The Buick Rendezvous is a midsize SUV crossover that was first introduced for the 2002 model year. After six years of production, the Rendezvous was discontinued following the 2007 model year. Buick positioned the SUV as an on-road luxury vehicle that was intended to compete with the Acura MDX, Mercury Mountaineer, Lexus RX 300 and other upscale SUVs.
Buick Rendezvous Styling
The Rendezvous was built on the GM U-body platform, making it structurally similar to the Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana, Pontiac Aztek, Buick Terraza and Saturn Relay. The exterior of the vehicle pulled design cues from SUVs, minivans and luxury sedans. The result was intended to appeal to upper-middle class families who needed the roominess of an SUV without the necessity for off-road performance.
Inside, the Rendezvous could accommodate five to seven passengers depending on the particular model's seating configuration. Interior design skewed towards luxury, but failed to match the accoutrements of elegance found in traditional luxury vehicles produced by Lexus and other manufacturers.
Buick Rendezvous Trim Levels
The Buick Rendezvous was originally available in two trim levels – CX and CXL. A top-tier Ultra model was introduced for the 2004 model year, but discontinued following the 2005 model year. The base Rendezvous CX came standard with such features as air conditioning, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, full power accessories, remote keyless entry, OnStar assistance, stereo system with CD player, rear wiper/washer, automatic headlights, fog lights, roof rails, rear privacy glass and 17-inch tires.
The CXL added a number of standard features, including dual-zone automatic climate control, steering wheel radio controls, leather seats, stowable 3rd-row seat, 6-way power front seats, rear radio controls and alloy wheels. A wide assortment of optional packages was also available. Popular upgrades included a sunroof, 6-disc CD changer, towing package, traction control, GPS navigation, DVD entertainment system and 2nd-row captain chairs.
Buick Rendezvous Performance
The base Buick Rendezvous engine was a 3.4-liter V6 setup that delivered 185 horsepower and 210 lb-ft. of torque. The introduction of the Rendezvous Ultra brought a new engine option to the lineup – a 3.6-liter DOHC V6 that created 245 horsepower and up to 235 lb-ft. of torque. This engine was discontinued prior to the 2007 model year. In 2006, the base engine was upgraded to a 3.5-liter V6 that mustered 195 horsepower and 215 lb-ft. of torque.
All Buick Rendezvous models came with a 4-speed automatic transmission. EPA-estimated fuel efficiency for the CX and CXL was 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Other available performance features included traction control and a load-leveling suspension.
Buick Rendezvous Safety
Available standard safety features on the Rendezvous included dual front airbags, 4-wheel antilock brakes, daytime running lights and rear obstacle detection. Front side airbags were available as an optional upgrade. In crash tests performed by the NHTSA, the Buick Rendezvous received a perfect 5-star rating in the categories of driver side impact and rear passenger side impact. A 3-star rating was awarded for driver front impact and a 4-star rating was handed down for passenger front impact.
Buick Rendezvous Specs
2007 Buick Rendezvous specifications are as follows:
