The Buick Rainier is a mid-size luxury SUV sold for the 2004 to 2007 model years, named after Mount Rainier. It replaced the Oldsmobile Bravada at Buick and was itself replaced by the Enclave.
Buick Rainier at a glance
| Maker | Buick, General Motors |
|---|---|
| Production | 2004–2007 model years |
| Class | mid-size luxury SUV |
| Platform | GMT360 |
| Body | five-door, five-passenger |
| Standard engine | 4.2 L LL8 straight-six, 275 hp |
| Optional engine | 5.3 L V8, 290 hp |
| From 2005 | 5.3 V8 uprated to 300 hp with Active Fuel Management |
| Transmission | 4L60-E four-speed automatic |
| Drive | rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive |
| Assembly | Moraine, Ohio |
| Replaced by | Buick Enclave for 2008 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Rainier.
History of the Buick Rainier
The Rainier was introduced on 28 July 2003 for the 2004 model year, on GM’s GMT360 platform. It came only as a five-door, five-passenger vehicle, and it was the first short-wheelbase GMT360 to offer a V8 — that engine had previously been reserved for the extended GMT370 versions. Rear- and all-wheel drive were both offered, and all cars used the four-speed 4L60-E automatic.
Its body was largely carried over from the Oldsmobile Bravada, with new front sheetmetal and tail lamps, and the interior and options list also came from the Bravada, adding a silver-faced instrument cluster with ice-blue needles and a Buick tri-shield on the steering wheel.
The Rainier was where Buick first used QuietTuning, its sound insulation package, with triple door seals, acoustic laminated side glass — the first vehicle to have it — and thicker sound-absorbing pads on the hood and firewall.
For 2004 the trims were CXL and CXL Plus, the latter adding a touchscreen DVD navigation system. The 5.3 V8 could be ordered with the «V8 Power Play» package, which added a V8 badge to the Rainier script on the tailgate. For 2005 the CXL Plus became the Sun, Sound and Entertainment package, the grille emblem was updated, the interior was revised and the Generation III V8 was replaced by the Generation IV LH6 with Active Fuel Management and 300 hp. StabiliTrak, OnStar and an auto-dimming mirror became standard for 2006, when the straight-six rose to 291 hp. The 2007 model was a carryover.
The Rainier was discontinued after 2007 and replaced by the Enclave for 2008; GM ended production of its GMT360 relatives — the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7X — after 2009. The IIHS rated the 2004 Rainier Marginal for front impacts, improving to Acceptable from 2005, and Marginal for side impacts even with side airbags. In 2012 GM recalled more than 258,000 of these SUVs, including the Rainier, to fix power window and door lock switches that could short-circuit and cause fires.
Design and features
- First short-wheelbase GMT360 V8: the 5.3 was previously reserved for longer versions.
- QuietTuning debut: triple door seals and acoustic laminated side glass.
- Two engines: a 4.2 straight-six or the 5.3 V8.
- Five seats only: no extended-wheelbase version was offered.
Buick Rainier versions
- CXL: the standard trim.
- CXL Plus (2004): added touchscreen navigation.
- Sun, Sound and Entertainment (2005): the renamed CXL Plus.
- V8 Power Play: the 5.3 V8 package with its own tailgate badge.
The Rainier was replaced by the Enclave and shared its platform family with the Rendezvous crossover. More Buicks are in the Buick collection.
Sources
- Buick Rainier, English Wikipedia: launch, engines, trims, QuietTuning, safety, recall
