2006 Buick Rendezvous: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

A more powerful base engine and added standard equipment mark 2006 for Buick's crossover SUV. Rendezvous seats up to seven and shares a basic platform with Buick's Terraza minivan. Rendezvous seats five with a standard three-place 2nd-row split bench seat that slides fore and aft. A two-passenger 3rd-row seat is optional, as are twin bucket seats to replace the 2nd-row bench. Rendezvous offers front-wheel drive with optional traction control or all-wheel drive without low-range gearing. Newly standard is a 195-hp 3.5-liter V6, replacing a 185-hp 3.4. Optional is a 242-hp 3.6 V6. Both use a 4-speed automatic transmission. OnStar assistance is newly standard. ABS and front side airbags are optional; no curtain side airbags are offered.

COMPETITION

Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Larger than Compact SUVs, Midsize SUVs offer a mix of car- and truck-type construction, V6 and V8 power, and up to 8-passenger seating. This class also includes crossover vehicles.

Our Best Buys include Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. Our Recommended picks are Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer, Ford Freestyle, Nissan Murano, Nissan Xterra, and Toyota 4Runner.

New or significantly redesigned models include Hummer H3, Jeep Commander, Pontiac Torrent, and Subaru B9 Tribeca.