The Rendezvous has all the great attributes of the Aztek, but it just looks better. And, to be fair, it has more of a Buick "ride" than the Aztek's Pontiac-inspired ride.

Rendezvous is powered by a 3.4-liter V-6 that's rated at 185 horsepower. It drives the wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. It's the overdrive that helped us achieve 17.0 mpg in our test. The Rendezvous is rated at 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway. Our test took the vehicle over an assortment of roads, with our primary focus on Interstates and small roads.

Rendezvous is also equipped with GM's Versatrak all-wheel drive system. With Versatrak, you don't have to worry about switching from front-wheel drive to all-wheel drive, the vehicle does it by itself. As soon as wheel slippage is detected, Versatrak shifts the power to the wheels that have traction and away from those that don't.

The Rendezvous also has a couple of features that impressed me. One is called "rear parking aid." I like to back into my driveway, but I'm always afraid I'm going to misjudge the distance and bump into my garage door (the only time I did hit the door was when I drove in nose first, though). With the rear parking aid, you get a "beep" and warning lights when you're within about five feet of whatever is behind you. When you get daring and move closer, the beep gets more persistent. There are four sensors that detect obstacles ten inches or taller.

Rendezvous also uses a heads-up display to advise the driver of speed, turn signals, high beams and low fuel. The display is projected on the windshield and seems to "float" a couple of feet in front of the car.  This makes it easy to see without having to re-focus your eyes from the road. When you drive a car with a heads up display, you miss it when the next car doesn't have it. To me that shows the value of the feature.

We had to use the Rendezvous as a truck. Actually the "assignment" was to move a motorcycle. The entry height with the rear hatch lifted is slightly more than 36 inches. The absolute rear deck can't be removed, but the second bank of seats is removable, as is the bench in the third bank. We opted not to try to put the bike in there, but I think it might have fit with the seats removed.

Speaking of seats, Rendezvous will carry seven passengers, with two buckets in front and in the second row and a bench in back. This leaves less carrying capacity behind the rear seat (18.1 cubic feet nominal), but it does permit you to carry more people. If you're into cargo carrying instead, you can remove the second row of seats and fold the third row for 108.9 cubic feet. Or, you can just fold the third row for 54.5 cubic feet. That, as readers of my previous articles might note, is room enough for four golf bags with enough comfortable seating capacity for the foursome.

We found the seats to be comfortable and offer good back support. Since they were power adjustable, we could play with the switches to find an ideal combination of back angle and seat height. With the memory function, each driver could set it the way they wanted, including the mirrors, then press just one button to bring it all back after that 6'4" parking lot attendant handed you back your keys.

Rendezvous will also tow 3500 pounds with the optional trailer towing package that includes a larger radiator and alternator, transmission fluid and engine oil cooler, and load-leveling rear shocks

Base price of the Rendezvous is ,452. Our tester had the CXL luxury package added, which boosted the sticker price by ,015. In this package you get six-way power front seats with memory for the driver, dual electric control HVAC system so you don't have to fight with the passenger over the temperature, an overhead console, leather seating surfaces with footrests for the second-row passengers (an admitted luxury), OnStar, rear parking aid, heads up display, AM/FM stereo radio with cassette and CD changer, and a luggage rack. The third row seats cost an additional 0.Destination charges add 5 for a final bottom line of ,042.

I liked the Aztek when it came out. One advantage to driving that vehicle is that you're inside and don't have to look at it from the outside. With the Rendezvous, that problem is solved. You don't have to sneak up to the vehicle, afraid to admit that it's yours. Rendezvous has all the neat features of Aztek, including the ability to make the rear a tent and sleep in the back if you want. 

If Buick insists on joining the SUV or truck market, it couldn't have picked a better design.

© 2001 The Auto Page Syndicate 

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Specifications 

2002 Buick Rendezvous CXL

Standard Equipment

• Full time 4WD
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• 6-way power driver and passenger seats with adjustable lumbar support
• Brakes, Power Four-Wheel Disc with Anti-Lock
• Dual Zone Climate Control, Electronic for driver and front passenger
• Micron air filtration
• Leather Seating Areas
• OnStar™ System
• 2 in front, 2 in second row, 2 in third row
• Privacy glass
• AM/FM stereo with seek and scan, digital clock, CD with cassette, equalizer and 8 speakers
• Steering Wheel with Fingertip Controls
• Wheels, Cast Aluminum
• Driver and front passenger seat mounted side-impact

Major Available Options

• CDX AM/FM receiver with in-dash 6 disc CD changer and equalizer; with 8 speakers
• Rear seat audio controls and headphone jacks
• Six passenger seating- includes front bucket seats, second-row Captain's Chairs and third-row seats with storage
• Seven passenger seating- includes front bucket seats, second row 50/50 split rear seats, and third-row seats w/storage
• Sunroof with console
• P215/70R16 steel-belted, radial-ply, all season blackwall touring tires
• 16 inch Eight-spoke chromed aluminum wheels
• Trailer Towing Package, includes a larger radiator and alternator, transmission fluid and engine oil cooler, and load-leveling (permits towing loads of up to 3,500 lbs.)

For more information on the Rendezvous, visit Buick.com

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