Sold in Australia under the Holden division and as Buick in China, the Park Avenue still holds its position in society. Having tested one for the week, I was surprised by the produced results.
· Design & Engineering:
The Buick Park Avenue is, as one may call it, the ‘S-Class of Buick’. Oddly, the Park Avenue is sold only in China and in Australia. Keep in mind that as its roots are derived from an Australian Holden, the Park Avenue is built to accommodate the physiques of large-sized westerners. With a length of 5175mm, the Park Avenue displays its large size proudly. From the front, the flagship vehicle bears Buick’s traditional waterfall grill. In addition, xenon headlamps and washers come as standard. Though I find the front to seem somewhat small, all is made up with the imposing length, and wide rear end. From the side, sidelights come as standard (think daytime running lights, simply placed on the side of the vehicle), fit due to Australian safety regulations. As the vehicle rides on 17-inch rims, (mine was fitted with Goodyear tyres), the Park Avenue doesn’t have an awkward look from the side, compared to other flagship vehicles which come with smaller rimmed wheels as standard options. From the rear, the vehicle features twin exhausts, providing for a sophisticated look. On the whole, the Park Avenue displays its luxury, though it does not manage to attract attention, as compared to a current 7-Series.
· Interior
Step into the driver’s seat, and plunk into fine-quality leather, by German leather company, Bader, available in either piano black, or classic beige. The steering wheel feels properly built, clad in leather and wood. I have to say, that it was the instrument panel that caught my eye, due to its design consisting of veneered wood paneling, with its instrument clusters outlined in chrome, and lit in angel white. Sadly, the Park Avenue still lives in the past, with the option of a keyless system unavailable. The center console, though practical and full of options such as Bluetooth, GPS navigation, sensor display, etc., feels inexpensive. Nevertheless, the interior is clad in unimaginable amounts of leather, literally from door to door. 8-way power seats with lumbar support provide for a relaxing seat, as well as for good back support throughout ones’ journey. At the rear, one immediately notices that the Park Avenue is built for passengers, such as businessmen, VIP’s, etc. On the high-specification editions, rear passengers have the option of seat warming/cooling, along with the option of adjusting seats to one’s liking—such as in Lexus’s LS flagship models. A 7-inch integrated DVD screen comes with the package, along with rear vanity mirrors, and folding tables. In addition, one can adjust the climate, along with the audio system via the rear centre console. Due to the fact that most buyers of the Park Avenue are usually high-level executives, the Park Avenue swallows a minimum of three full sized golf bags with ease.
· Ride & Handlings
Mated to a six-speed automatic, 3.0 V6 SIDI engine, developed by General Motors, the Park Avenue pulls itself along comfortably. As the vehicle comes with ‘sport’ mode, one whisks away from traffic with the simple push of a pedal. With a top speed of 220km/h, at a century sprint from 0-100km/h of 8.3 seconds, the Park Avenue manages to keep up with the pace at any given time. What amazed me was the silence provided in the vehicle. For an Australian-designed flagship vehicle, the Buick whisked along in sheer silence, bar exterior wind noise. A redesigned suspension allowed the Park Avenue to ease over large humps and bumps without much difficulty.
· Verdict
Despite its number of years in the Chinese and Australian market, the flagship Park Avenue has been fitted with new technology, allowing it to keep up with the pace.
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