Overview & Reviews

Owned by General Motors, Buick is one of this country's oldest brands, with a rich tradition of innovation that dates back more than a century. Though long known for catering to retirement-age customers with its full-size sedans, the automaker's lineup now includes SUVs and sport sedans designed to bring younger buyers into the showrooms of Buick dealers.

The company was founded in 1903 by David Dunbar Buick, a Scottish industrialist. He built his first car in 1904; called the Model B, it had a two-cylinder engine with an advanced-for-its-time overhead-valve cylinder head design. In 1907, Buick unveiled its first four-cylinder production car, dubbed the Model D. The following year, the Flint, Michigan-based Buick Motor Company was bought by William C. Durant as part of a new company called General Motors. By 1914, all Buicks were built with six-cylinder engines and purchased primarily by upper-class professionals, thus earning the nickname "doctor's cars."

The manufacturer proved itself a trailblazer in the early 1920s when it introduced four-wheel brakes. This technology had been seen before on custom-built cars, but Buick was the first to figure out how to successfully apply it to mass-produced vehicles. Eight-cylinder Buick cars emerged in the 1930s and became immensely popular; these advanced engines received steady improvements for several years. The '30s also saw Buick's introduction of the industry's first rear turn signal to use a flasher.

Models such as the Estate Wagon and the ever-popular Roadmaster kept Buicks happily ensconced in driveways all across the nation in the 1940s. In 1948, Buick introduced Dynaflow, the first torque converter-type automatic transmission offered in U.S. passenger cars. The 1950s and 1960s witnessed Buick continuing to zoom ahead of the curve; it was among the first to offer vehicles with power brakes and steering, and 12-volt electrical systems. The marque was also behind the introduction of the first American V6 passenger car engine and introduced the Riviera personal luxury coupe in the early '60s.

On the whole, though, Buick had made its name as a manufacturer of stately land yachts such as the Electra 225. To meet the changing times, the automaker downsized its full- and midsize models during the 1970s and began offering compact and midsize sedans for the 1980s. During the latter period and into the '90s, Buick changed things up by introducing the Regal Grand National muscle car and Reatta luxury coupe and convertible. But its core product continued to be luxury sedans aimed at an older audience.

Today, Buick specializes in sedans and crossover SUVs and is modifying its philosophy in the hopes of attracting younger buyers. Luxury and class are still common themes, but newer models have European influences in their handling and ride dynamics. As such, many modern Buicks, such as the compact Verano sedan provide a more entertaining drive and more contemporary styling than people might expect from this "old" nameplate.

User Reviews:

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  Beautiful, Feature Packed, Mixed Emotions - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By jamessam - October 9 - 7:36 pm

  2011 LaCrosse CXS black/black 19"wheels, Nav, Roof, nice power, very sexy car. However the trunk is puny, one set of clubs only. The interior ergonomics take a few weeks of ownership to pinpoint. The dash curves outward at the door just enough to bump your knee when exiting. The foot well is very tight for my size 11 feet. Im 61" and the center arm rest is too high and to far back making long trips uncomfortable. And theres no storage to speak of inside. Bought new 7/2010, my steering column was replace 11/2010. Last Monday the steeing gear was raplaced @ 17,500 miles! That was enough for me, traded it in Thurday, lost $ on it, but i want to be able to steer man Ive got kids to live for.

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  Quiet, refined, but... - 2011 Buick Enclave
  By flablueovalfan - September 27 - 9:43 am

  There is much to like about the 11 Buick Enclave. It provides a serene, luxurious ride. However, there are a few inexplicable and obvious nods to cost cutting that do not belong in a $50,000+ vehicle of this class. I particularly dislike the fact that the front passenger seat cushion adjusts front to back only - no angle adjustment! And is it to much to ask for some ambient interior lighting - like my $15,000 less expensive 11 Mustang GT has? A few bits of interior materials could be better - too much hard plastic. I had the Ford Flex with Eco Boost higher on my list, but the wife was put off by the styling. The Enclave is a nice car, it just needs more attention to the details.

