Four plush sedans and three sporty SUVs represent the 2005 line of vehicles by Buick, one of the oldest marques at General Motors. New models for 2005 include LaCrosse, a premium mid-size sedan developed as a replacement for Regal and Century, and a seven-passenger crossover sport van called the Terraza.

Buick's five-door SUV tips toward luxury mode with two rows of seats in a plush cabin and deluxe appointments including rich leather upholstery. It carries a six-cylinder or V8 powertrain and either rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or AWD traction for forays on slick pavement or graveled trails. Rainier's standard engine is the 4.6-liter in-line-six from GM with 275 hp. A 5.3-liter V8 pushing 290 hp is optional. In the cabin, bucket seats in front flank a central console with multiple functions.

The seatback on the second-row bench splits and folds, fashioning a flat floor in the cargo bay with double the space at 85 cubic feet. Rainier brings a high content of standard equipment like power windows, locks and mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate system, OnStar telecommunications with a DVD-based navigation system, and perforated leather upholstery with front seats adding armrests and power controls plus memory settings. Options range from heated seats to adjustable floor pedals, a Bose audio system with CD changer and a DVD-based video entertainment system for backseat riders. Curtain-style side air bags are new on 2005 models, along with a wood-rimmed steering wheel.

Buick's smaller SUV combines attributes of both a wagon and a minivan. The platform and some mechanical elements were borrowed from GM minivans so Rendezvous drives and rides with the easy-to-maneuver agility of a minivan, yet the boxy package works like a sport-utility. The cabin is that of a luxury vehicle, stocking as many as three tiers of seats for six or seven passengers plus room in the rear for cargo.

A luxurious monochromatic version of Rendezvous (Ultra) contains appointments that elevate it beyond the CX and CXL trims. The Ultra also uses a 3.6-liter V6 engine with variable valve timing (VVT) to make 242 hp. Rendezvous CX and CXL stock a 3.4-liter V6 that nets 185 hp, although the larger V6 is available on CXL in 2005. A conventional Rendezvous drivetrain operates constantly in FWD format, while an available AWD system for CXL or Ultra helps maintain traction on wet or slippery pavement. Options extend to side-impact air bags for front seats, captain's chairs in place of the second-row bench, a DVD-based entertainment system and UPAS.

Production of Buick's biggest sedans -- the front-wheel-drive (FWD) Park Avenue and supercharged Park Avenue Ultra -- will be limited to 8,400 units in 2005 for a final run. A new grille on the face and functional portholes cut into the forward flanks distinguish these ultimate issues. Expect the final 3,000 to carry a Special Edition badge and chrome wheels. Models vary primarily in power points and on-board amenities. Park Avenue Ultra sparks with a mechanical supercharger used to extract more-than-normal power from a six-cylinder engine. Without the supercharger, Buick's 3.8-liter V6 for Park Avenue musters 205 hp. With the supercharger boost, the Ultra runs up to 240 hp. (CONTINUED...)