but LeSabre has side airbags for the front seats, too. Anti-lock brakes working on all four wheels are standard on all LeSabres.

LeSabre Limited buyers can choose a $730 Driver Confidence Package. In addition to self-sealing tires and a heads-up instrument display, this includes StabiliTrak, an electronic vehicle-stability system that Buick introduced in mid-2000. StabiliTrak helps keep the car on the correct line through a corner in slippery conditions by gently applying the brakes on one or more wheels. It cannot overcome the laws of physics, but it does add a margin of safety by reducing the effects of driver errors. The head-up display projects speed and other information onto the windshield in front of the driver's eyes.

The front seat belts are mounted to the seat frame, so they move with the seat for greater comfort. The seats boast a new design engineers like to call a catcher's mitt." The seat back is much stiffer than usual; in an accident it holds the person in place and the headrest moves forward to lessen whiplash. It is especially effective common low-speed, rear-end accidents, according to Buick."

Interior Features

Buick totally redesigned LeSabre's dashboard last year to give the interior a fresh, modern, luxurious look. The dash sweeps across the width of the car with a canopy over the instruments extending from the passenger side to the driver's door panel. This design gives the interior an open feeling and integrates the door trim into the dashboard nicely. A wide strip of faux wood trim extends along the door panels and across the center of the dashboard.

The driver information center on the Limited model has a digital readout that can display oil temperature, fuel consumption, tire pressure and other data. Round analog gauges are easy to read. At a touch of a button the speedometer will read speed in kilometers per hour, which obviates the need for a second set of small kph numbers on the dial.

A front bench seat is standard on the LeSabre, split 40/60 so the driver's side can be adjusted separately from the passenger seat. A bench seat does not usually provide much support for the driver compared to a bucket seat and the LeSabre's is no exception. Cover it in leather and you may find yourself sliding around on winding roads.

Our test LeSabre was equipped with optional separate 45/45 seats and a center console with two large cupholders that spring out at the touch of a button. A large flat writing surface also flips out. It could prove useful for people who need to have a notepad handy while on the road. But it sits at an awkward angle, and we found it difficult to use.

Wide doors allow easy access to the front and rear seats. Rear-seat passengers will find plenty of room. The slightly longer wheelbase and wider track of this latest-generation LeSabre increased rear seating space over pre-2000 models. It still gets a bit tight with three adults back there, however. An optional rear center armrest features an opening behind it to provide space for skis and other long objects.