As we noted, roominess and ease of entry/egress were top design priorities,and the car is a bullseye on both counts. Interior space is simply vast,
a word that also applies to the trunk. And getting in and out is devoid
of the simultaneous duck-and-bend move required in some swoopier designs,
even though the door sill is a trifle higher.
Like the exterior, the interior styling rates as more contemporary.
Over resistance from old line Buick owners, interior design chief Paul
Tatseos managed to break out of the old horizontal dashboard theme that
afflicted the '96 Park Avenue.
According to Buick research, those traditional owners don't like anything
that suggests the cockpit styling of a sport sedan, but Tatseos and his
staff went ahead with a modestly curved cowl over the main instruments.
Besides a more modern appearance, this allowed a bigger speed-ometer and
tachometer, which makes them easier to scan at a glance.
Another welcome change is the general appearance of the dashboard, which
shows a strong Riviera influence with its sharp color contrasts between