2004 Buick Rainier Review

Owners of old, soft-riding Buick rear-drive sedans should feel at home in the automaker's new Rainier sport-utility. So would Harley Earl, the legendary 1920s-1950s head stylist for General Motors, who is portrayed in all those Buick television commercials.

Buick hasn't had a posh rear-drive sedan since its 1996 Roadmaster, so the mid-size Rainier might draw former owners of that car.

The $35,295-$38,295 Rainier comes in CXL and CXL Plus trim levels. It's quiet and posh, with a cushy ride and good acceleration from its 275-horsepower inline (not V-6) six-cylinder engine or larger, optional 285 horsepower V-8, which has more torque.

Inline six-cylinder engines haven't been in a Buick since 1930, when inline eight-cylinder engines replaced them. Buick V-8s took over in 1953. But this 4.2-liter six-cylinder is a smoothie, with its BMW-style design. It provides good acceleration, although the 5.3-liter V-8 has more punch.

Buick expects about 30 percent of Rainier buyers to opt for the V-8, especially buyers who remember the Roadmaster V-8 model dropped in 1996 -- and those who want more towing ability from their sport-ute. The Rainier adds good towing capability (up to 6,700 pounds) to Buick's line for the first time since that Roadmaster.

The rigidly built Rainier shares its basic design with the well-regarded Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and, mostly, the upscale and soon-to-disappear Oldsmobile Bravada. The Rainier replaces the Bravada as the top-dog mid-size GM sport-ute.

The Rainier has Buick's large "waterfall'' grille and such things as additional sound-deadening materials in the engine compartment, doors and body -- along with laminated glass in the windshield and front doors -- for an especially quiet interior.

The new model also has leather upholstery and is well equipped with such items 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.

Side curtain air bags aren't offered, but you can get front side air bags with head protection for the driver. Anti-lock brakes are standard.

An electronically controlled load-leveling rear air suspension helps provide the smooth ride. However, giving the Rainier the "soft'' feel liked by older Buick lovers means the steering isn't as sharp as it could be and that handling is only decent. The Rainier doesn't like quick moves.

There's an impressive array of gauges, and they have silver faces and green needles. They look as if from a glamorous Buick auto show concept car of the 1950s created by Earl, who was especially fond of Buicks. (GM's first concept car -- done by Earl -- was based on a 1938 Buick Century with an inline eight-cylinder engine.)

The Rainier is the only GM mid-size sport-ute in the TrailBlazer, Envoy and Bravada group offered with a V-8 in regular-length trim. The TrailBlazer and Envoy can be had with the V-8, but only in extended-length form.

There's no extended-length Rainier (or Bravada), so this new Buick has no third-row seat for seven-passenger seating. Still, the 193.4-inch-long Rainier has plenty of room for four to five adults in its two rows of seats.

Occupants sit high, although getting in only calls for a little extra effort. The split rear seat easily folds forward (first the bottom cushions, then the seatbacks) to enlarge the already-generous cargo area.

The Rainier comes with rear drive and traction control or with all-wheel drive that doesn't have low-range gearing for rough off-road use. Not that many Rainier owners would want paint scratched during such driving.

Both engines work with a responsive four-speed automatic transmission, which would be more responsive if it were a five-speed unit.

Estimated fuel economy is what you might expect from a fairly big, heavy sport-ute: With the six-cylinder, it's 15-16 mpg in the city and 21 on highways. Figures for the V-8 version are 14-15 city and 18-19 highway. (The lower city and highway numbers are for all-wheel-drive versions.)

It might be hard to understand why Buick is selling trucks such as the Rainier after its 100-year history of making cars. It's the last GM division (besides Saab) to offer a truck-based sport-ute with the Rainier. However, the Rainier really isn't all that different from big old Buick sedans.

2004 BUICK RAINIER

Prices:
$35,295-$38,295

Likes:
Roomy. Good acceleration. Quiet. Smooth ride. Stylish retro gauges.

Dislikes:
Average steering and handling. No extended length version. No third seat.