The system is also available on the Buick Regal and will be offered in the LaCrosse's cousin, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, in the spring (read about my test of the Malibu here: www.philly.com/driversseat).
First, its thirst: In a mix of city and highway driving, I averaged 30 m.p.g., which is exactly 25 percent better than the 24 I got from the 2011 LaCrosse four-cylinder I tested in April.
Big warranty: If you're like me and tend to worry about fancy-schmancy new gadgetry down the road, General Motors offers a little peace of mind. Its eAssist components come with an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
Living with eAssist: The system is fairly smooth. The average driver might not notice any difference between it and a regular version of the LaCrosse.
But being better than the average driver - or certainly more faultfinding - I notice it does have a slight gasp when switching back on from auto-stop mode at a red light. Still, I found simply taking my foot off the brake a second before I planned to move cured this completely.
On the road: The handling is sure and smooth. It's certainly not sporty, but it's not fluffy either.
Inside: The interior itself is as pretty as the four-cylinder 2011 model I tested last year. The seats are luxurious but supportive, the dashboard is attractive, and the vehicle is roomy.
Outside: The design falls a little flat. Last year's red LaCrosse looked lively. This year's beige model - identical in design - would work well in the geriatrician's parking lot.
Entertain me: The stereo is a little button-heavy and can be difficult to follow. But the display is attractive enough.
