When is a minivan not? When General Motors keeps the sliding side doors but calls a spade a "cross-over sport van." Buick's version, called the Terraza, carries as many as seven passengers in three rows consisting of four "captain's" chairs and one 50/50 split bench. The back two rows can be folded or removed to support incurable antiquing habits. GM's 200-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 and a four-speed automatic are standard equipment. In addition to front-wheel drive, Buick offers Versatrak on-demand four-wheel drive. What, exactly, Buick customers will make of the optional PhatNoise 40-gig hard-drive entertainment system is difficult to predict.
ON SALE: Fall 2004
PRICE: $28,000-$35,000 (est.)
ENGINE: 200-hp, 3.5-liter V-6
BOTTOM LINE: This Rendezvous with sliding doors is another truck bone thrown to Buick dealers.