Remember the old advertising jingle: Wouldn't you really rather drive a Buick? Many people would. But until the introduction of the 2004 Rainier, GM's near-luxury brand had nothing to offer buyers who seek a mid-size sport-utility vehicle. The Buick Rainier seats five and boasts an engine powerful enough to pull a boat or horse trailer.
The Rainier shares its underpinnings with several other mid-size GM SUVs, but it alone offers a V8 engine in the standard-length wheelbase configuration. The others offer the same V8, but only in their extended vehicles that come with three rows of seats, namely the GMC Envoy XL and Chevy TrailBlazer EXT.
But that V8 engine is just one of several perks that come with the Rainier. It's among the quietest SUVs we've driven. And it rides more smoothly than the other GM models.
With a price range from the mid-30s to the low 40s, the Rainier is an appealing prospect for those who appreciate strong silent types. This is an SUV that can more than pull its own, and a loaded horse trailer to boot.
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