2007 Buick Terraza Review
The Terraza is a minivan that debuted for 2005. Sold as a "crossover sport van," and taking styling cues directly from SUVs, Buick has gone out of its way to disguise the Terraza as anything but a minivan. Unfortunately, their efforts have not paid off. Sales have been disappointing and 2008 will be the final year of the Terraza.
The BuyingAdvice Team Says:
The Buick Terraza is GM's most luxurious minivan, and a good attempt at bringing it back into style. Unfortunately, they just didn't hit the mark. While it holds up very well in crash tests, it has a very flaky reliability record, and is missing some key points in the safety department. On the bright side, its slow sales will most likely equal a great deal of negotiating room at the dealership.
What's New For 2007:
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RPM
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diesel
What is the Predicted Reliability:
J.D. Power gives the Terraza only 2 stars overall in initial quality. Problems affecting the Terraza include failing valves, defective chips, engine stalling, inaccurate fuel gauges, flickering headlights, and vehicle noise. The Terraza has been recalled for sticky emergency brakes and unintended braking. Expect average reliability at best. The basic warranty lasts for four years or 50,000 miles.
Analysis Of Safety Ratings And Features:
The Terraza earned 5 stars in all government crash tests except for the front side, which earned 4 stars. The IIHS gives it a "Good" rating in frontal tests, "Acceptable" for side tests, and "Poor" for rear tests. Standard safety features include anti-lock brakes and stability and traction control. The CXL trim features side airbags, but they only cover the first two rows.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
+ Three-row seating available
+ Good government crash test scores
+ Good price/features ratio
Cons
- Poor reliability history
- Side airbags don't cover third row
- Poor handling
Head-To-Head Competition:
The Terraza holds up well in terms of price to features. It costs over $1,000 less than the Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, but has 40 more hp. It costs the same as the Ford Freestar but adds traction control and 40 more hp. You might also consider the Saturn RELAY 3, with its DVD player, side airbags, and standard third-row seating, but it also costs over $1,000 more.
What Others Are Saying:
"Overall, the Terraza is a nice minivan. I don't think it's in the same league as some of the more established vans, especially those from Japanese manufacturers like Toyota and Honda, or Chrysler's minis, which are still the benchmark. Still, it's a good first try, and a big step up from the Silhouette." - The Auto Channel
"Despite a good effort by planners and engineers, the Terraza is handicapped by the inherent disadvantages of GM's minivans, and it never quite manages to overcome them." - Automobile Magazine
"Although GM touts these vehicles as crossovers, any fool can see they're minivans with large noses grafted on. They trail the competition in handling and drivetrain smoothness, but their cabins are much better than those of the GM vans they replaced in 2005." - Car and Driver
Read more about the 2007 Buick Terraza at the Buick manufacturer web site.
Published on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - Email to a friend
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