I think it could be better. Perhaps it's because it looks so similar to a lot of the other Buicks that are rolling out, but it already looks dated IMO. I'm betting it will look a lot better in person; but I'm underwhelmed. It seems like a small size car styled for an old person, who typically don't buy cars in that segment.

 

Looks dated and cheap. Cover up the shiny buick grill and foglights, get it out of photo studio and into the harsh reality of daylight and this thing is proof that Buick doesn't really want to compete with Lexus like they keep stating.

Their flagship LaCrosse competes well with the ES350, but the ES350 is Lexus' entry level standard luxury sedan. You MIGHT be able to make a case for the Regal competing with the IS250, but that's still a stretch. This doesn't compete with anything from Lexus at all. Where's the GS and LS competitor?

GM was FOS when they talked about Buick as a brand targeting Lexus.

 

Phew............ I thought it was just me.

I think it looks frumpy and heavy. I just don't think the Buick front, shrunk and stuck on a C-class car, looks good.

The Astra looks agressive and upscale. The Buick Astra looks like a Cruze with a Buick nose............ why is that??

BTW, premium small car and small/cheap wheels/tires just do not go together. Just putting the name Buick on it, does not a Buick make. Here I thought GM really had Buick sorted out.

 

I don't understand who the target market is for this car (in the USA).

 

I suppose it is targeting the Audi A4 market.

 

Where did you hear that? Even the Buick Regal is hard to see as an Audi A4 competitor. And this car slots below the Regal.

 

It looks like the current U.S. Focus.

 

LAME...

And BTW, this isn't even the same car as the Cruze...

 

I like what Buick has been doing wit their lineup and they make some really nice vehicles now. but this car from the pics at least looks pretty bad.

 

Just like every other stupid rebadge GM's had... The problem is B/P/G dealers had the *shudder* G5 and G3 all on their lots - and while they were vile vehicles that never should have existed - the dealers demanded a full lineup and GM caved.

So now that the B/P/G is just B/G, the dealers are realizing they don't have anything on their lot in the "entry" segment (which the G5 and G3 filled and even base model G6's) they're freaking out that they don't have anything on their lots under $20k and BAM! This thing is born.

Though to provide a counter-point, the Grand Am and Sunfire sold very well for quite a few years. The Grand Prix and even Bonneville had some strong sales... To a B/P/G dealer looking at weekly sales charts falling month after month and year after year for nearly 15 years... (and now loosing the Pontiac brand totally) they want to maintain their sales volume however they can. I cannot blame a dealership for wanting to stay alive...

The cheapest Acura is like $30k. The cheapest Lexus is $32k. The cheapest Infinity is $33k. The cheapest BMW and Mercedes is $33.5k (aside from the 128i).
I could not agree more. Fail GM.

 

I have to admit, not only do I like the looks of the Lexus IS, but I have test driven a couple and they're quite impressive little sedans... if you're into that kind of thing.

 

I guess what I was getting at is that it's going after the smaller, FWD entry-lux buyer. I'm not saying GM is going to get A4 money for it. Or that it is going to be anywhere near the car the Audi is.

Do we know that this car is actually intended for the US market?

 

The Cruze LTZ starts at $22,695 and tops out at over $27,000. I don't see this car coming in under $20k and I think it will be a huge mistake if it does.

While I don't think that the car itself is that bad (though I'm not crazy about the back end) I agree with Z28X that I'm not sure where it fits. Seems like they are trying to shove it into a razor thin market space between a loaded Cruze and a base Regal.

 

It will be Buick's G3.

 

I complained in an earlier thread about the Excelle name. I'd be all for going with Jalopnik's suggestion of Skylark, except I don't really like the car and I'm opposed to anything that would do further harm to the great names of Buick's past. There hasn't been a Skylark since the mid-late 90's, so I think enough time has passed that Buick could safely go back to that name -- they just have to make sure it doesn't suck.

I want to like it, because I'd love to have a small, premium American car. This car just looks bumpy.