A six-seat option trades the front bucket seats for a bench seat and column shifter. The seat has a flip-and-fold center back cushion that can be converted into a spacious center console/armrest with a large storage bin and dual cup holders.

Rear-seat legroom is generous, thanks to a relatively long wheelbase of 110.5 inches. We found that a 6-foot, 4-inch passenger can sit behind a 6-foot, 4-inch driver with plenty of room to spare.

Interior quality and appearance are enhanced by reducing the number of individual trim pieces, which makes everything fit better and gives the cabin a richer, higher-grade look. Each of the three round instrument dials is wringed in chrome and set into a deeply tunneled instrument panel. Instrument graphics have been revised for '07, with red pointers and a more no-nonsense look; and the traditional Buick tri-shield emblem has been added to the steering wheel center. It's all very nicely presented, and relatively sporty looking.

The center stack is finished a mica-flecked flat black, with a trip computer and driver information system that's easy to put through its menu. However, the information panel is so glossy that it's hard to read in early morning or late afternoon light. The entire dashboard is decorated with a very good imitation woodgrain, which has been upgraded to a new Harvest Burl pattern for '07.

Buick uses its Quiet Tuning program to reduce, tune out, absorb, cover up and mask noise sources all through the car. Quiet Tuning uses specially engineered parts and adds sound insulation in the engine, on the firewall, under the toeboard, inside the wheel wells and in the roof. Buick's Quiet Tuning has made LaCrosse one of the quietest cars in the class.

Optional features upgrade this car to a cut above, making for a truly complete, safe, all-weather family car. Among them are a remote starting system that will work from up to 500 feet away; OnStar; XM Satellite Radio; and StabiliTrak. If we were ordering a LaCrosse, we would add all of these excellent systems.