Driving Impressions
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The Buick Terraza is powered by GM's 3.5-liter V6 rated at 200 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, a cast iron V6 that's been around for decades yet still manages to be the strong, silent type when it comes to highway running.
And, speaking of silence, the Terraza has been treated to Quiet Tuning, Buick's package of sound blockers, attenuators, and deadeners from the firewall to the tailgate. Considering the size of the hole the Terraza cuts through the air, the big tires and the huge glass area, it is very quiet at high cruising speeds on good pavement. Any minivan, because it is a big empty box with lots of glass, is an acoustic nightmare, and Buick has done a first-rate job of quieting things down.
The Terraza offers good acceleration, steering, and braking performance and nice road manners.
If things get out of hand the traction control and the Stabilitrak electronic stability control systems step in. With these systems working to operate throttle, brakes, suspension, and torque distribution to the two front driving wheels, there's a lot more peace of mind available in bad weather conditions. which helps drivers maintain control in sudden maneuvers, particularly in low traction conditions, in emergency lane changes, and during avoidance maneuvers.
StabiliTrak assists the vehicle in maintaining the driver's intended path by applying braking force at any corner of the vehicle independent of the driver's use of the brake pedal. StabiliTrak uses sensors to compare the vehicle's actual path with the driver's desired path. If the difference between the driver's desired path and the vehicle's actual path becomes great enough, StabiliTrak takes appropriate action to assist the driver in maintaining the desired path. If the vehicle begins to understeer (snowplow), StabiliTrak applies the inside rear brake to help turn the vehicle. If the vehicle begins to oversteer (fishtail), StabiliTrak applies the outside front brake to straighten the vehicle. StabiliTrak is integrated with the traction control and ABS systems. StabiliTrak is not available on Terraza models equipped with Versatrak all-wheel drive.
Versatrak is one of the most advanced approaches to all-wheel drive and we recommend it for anyone who has to drive on snow and ice. The optional system works full time and is particularly helpful in slippery conditions. The driver need do nothing; there are no buttons to push or levers to throw. If one or both front wheels lose grip, the system goes into action progressively. The system makes use of the traction available by not only transferring torque from front to rear, but also from side to side between the rear wheels, an ability not found in many competitive systems.
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