Nothing much changes for 2007 on the truck-based Rainier, which applies Buick-style refinement and interior elegance to the midsize SUV segment. The base engine is a 291-hp, 4.2-litre inline six. Also available is GM's 300-hp, 5.3-litre V8, which is equipped with Active Fuel Management (cylinder de-activation) for added fuel savings. Unlike its Chev and GMC platform-mates, Rainier comes only with full-time all-wheel drive; it has no pretensions to being an off-roader. Like all '07 Buicks, Rainier has OnStar's Directions & Connections Plan with Turn-by-Turn Navigation. This allows the OnStar customer to talk to a live advisor, who in turn transmits complete step-by-step directions to the customer's vehicle. Directions are then automatically played through the vehicle's stereo.
Smooth ride, decent handling, good nav system
No compelling argument to own one