Is your car so big that you can't see anything behind you? Buick has the answer for those drivers who can't and won't turn their neck to check before they reverse. A new rear parking assist sensor system is included as an option for the 2001 Buick Park Avenue, the top-end full-size sedan in the Buick lineup. The system will be available only in the performance-oriented Ultra. Another new feature this year is standard leather seats with memory settings for the base model.

The 2001 Park Avenue is a good seven inches longer than the roomy LeSabre, and it offers ample front and rear legroom and headroom and a 19 cubic foot trunk. Bench seats are standard, to fit six people, but the middle seat up front also doubles as a fold-down armrest. Rear seats do not fold for trunk expansion. Front bucket seats are optional in the Ultra. A 3.8-liter, 205-hp V6 sits in the base Park Avenue, while a supercharged version in the Ultra ups the muscle to 240-hp. Only a 4-speed auto tran is offered. A new limited edition package on the base adds two-tone cloth and wood interior trim.

Luxury, comfort, and a home away from home are what the 2001 Park Avenue is all about. Full power features, power seats, and remote entry are standard, along with safety features such as ABS brakes and dual front-side airbags. The Ultra includes rain-sensing wipers, traction control and StabiliTrak, which are optional in the base, and also adds more comforts, such as heated seats and mirrors and leather and wood trim. A popular option is the heads-up display, which projects information onto the windshield, so that drivers do not have to divert their eyes from the road. 2001 Park Avenue owners rave about the vast roominess and the luxuriously comfortable and smooth ride provided by the V6 engine. The car almost drives itself, with minimal effort from drivers, which may be why it's a perennial favorite of an older crowd.