New Car Overview of the 2005 Buick Rendezvous Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle

Description: Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
Base MSRP Range: $26,585 - $38,220
Invoice Price Range: $24,289 - $34,209
Where built: Mexico

Buick's smaller SUV combines attributes of a wagon and minivan. The platform and some mechanical elements were borrowed from GM minivans so Rendezvous drives and rides with the easy-to-maneuver agility of a minivan, yet the boxy package works like a sport-utility wagon.

The cabin is that of a luxury vehicle stocking as many as three tiers of seats for six or seven passengers plus room in the rear for cargo. A luxurious monochromatic version of Rendezvous, called Ultra, contains appointments that elevate it beyond CX and CXL trims.

The Ultra also uses a 3.6-liter, V6 engine with variable valve timing (VVT) to make 242-hp. Rendezvous CX and CXL stock a 3.4-liter, V6 that nets 185-hp, although the larger V6 is available on CXL in 2005.

A conventional Rendezvous drivetrain operates constantly in FWD format, while an available AWD system for CXL or Ultra helps the wagon maintain traction on wet or slippery pavement.

Options extend to side-impact air bags for front seats, captain's chairs in place of the second-row bench, a DVD-based entertainment system and UPAS.