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  Not bad for Buick - 2001 Buick Century
  By jackrussel419 - September 21 - 8:34 pm

  I have a 2001 Buick Century and havent had too many problems with it. At about 140,000 miles i got that normal thing with buicks where the anitfreeze mixes with the oil and that was about a $900 fix but other than that that is the biggest issue ive had only other things are the drivers side window motor had to be replaced, had to get a new o2 sensor and brakes but thats just from the almost 200,000 miles that are on it, but definetly a reliable vehicle all year round.

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  Buick and Their Dealerships Have Issues - 2010 Buick LaCrosse
  By austin1982 - September 20 - 11:09 am

  My 2010 Lacrosse had issues from day 1 and the dealership in Delaware OH would not assist. I had to take it to another dealership to get the answers as to why the car pulled so badly. It had been dropped when taken off of the car carrier. They said this was common for that dealership. Once that was fixed the electrical system started to go. The sun roof just stopped working, the phone came on for no reason and the radio would change stations on its own. But none of this was consistant and never happened when left at the dealership. The quality of this vehicle was poor and the dealerships unresponsiveness is unexceptable. Im done with GM products.

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  2011 Buick LaCrosse Electrical Problem - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By gvan2 - June 5 - 8:31 pm

  I used to love this NEW car but it stopped while driving. The entire electrical system shut down. I was able to pull over but dont feel comfortable driving car now. Cant imagine turning in front of a vehicle and IT DECIDES to stop!

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  A Lemon - 2002 Buick LeSabre
  By exbuickdriver - June 4 - 1:55 am

  This car was a lemon almost immediately after we bought it with 40,000 miles on it. In the first 20,000 miles the following parts needed replacement: plenum gasket,right drive bearing, and left drive bearing. All were expensive fixes costing $250-$500. Sensors wore out frequently on the motor. The MAP sensor and fuel regulator sensors were the last to go. While it rode nice, this car was poorly built and I wont buy another Buick Lesabre. I suggest reading the Edmunds reliability section before considering buying this model or any with the Series II 3.8L V-6. The garage bills far outweigh the positives on this car!!

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  2004 Buick rendevous - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By buickjunk1 - April 16 - 3:35 pm

  Thought all the bugs would be gone by the 3rd year. Problems with brakes at 25k miles, window wiring, transmission at 79k miles, fuel tank and we will see what is next.. I felt good about buying a buick, but now I will never purchase one again. Probably done with GM. Sad the American car keeps on disappointing.

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  A Mistake - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By jerezaa - April 12 - 6:11 pm

  Bought used but shouldnt have, Luckily I got the extended warranty because 2 months later the transmission went out (While crossing the Bay Bridge into San Francisco- what an adventure!) Took a month to fix. No trouble for a while but then the something computer module which controls nearly everything went and it overheated. Spent tons of money to replace heads and the dealer (Covert Buick in Austin TX) and apparently they did not fix correctly. Its back in the shop after having it back for only 2 weeks. I should have just bought another car. The car is comfortable and I like driving it but it is the second worst car Ive ever owned (The first worst was a Renault LeCar) Dont buy it!

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  some designing poor - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By sissie3 - January 29 - 11:08 pm

  Poor visibility front @ back. Poor cup holder placements in front.Cruise contol placement not good,to easy to accidently turn on or off. All bang heads getting in and out and we are short...and gas mileage not over 23mpg in any driving conditions. All very disappointing except it is a beautiful car inside and out, but wish I was back in a Toyota!

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  Never again! Shame on you, GM! - 2002 Buick Century
  By london_bridge - January 12 - 6:18 pm

  I treated this car better than any of my previous "rides". After 30 years on the road, Ive found I get fewer & fewer miles on GM cars before parts fail. 32,000 and the Intake Manifold Gasket failed. I have a BIG problem with religiously taking my car into dealerships that will only suggest every form of maintenance except the one they know is suspicious. Im too late for the DEX-COOL suit, but I did have a Chevy (62K) that was eligible. Submitted my documentation and recd a form letter that my car was a year older than it was, so it wasnt eligible. I also owned (before dealer exchanged) a Buick Skyhawk that had the same part fail at 40K before I bought it.