2003 Buick Park Avenue Ultra

Reaching beyond appearance, a specially tuned Gran Touring suspension, with rear stabilizer bar, goes on the Park Avenue Ultra to tighten its handling talents. Outside mirrors now incorporate turn-signal indicators. Dual chromed exhaust tips are visible at the rear.

A new chrome vertical-bar grille features Buick's monochromatic tri-shield emblem, which also appears on the trunk lid.

As before, a supercharged 3.8-liter V-6 engine propels the Ultra sedan, with 240 horsepower feeding its four-speed automatic transmission. On the highway, at least, the Ultra is reasonably frugal, too. The EPA's gas-mileage estimate is 18 mpg in city driving, but 28 mpg out on the open highway. Premium fuel is required.


Although the Ultra is getting most of the attention this season, Buick continues to offer a standard Park Avenue, with a non-supercharged V-6 that produces 205 horsepower. It might lack a few plush fittings, but the "ordinary" Park Avenue is a lot of car for the money. Park Avenues come in a choice of 10 body colors, including three that are new for 2003.


With its tauter Gran Touring suspension, the Ultra doesn't ride quite as gently as earlier models—or as a regular Park Avenue sedan. Occupants might be tossed around a bit more than expected when the pavement turns rough. On the plus side, the extra tautness pays a welcome benefit in control.


Ride quality is a relatively minor issue, however, when you consider the Park Avenue Ultra's ongoing talents as a traditional-style road machine—one that can make a person recall the bonuses of past Buicks. Smooth and easy performance, sufficiently vigorous even without the supercharged engine, is especially reminiscent of the days when Buicks had Dynaflow transmissions and cushiony springing. Most of the time on the highway, in any case, the ride is almost guaranteed to be satisfying.