The Rendezvous is probably not beautiful to many, but it has an integrity suited to its purpose and is thus attractive. It's difficult to judge its size of without the context of another vehicle nearby. That's usually a sign that the design team got the scale right. As a Buick, it fits somewhere between the Buick Rainier, a truck-based SUV, and the 2005 Buick Terraza, a new minivan-like vehicle GM is calling a crossover sport van. The spec sheet says that Rendezvous is as tall as an SUV, at 68.9 inches without the roof rack. But with nearly 64 inches between the left and right rear tires, the Rendezvous has a wider track than some medium-size SUVs. And its strong horizontal design visually suggests stability.

The Rendezvous' traditional Buick grille emphasizes a familial resemblance to the Park Avenue, but on Rendezvous it somehow looks less formal and more cheery. It's a pleasing countenance. On Ultra, the familiar grille is body-color rather than black. Bright inserts along the top of the side molding add a look of richness to Ultra. In short, we like its looks.

The amazing thing about the low stance and flat floor of the Rendezvous is that all-wheel drive and a low, flat floor are supposed to be mutually exclusive. Well, the Buick engineers found a way to do it. Too bad being unobtrusive is a mark of success because this accomplishment needs to stand up and take applause. It's best appreciated when driving with a full load of people and their stuff on a nasty, sleety, darkening afternoon with a slippery glaze on the street.

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