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The Buick Lucerne is a highly competent sedan with smooth, clean lines and driving manners to match. Underway, it's smooth and quiet, but with precise steering and a chassis that handles winding roads with aplomb. Inside, it's elegant, comfortable, and easy.

The Buick Lucerne comes in several models. The Lucerne CX is tuned as a traditional Buick, with the Premium Ride Suspension. The Lucerne CXL comes with a firmer Ride and Handling Suspension, and is positioned to compete with the Toyota Avalon and Lexus ES 350. We found it a very enjoyable car to drive, with agile handling and plenty of performance.

A full-size, front-wheel-drive sedan, the Lucerne comes with a V6 base engine rated at 227 hp. The V8-powered Lucerne Super, first introduced as a 2008 model comes with Magnetic Ride Control, an adaptive sports suspension developed for the Corvette.

Advanced safety systems are available on all models. Side Blind Zone Alert uses radar to provide drivers with more information about vehicles in hard-to-see areas around the car. Lane Departure Warning uses a camera to warn drivers of inadvertent lane changes. StabiliTrak with Brake Assist is offered as well.

Buick has a long history of innovative engineering, handsomely conservative styling, and premium luxury at below-premium prices. Lucerne follows these Buick traditions.

Changes for 2010 are minor. All models get the fog lamps and rocker panels of the Lucerne Super model. Bluetooth is available on CX models, and new 18-inch chrome wheels are optional on the Lucerne Super model.

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The 2010 Buick Lucerne comes in four trim levels, with two engines available.

Buick Lucerne CX ($29,230) is powered by a new, 227-horsepower 3.9-liter V6. Standard equipment includes cloth upholstery, air conditioning with air filter, seats for five people with a power front seats, power windows, power door locks, leather-wrapped tilt steering-wheel, cruise control, AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio with six speakers and steering wheel audio controls, XM Satellite Radio, cornering lamps, fog lights, auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth phone connectivity, remote keyless entry, and auto-leveling rear suspension.

Lucerne CXL ($32,730) upgrades with leather seats, 8-way heated power seats with memory in front, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated leather steering-wheel, universal home remote, and a cargo net. The CXL suspension is tuned a little tighter.

The Comfort & Convenience package ($645) adds dual-zone automatic climate control, a universal home remote and a cargo net to the CX. The Driver Confidence package adds StabiliTrak, Brake Assist, rear parking assist, remote starter, a theft-deterrent system and RainSense wipers with heated washer fluid to CXL ($945).

CXL Premium ($35,625) adds chrome wheels and unique interior trim, and offers additional options and packages.

To get a V8, you'll have to opt for the Lucerne Super ($42,515), powered by a 292-hp 4.6-liter V8 and equipped with Magnasteer power steering, Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension, StabiliTrak stability control with Brake Assist, and P245/50R18 all-season radials on 18-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, Super features a leather-wrapped upper instrument panel with French-seam stitching; heated and cooled leather seats with suede fabric inserts; premium audio system; heated, wood-accented steering-wheel on a power tilt-and-telescope steering column; wood shift knob; and other upgraded finishes and trims. The Driver Confidence and Comfort and Convenience packages are standard.

Safety features on all models include six airbags: a dual-stage driver's front airbag and a dual-depth front passenger bag, front-seat side-impact airbags, and full-coverage side-impact curtain airbags. (The dual-depth passenger airbag has two sections; a smaller section deploys in a less severe crash or if the passenger is small or seated nearer the dashboard. In a bad crash or if the passenger is not wearing their seat belt the full bag deploys for maximum effect.) The front seatbelts come with pretensioners, so be sure to wear them. Traction control, anti-lock brakes, and a tire pressure monitor are standard on all models. OnStar comes standard and includes the first year of Safe and Sound service; OnStar operators will dispatch rescue crews if your airbag deploys and you don't respond to calls, a great feature for you and the rest of your family.