There's no question Buick has been on a roll lately, with new products like the Encore and Envision, as well as older models, specifically the Regal, that's still well regarded. But what about its flagship sedan, the newly redesigned 2017 LaCrosse? Is it still the almost but not quite all-out luxury car that adds a dose of adrenaline to an otherwise dull and Novocain numbing-like dentist's life? Yes. And that's exactly the way Buick wanted to keep things.

Built on the same platform that underpins the excellent Chevrolet Impala, the redesigned 2017 LaCrosse is 300 pounds lighter than its immediate predecessor, despite being longer and wider. Its exterior styling was somewhat influenced by the gorgeous Avenir Concept from Detroit a couple of years ago.

Step inside and you'll find an interior layout that's both premium and comfortable. From the driver's seat, however, there's one design flaw we noticed: the center console is simply too high, creating the feeling like you're buckled into a confining dentist's chair. Our tester was a nearly fully-loaded Premium trim, only missing the $3,000 all-wheel drive system. Front-wheel-drive is standard. Power comes from a GM's fantastic 3.6-liter V6 with 310 hp and 282 lb-ft of torque. And that's about where the excitement ends. Is the 2017 Buick LaCrosse a bad car? Not by any means. Is it a desirable car that's fun to show off to your golf buddies? Only if you're a dentist. Special thanks to Woodland Motors for letting us film the car.