I expected the comfort and practicality of a full-size Buick: a spacious cabin, a giant trunk, and even a certain point of refinement. You wouldn’t possibly expect excellent handling and smart dynamics. Park Avenue offers not only classic Buick virtues, but also a fun driving experience. Opt for the supercharged Park Avenue Ultra and the experience becomes downright entertaining. It’s a fantastic sedan.
For 2001, Park Avenue and Ultra will offer optional ultrasonic rear parking assist.
There are two available: Park Avenue and Park Avenue Ultra.
Park Avenue ($32,980) is delivered with a 3. 8-liter V6 engine with 205 horsepower. Interiors are upholstered in fabric, with forced windows and mirrors, air-conditioning, cruise control, automatic headlights, and other practical features. Anti-lock brakes and side airbags are standard.
Park Avenue Ultra ($37,490) gets a 240-horsepower supercharged edition from the same V6. Upholstered in leather and wood, the Ultra adds heated front seats, mirrors with parallel parking, a compass, moisture-sensing windshield wipers and a GM OnStar communication formula. and other features. In addition to its tougher engine, the Ultra features a StabiliTrak traction formula, a physically powerful drivetrain, and speed-sensitive magnetic force steering.
In mid-2001, Buick will release a special limited-edition appearance package for Park Avenue Ultra. Signature Laguna Green paint will complement a two-tone Shale/Neutral interior with Southern Walnut inserts for the dashboard and interior doors. They come with a long list of differently shaped optional equipment.
Park Avenue, especially in its more competitive Ultra form, projects a muscular grace, like a big cat capable of leaping. Comfort is the top priority and motivated the design of Park Avenue. Its interior and trunk are the most spacious in its class. Large doors make it easy to get in and out. Yet Park Avenue embodies those virtues in an elegant and unobtrusively sublime way. It’s luxurious, but it’s an available luxury.
Park Avenue offers more interior area in the front and rear seats than the Lincoln Continental or Chrysler LHS. Fortunately, you can get in and out without the simultaneous crouching and turning maneuver required thanks to faster designs. The trunk on Park Avenue is also larger than the trunk on the LHS or Continental
The interior looks sober and tasteful. The bonnet curves modestly over the main instruments. In addition to providing a refreshed look, this design gives way to a giant, easy-to-scan speedometer and tachometer. The audio and climate controls use giant buttons that are easy to locate and use when the car is in motion, and that are visually visible. It stands out from the rest of the interior through contrasting colors. The joinery accentuates the door panels. The Ultra includes a full range of luxury accessories (premium CD audio system, leather, power supply, everything) that make commuting more enjoyable. An on-board computer allows the driver to calculate fuel consumption and kilometres to be travelled. It also provides data on tire pressure, oil level, and coolant level. Two odometers are provided, which can come in handy on long trips.
New generation dual front airbags (reduced force) are standard, as are side airbags. Park Avenue offers a forged roll cage structure and the doors are designed to unlock in just 15 seconds after the airbags deploy. It’s no surprise that insurance prices are low compared to other cars.
OnStar, GM’s 24-hour on-demand navigation and power assist system, is popular on Ultra and is available at the Park Avenue base. The same goes for Personal Choice, a feature that includes separately programmable key fobs that protect comments, perimeter lighting, delayed lock, and memory settings for door locks, WeatherArray radio presets, seat adjustments, and interior and exterior mirrors.
The Concert Sound III stereo system, popular at Ultra and available on Park Avenue, comes with nine speakers, an amplifier, an integrated antenna system, and guidewheel-mounted controls.
GM’s 3800 Series II V6 engine delivers enough smooth, quiet force to deliver acceleration. Available in 205-horsepower naturally aspirated (Park Avenue) and 240-horsepower (Ultra) supercharged versions, the 3800 delivers plenty of low-revving drag and instant acceleration. response and a lot of punch to overtake.
Power is transferred to the front wheels by one of GM’s ultra-smooth, electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmissions. They are some of the most productive in the business. Anti-lock brakes are standard.
Park Avenue also offers surprising fuel efficiency, with EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19 miles per gallon in the city, 30 mpg highway for Park Avenue and 18/27 mpg for the Ultra Charged.
This car uses one of the stiffest chassis in the entire GM warehouse. That’s a big plus. A rigid chassis helps suspension engineers create ride and handling characteristics tailored to a specific car’s target market. It’s also easier to reduce noise outside the car and provides long-term durability benefits.
Given this feature, it was appealing to see the handling distinctions between the entry-level Park Avenue and the flagship Ultra. The handling and handling characteristics of the popular Park Avenue are indistinguishable from those of its predecessors, characteristics that have earned the giant Buick sedans a heavyweight symbol in the world. over the years. Park Avenue turns out to be the most responsive of its wheels, with pronounced frame roll and indistinct force steering.
We prefer the livelier functionality of the Park Avenue Ultra. With its supercharged engine and Touring suspension, it can easily compete with the more productive models Lincoln and Chrysler have to offer. Overall, the Ultra’s firmer, more advanced ride gives it a fresh feel that’s a big step forward for Buick.
If the Ultra’s added functionality is important to you, the popular Park Avenue might be the way to go. Park Avenue is well-equipped and an exceptional acquisition among giant cars.
An available Gran Touring suspension enhances the responsiveness of both models. On Ultra, it costs $200 and includes Goodyear Eagle LS Touring tires, albeit in the popular 225/60R16 size. It can also be ordered on the popular Park Avenue, but then costs $285 and requires the $1,692 Prestige package. That’s because it not only features upgraded suspension, wheels, and tires, but also a leather-wrapped steering wheel and Ultra intermediate-programmable variable-effort magnetic guide. This formula varies the amount of electric assist as the vehicle’s speed and/or guide wheel angle increases, offering a much greater concept of where the front wheels are pointing. So let the runner know if you need less guiding effort or more feedback. The stiffer suspension package slightly lowers the ride height and produces much sharper responses in quick maneuvers. The compromise in ride quality compared to the popular Park Avenue is negligible.
Last year, Buick made StabiliTrak stability popular on the Ultra and optional on Park Avenue. StabiliTrak monitors yaw rate (the speed at which the vehicle turns) in relation to the flywheel angle (how fast the driving force needs the vehicle to turn) and selectively applies one or more wheel brakes to help the driver stay in place when the car is in danger of slipping or skidding.
Quiet operation has been the most sensible priority for Buick sedans, and here too, Park Avenue represents a step forward. Wind noise has been reduced to a mere whisper and the bodywork does an incredible job of keeping road noise out of the cabin. The supercharged engine can be heard when accelerating at full throttle, but we think it’s worth having a little more noise to get its incredible thrust.
Add to this spacious seats that provide real comfort of movement, and the ride definitely becomes serene, especially when driving on the highway. Park Avenue is as quiet as a $54,000 Lexus LS 430, but the accolades are educational under peak use, as opposed to the distinction worth it. .
The optional Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist can trip over nearby objects.
Buick has been characterized as a purveyor of “high-end American automobiles” and Park Avenue is its ambassador for this theme, with a beautiful, understated appearance, top-notch livability, and plenty of luxury features. car of this length and value category.
Park Avenue is a sporty sedan, but an Ultra equipped with Gran Touring suspension is oddly athletic.
Park Avenue ($32,980); Ultra ($37,490).
Orion, Michigan.
Power moonroof ($1,095); Gran Touring Suspension ($200).