2007 Buick Rainier

The last such sedan was the 1996 Buick Roadmaster, but the automaker's new 2004 Rainier effectively replaces that model even though it's a sport-utility vehicle.

The 2004 Rainier probably would be appreciated by Harley Earl, the flashy, legendary 1920s-1950s head stylist for General Motors, who is portrayed in Buick television commercials.

Strong Acceleration
The $35,295-$38,295 Rainier comes in CXL and CXL Plus trim levels. It is posh and quiet, with a smooth ride and strong acceleration from its 275-horsepower inline 6-cylinder engine and larger, optional 285-horsepower V8, which has more torque.

Buick hasn't offered inline 6-cylinder engines since 1930. Inline 8-cylinder engines replaced them the following year, and Buick V8s took over in 1953. However, the Rainier's 4.2-liter 6-cylinder engine has a BMW-style design and delivers good acceleration, although the 5.3-liter V8 provides more muscle for merging and passing, along with greater towing abilities.

Buick expects 30 percent of Rainier buyers to get the V8, which offers good towing capability (up to 6,700 pounds) to Buick's line for the first time since the 1996 Roadmaster.

Shares Basic Design
The rigidly built Rainier shares its basic design with the fairly new, highly regarded Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and soon-to-vanish Oldsmobile Bravada. The Rainier replaces the Bravada as the top midsize GM sport utility, as the Oldsmobile division fades into the sunset.

The Rainier is the only GM midsize sport-utility in the TrailBlazer, Envoy and Bravada group offered with a V8 in regular-length trim. The TrailBlazer and Envoy can be had with the V8, but only in extended-length form.

No Third Seat
There's no extended-length Rainier (or Bravada), so the new Buick has no third-row seat for 7-passenger seating. However, the 193.4-inch-long Rainier has good room for four to five tall adults in its two rows of seats.

Getting in the Rainier calls for only a little extra effort, and occupants sit high. The entire split rear seat easily folds forward to enlarge the already-generous cargo area.

The Rainier has Buick's large, ovoid "waterfall" grille. It also has a very quiet interior, thanks to additional sound-deadening materials in the engine compartment, doors and body—besides laminated glass in the windshield and front doors.

Well Equipped
The new Buick has leather upholstery, and is well equipped with comfort and convenience items such as dual automatic climate controls, a good sound system and power everything.

Options include heated front seats, adjustable pedals, satellite radio, navigation system and rear-seat DVD entertainment system. You can get front-seat side airbags, but no side-curtain airbags are offered.

Smooth Ride
The smooth ride is partially provided by an electronically controlled load-leveling rear air suspension. The Rainier dislikes quick moves. The soft feel that will be liked by many older Buick large sedan lovers means this sport-ute's steering isn't very sharp and that handling is just average. However, the standard anti-lock brakes perform well.

Giving the Rainier a sporty look is an impressive array of gauges that look as they belong in a sportier vehicle. They have silver faces and green needles and thus look as if from a glamorous 1950s Buick auto show concept car created by Earl, who was very fond of Buicks. GM's first concept car—designed by Earl—was based on a 1938 Buick Century.

Two Drive Systems
The Rainier comes with rear-wheel drive and traction control or with all-wheel drive with no low-range gearing for tough off-road driving. However, it's doubtful that many Rainier owners would want to scratch their vehicle's paint during such driving, anyway.

Both engines are hooked to a responsive 4-speed automatic transmission, which would be even more responsive and deliver better performance if it were a more modern 5-speed unit.

Low Fuel Economy
Estimated fuel economy is low: With the 6-cylinder it's 15-16 mpg in the city and 21 on the highway. Figures for the V8 version are 14-15 mpg in the city and 18-19 mpg on the highway. (The lower city and highway numbers are for all-wheel-drive versions.)

Buick has been producing cars for 100 years, so it may seem odd even in these truck-crazy times that it's selling the Rainier. It is the last GM vehicle division (besides Saab) to offer a truck-based sport ute with the Rainier.

Still, all things considered, the Rainier isn't all that different from those posh full-size Buick sedans.