BUICK Terraza
Generations Timeline, Specs and Pictures
The luxury version for the Chevrolet Uplander and Pontiac Montana was the Buick Terraza.
It was a car for those who needed a touch of luxury, apart from the comfort of an MPV.
The appetite for the MPV market was bigger on the North American market than in the rest of the world. Since most of the roads were straight, there was no real need for family cars that could handle better. Soft suspensions and long wheelbases were highly appreciated. If seven-seats versions were available, it was even better. But some were not satisfied with that and asked for more luxury. Then, the Buick Terraza appeared.
The two-box bodywork with sliding rear doors from Buick made a good impression in the parking lot. Its fascia looked important enough. The black grille with vertical slats and the Buick shields in the middle were proof that badge-engineering worked well for the GM products.
Inside, the three-color interior was not the best choice, but the car-maker tried to offer wood trims and be cost-effective as well. The Terraza featured 7 seat configuration as standard, with the middle row featuring captain seats. The trunk could have been extended by folding down the rear and the middle row of seats, forming a flat platform.
For the engine, the Terraza was launched with a 200 hp 3.5-liter V6 unit, mated to a 4-speed automatic. It was available in that configuration for two years. In 2007 the engine was changed, but the gearbox was kept.