2003 Buick LeSabre Review (continued)
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Walkaround

From some angles the Buick LeSabre shows styling cues that would not look out of place on a Jaguar. Yet it retains a strong Buick identity, with nicely rounded edges and plenty of attractive curves. In profile, particularly, it features 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.

Up front rides a distinctive Buick grille that sits well forward, where it's almost part of the bumper (a look Buick pioneered in the 1940s). The headlights are well integrated into the sweep of the fenders.

Safety is important to LeSabre's image. Dual front airbags are a given, but LeSabre has side-impact airbags for the front seats, too. Anti-lock brakes are standard.

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

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Interior Features

The Buick LeSabre is a comfortable car, roomy, and easy to operate. The leather seats are comfortable, if plain in appearance. Nice trim materials are used throughout. Advanced safety features have helped the LeSabre earn it a double five-star rating in U.S. government crash tests.

The electronic climate control is easy to operate. Heated seat controls are clearly marked and located right on the doors where we could find them. Likewise, the radio is well-designed with big volume and tuning knobs. We found it easy to seek and set radio stations and we liked the in-dash CD player. Too many cars come with radios with tiny knobs that are hard to adjust while driving. The LeSabre isn't one of them.

Big round analog gauges are easy to read. The speedometer is clearly marked and can be read at a glance. Fuel and temperature gauges are big and easy to read. The driver information center on the Limited and Celebration Edition features a digital readout that can display oil temperature, fuel consumption, tire pressure and other data.

The dashboard looks fresh and modern, undulating across the width of the car in gentle, organic curves. A canopy over the instruments extends from the passenger side to the driver's door panel. This design gives the interior an open feeling and nicely integrates the door trim into the dashboard. A wide strip of faux wood trim extends along the door panels and across the center of the dash. The pull-out storage tray feels flimsy, however.

A front bench seat is standard on the LeSabre, split 45/55 so the driver's side can be adjusted separately from the passenger's. A bench seat does not usually provide as much support as a bucket seat, and the LeSabre's is no exception. Cover it in leather and you may find yourself sliding around on winding roads.

Also available are separate seats and a center console. The console features two large cup holders that spring out at the touch of a button. A large flat writing surface also flips out. It could prove useful for keeping 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 current LeSabre is wider than pre-2000 models, but it still gets a bit tight with three adults in back. The rear-center armrest opens into the trunk to provide space for skis and other long objects.