Lucerne's interior is more tasteful and roomier than Avalon's. The trunk is bigger. The Buick offers an optional V-8 engine, which the Toyota doesn't. Driving Lucerne is a smoother, more pleasing experience. The Buick's automatic transmission is a four-speed instead of the Toyota's modern five-speed, but Lucerne's gearbox is smoother-shifting than Avalon's.

The V-8 model, powered by a 275-horsepower version of the 4.6- liter Northstar engine used in Cadillacs, is more fun than the model with the 3.8-liter V-6. But the 197-horsepower V-6 is no dog. It's just that the mildly tuned Northstar seems right in the Lucerne, giving it the kind of oomph that once made large Detroit sedans such marvels of quick comfort.

TEXT OF INFO BOX BEGINS HERE 2006 Buick Lucerne *What is it? Full- size, front-wheel-drive, four-door sedan replacing the Park Avenue and LeSabre. Lucerne is based on the chassis used for the Cadillac DTS, is available with V-6 or V-8 engine and is manufactured at General Motors' Detroit Hamtramck Assembly plant. Buick sees it as a direct rival to Toyota Avalon.