Buick beefs up ts lineup with a spiffy, sporty minivan

Buick’s stylists have created a distinctive look for the Terraza

By: Malcolm Gunn

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The 2005 Buick Terraza


   The handsome and handy Terraza minivan takes its place among a brace of new Buicks that have recently arrived at the nation’s dealers in the past 12 months.
   As General Motors prepares the division for its new role as the sole upper-mid-range standard bearer (now that Oldsmobile is no more), the product range not only expands, but is receiving significant upgrading as well. Last year’s launch of the new Rainier sport-ute is being followed by a very modern Regal and Century sedan replacement, the LaCrosse, for 2005.
   At the same time — and for the first time — the Buick logo is being affixed to a minivan.
   The seven-passenger Terraza could be considered as a replacement for the Olds Silhouette, which had been the fanciest and priciest of GM’s people movers. Now that torch has been passed to Buick’s product planners and designers, who have come up with what they hope will be a worthy successor.
   The Terraza is actually one of four new minivans unveiled by GM this fall, all built on the same platform. The Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6 and Saturn Relay will share the same wheelbase and basic mechanical content, but receive unique front- and rear-end styling as well as different content levels.
   Buick’s stylists have created a distinctive look for the Terraza by extending the nose outward for an appearance that is more in keeping with a sport-utility vehicle than the traditional sloping minivan look. The fact that GM refers to its upgraded minivan fleet as "sport vans" suggests that the new shape is a deliberate attempt to separate the Terraza and its kin from its numerous competitors.
   However, behind the steeply raked windshield, the territory is pretty familiar. The front end of the cabin contains two chairs, divided by a large storage console, and facing an attractively displayed gauge group and ventilation/audio control stack. The middle row consists of two buckets while the third row is a 50/50 split bench. Both the second- and third-row seats, accessed by dual-sliding side doors, can be removed or folded to create a flat load floor. The cargo area in back features a series of storage compartments that can hold a variety of small items, such has groceries, cameras, sports equipment or anything else you want to keep hidden or prevent rolling around.
   Also standard is a system of overhead compartments that attach to rails so that they will slide from front to back or removed altogether. Each available storage unit is big enough to hold CDs, DVD, cellular phones, glasses or similarly sized items.
   As befits the Terraza’s upmarket leanings, the interior is finished with bright chrome and wood trim and the standard seat materials are also a cut or two above the norm.
   Keeping the Terraza on the go is GM’s latest standard-issue minivan powerplant, a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 200 horses. That compares with 185 horsepower from the Montana.
   A four-speed automatic transmission completes the drivetrain.
   Both base Terraza CX or deluxe Terraza CXL can be outfitted with Versatrak, an all-wheel drive setup that kicks in whenever one or both front wheels lose adhesion. Power can also be redirected to either one or both sides of the rear wheels for maximum traction.
   Other than AWD, the Terraza’s standard-equipment list is extensive and includes dual-zone air conditioning, an overhead DVD entertainment system, six-way power drivers set, keyless remote entry, eight-speaker audio system with CD/MP3 system, 17-inch wheels, automatic level control for the rear suspension and a one-year subscription to OnStar, GM’s assistance center and help desk.
   The CXL adds power adjustable driver and front passenger seats and a leather interior. Optional is a Sonar-based reverse sensor, front seat-mounted airbags and PhatNoise, a portable hard drive that can play both video and audio streams downloaded from a computer.
   The Terraza is an attractive box with plenty of style all its own and a great deal of standard content. That alone should encourage minivan shoppers to take a good look at what it has to offer.