Buick Rendezvous
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Buick Rendezvous
 
Manufacturer: General Motors
Production: 2002–2007
Assembly: Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
Successor: Buick Enclave
Class: Mid-size crossover SUV
Body style: 4-door wagon
Layout: FF/AWD
Platform: GM U platform
Engine: 3.4 L LA1 V6
3.6 L LY7 V6
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 112.0 in (2845 mm)
Length: 186.5 in (4737 mm)
Width: 73.6 in (1869 mm)
Height: 68.9 in (1750 mm)
Curb weight: 4024–4272 lb (1825–1938 kg)
Related: Chevrolet Uplander
Pontiac Montana
Pontiac Aztek
Buick Terraza
Saturn Relay
Similar: Chrysler Pacifica
Nissan Murano
Toyota Highlander
The Buick Rendezvous, introduced in the spring of 2001 as a 2002 model year vehicle, is a sport utility vehicle produced by the Buick division of General Motors.

Contents [hide]
1 Background
2 Technology and notable features
3 Sales success
4 Replacement
5 Year to year changes (2002–2005)
5.1 2002
5.2 2003
5.3 2004
5.4 2005
6 Production
7 External links
 


[edit] Background
Given the fact that the vast majority of SUVs were rarely taken off-pavement by their owners, much less driven under serious off-road conditions, a new type of car-based "crossover SUV" was developed that was hoped would provide all the elements that customers actually wanted from their SUVs such as cargo carrying capacity, elevated seating height and the suggestion of an active outdoor lifestyle with less of the negative attributes typically associated with traditional SUVs such as poor gas mileage, uncomfortable ride, high step-in height, propensity to roll over, etc. The formula of a car-based "soft-road" luxury SUV had proven marketable by the highly successful Lexus RX300 and was thought to be a promising new market category for Buick to exploit within this extremely profitable portion of the ever-expanding SUV category.


[edit] Technology and notable features
Buick's first truck in its lineup since 1923, the Rendezvous was billed as a combination of the best attributes of a minivan (large cargo capacity, seating for up to seven), a luxury automobile (ride, handling, smoothness) and a sport utility vehicle (truck styling and available all wheel drive).

The Rendezvous was produced at General Motors' Ramos Arizpe, Mexico assembly plant, where it shared an assembly line with the Pontiac Aztek.

In lieu of four-wheel drive, the Rendezvous offered Versatrak, a full-time, fully-automatic all-wheel drive system which provided sure-footed traction in the snow and wet could handle moderate off-road surfaces, but was not meant for boulder-climbing Rubicon Trail-type activities.

Like the Pontiac Aztek, the Buick Rendezvous is based on a shortened version of GM's second generation U platform minivans.

Buick benchmarked their Park Avenue luxury sedan as the prototypical target for ride and handling for the Rendezvous. In order to provide a luxurious and responsive car-like ride, all Rendezvous came equipped with a fully independent rear suspension system regardless of optional content or trim level.

The Rendezvous' instrument cluster detailing featured teal illuminated needles and numbers set in a silver face accented by chrome trim rings that was meant to evoke the luxurious look and feel of an expensive watch or designer bracelet.

The Rendezvous boasted the ability to carry seven passengers when equipped with a third-row bench, a class-leading feature that Buick brought to market before its competitors.

The Rendezvous is able to carry within its interior the proverbial 4'x 8' sheet of plywood, a common and useful task most of its competitors are unable to perform.

In support of the Rendezvous' intended role as a versatile accoutrement for busy, upper-middle class people with families, it provided a center console with storage space and power points for a laptop computer as well as a separate spots to hold a woman's purse, a cell phone, pager or other small items that the owner would want to keep organized and readily accessible as well as an optional rear cargo organizer system and rear seat stereo system controls with headsets.

On the uplevel CXL model, a driver information center on the instrument panel provided the outside temperature, compass functions, a trip computer that included readings of fuel economy, range and fuel used. An optional second generation heads-up display was also available.

An optional tire inflation monitoring system provided readings of tire pressure and warned if out of the specified range was a clever feature in the wake of the Ford Explorer/Firestone debacle that was in large part attributable to underinflated tires.


[edit] Sales success
The Rendezvous was a badly needed success for Buick, given the literal die-off of its aging customer base, and singlehandedly brought a large number of younger, wealthier "conquest" buyers into Buick showrooms who otherwise wouldn't have considered purchasing a Buick.

Certainly a major contributor to the Rendezvous's success was an aggressive value-pricing strategy that made the Rendezvous US$6,500 less than a comparably equipped Acura MDX and US$8,000 less than the Lexus RX300.

The Rendezvous handily exceeded GM's predictions of 30,000 to 40,000 units a year by a large margin, which helped offset the poor sales of the Pontiac Aztek with which it shared its Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, assembly line.


[edit] Replacement
The 2008 Buick Enclave will replace the Rendezvous. GM also announced Rendezvous production will end in December 2006.


[edit] Year to year changes (2002–2005)

[edit] 2002
All new model available in base CX or uplevel CXL trim, either equipped with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

[edit] 2003
A DVD entertainment system and XM satellite radio were added to the options list.

[edit] 2004
 
Post-facelift Buick RendezvousFront turn signal/parking lights changed to clear from the previously used amber.
A new trim level called the Ultra was added as the top-line model, with all comfort options on the lesser models as standard, standard Versatrak all-wheel drive as well as a monochromatic color scheme with a body-colored grille, 17 inch aluminum wheels, leather and ultrasuede seating and a theft deterrent system as well as GM's then-new 245 hp 3.6 L LY7 V6 engine that debuted in the Cadillac CTS.
The 3.6 L V6 was added as an option for the all-wheel drive Rendezvous CXL.
A wood package consisting of mahogany trim on the steering wheel, dashboard, console and doors was made optional on the CXL and was standard on the Ultra.
An optional touchscreen satellite navigation system was added to the options list.

[edit] 2005
The Ultra was available with front-wheel drive.
The 3.6 L V6 was now an option for the front-wheel drive CXL.