The Buick LaCrosse is a midsize car built from 2005 to 2019 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in Canada — 56.7% of those on record. Between 2010 and 2020 it grew 2 cm longer and gained -176 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6, V8. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the LaCrosse is
The Buick LaCrosse is a midsize car that Buick built from 2005 to 2019 — 15 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2017. It has been offered with 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6, V8 power. Its closest siblings in the Buick range: Regal, Riviera, Century.
Where the LaCrosse is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 1,900 LaCrosses on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 2G4 | 2005-2010 | |
| the United States | 1G4 | 2005-2019 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Buick VIN decide which of these 2 lines your LaCrosse belongs to. What every character in a LaCrosse VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Buick LaCrosse adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
LaCrosse generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the LaCrosse's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the LaCrosse that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-2016 | 500 cm | 284 cm | 1863 kg | - | - |
| 2017-2020 | 502 cm | 291 cm | 1687 kg | +2 cm | -176 kg |
Between 2010 and 2020 the LaCrosse gained 2 cm in length (+0.4%) and -176 kg in weight (-9.4%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the LaCrosse that is -176 kg against 2 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Buick LaCrosse tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment LaCrosse owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Buick LaCrosse have? Power & range
The Buick LaCrosse is offered with 4 powertrains — 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 4 for the Buick LaCrosse, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.6L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S9) | FWD | Regular |
| V8 | 5.3L · 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | FWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 2.4L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | FWD | Regular |
| Hybrid | 2.5L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The LaCrosse by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Buick LaCrosse. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | LaCrosse | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 44 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 1,101 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,414/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 680 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Buick LaCrosse?
The LaCrosse is a midsize car, built from 2005 to 2019 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6, V8.
Where is the Buick LaCrosse made?
Across 1,900 cars in our records the split is: Canada (56.7%), the United States (43.3%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the LaCrosse have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2017. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the LaCrosse grew 2 cm longer and gained -176 kg.
What is the Buick LaCrosse warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the LaCrosse reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific LaCrosse?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Buick
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buick Enclave | 2007–2026 | 57 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
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| Buick Encore | 2013–2026 | 42 | 30 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Buick Envision | 2016–2026 | 16 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Buick Regal | 1981–2020 | 173 | 29 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Buick LeSabre | 1981–2005 | 48 | 21 mpg | 3.5/5 |