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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  GM Quality gone? - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By creeker00 - December 12 - 9:22 am

  Switched over from Dodge/Jeep to GM in purchasing the 08 Enclave and what a mistake that was. Guess next time I will go with a Ford, as GM and Dodge have obviously went way downhill. Car rides better than any Ive driven. Seat comfort and features such as dual climate control, heated seats, etc. are great. But, with under 50,000 miles on the vehicle the control buttons have lost their paint, the leather seats are terribly worn just from normal use, the rear climate control has had to be replaced due to non-functioning and is acted up again. Also, the transmission had to be completely replaced after 40,000 miles and the rack and pinion had to be replaced. Poor, Poor quality for $37K.

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  Rendevous Troubles - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By Rendevous Troubles - December 2 - 2:00 am

  I purchased a brand new 05 Rendevous in April 2005 and have had continuous troubles from 3 months into the purchase. The following are issues I have had to fix: Front tire hubs x6, wiring to traction control, wiring to steering wheel, wiring to heating and air conditioning control, tire bushings, back window washer arm, rear hatch handle x2, console cover, and most recently a transmission. Some of the issues were covered under the factory warranty but most were covered by the extended warranty at $200 each repair. When you buy a new car you dont expect issues such as these. If I had to do it all over again, I would have never bought this car. I should have researched consumer reports first!

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  Disappointed - 2011 Buick Regal
  By disappointed - November 28 - 2:00 am

  After 300 Miles my new Regal left me stranded in the middle of a busy intersection and was carted back to the dealer for a new fuel pump. A hundred miles later it’s developed an annoying sheet metal vibration, back to the dealer again.

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  Faulty window regulators - 2002 Buick LeSabre
  By Joe - November 22 - 2:00 am

  I got a deal on this car used, one owner, only 30,000 miles but the deal went sour after repalcing all four window units at about $600 a pop. Now my rear passenger side door will not lock or unlock (except manually) and the window will not operate. I was told it was a module that would cost around $400 to replace. I am not fixing it I am selling the car. This well maintained car with only 66,000 miles probably has a lot of good wear left, but it is costing me money parked in my driveway most of the time. I am not going to risk spending $1,000 per door. Anyone hears of a class action, I am in!!

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  Big mistake - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By Dan - November 19 - 2:00 am

  I am a former Toyota owner so I expect exceptional quality and reliability. After 250 miles the check engine light went on and the car went in for servicing. At 500 miles it is going back because the home link does not work. We have noticed a significant blind spot where the bottom front roof pillar meets the top passenger mirror housing so it is impossible to see oncomming traffic from above the mirror. Views out the back window are also limited. We have already had a near accident because of poor visibility. The carpet is so thin it looks like the pile has been sprayed on and build quality is a far cry from a Toyota product. Buick proved beauty is only skin deep. Stay with Toyotas!

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  WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By Jozie - November 2 - 2:00 am

  Unfortunately this vehicle DID NOT come close to meeting my expectations.. I find the ride to be very uncomfortable with a lot of LOUD road noise..bumps are taken roughly and loud..VERY ANNOYING, even the radio does not drown out the noise.. The interior design is done well although the plastic looks cheap both on the inside and outside of the care..storage space is limited.. blind spots both in the front and back of the vehicle make for difficult parking even with the backup warning device.. This purchase was a huge mistake..I was a prior Acura TL owner and should not have changed..

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  A Way To Go - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By Norman - October 31 - 2:00 am

  Touring ride not good enough, thus hit performance & comfort. Comfort: bad headrest, seat like old favorite recliner after about 1hr that sags, stuffing shifted. Center armrest? Poor lumbar support. Not enough bolster. Economy, not impressed, hoping it improves. Fun 2 drive, not with current seating & sway of vehicle. InteriorDesign: Seat/headrest, seat memory, storage poor-not enough, buggy Nav screen & sun hits it, malibu has speed sensitive wiper, distorted bass on HK, 3 BS = 0cupholder. Exterior: Looks real nice, but-mirror 2 tall, 19"tire poor rate, hit on suspension, rearcamera lite sensitv. BuildQuality: flaw on light assy, metal scratched before paint, 2 many negative ticks as above.

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  Should have read the Reviews - 2006 Buick Terraza
  By Kathy - October 27 - 2:00 am

  We traded in a Chrysler Town & Country Limited & we loved this vehicle it just had too many miles on it- liking the outside more SUV look of the Buick Terazza I purchased this one with 12,000 miles on it--- Everything I read now in the bad reviews is what I have problem with. Everything rattles- back seats are uncomfortable and cramped- slow to start, stalls. Service stabilation light comes on & steering freezes, clunking in front end dealer says there is nothing wrong with either, the transmission jumps when shifting. The worst is I cannot rely on the fuel gage that tells how many miles till empty- Twice I ran out of gas with 61 miles to go and the low fuel light didnt come on-

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  FactoryOptionsCeptSunroof&RS displays - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By E_Net_RIder - October 27 - 2:00 am

  1500M.TooManyItemsNotInstalledOrPoorQua lity ToBeCalledLuxury.PoorTires&IntakeNoisy >70MPH. 2CosmeticDamagesFromFactory.TooMuchRoll &Sway. Poor seat support on long ride,terrible headrest. LackOfUsefulStorage. HK AudioIsTerribleOnBassNotes(XM Radio) CheapLookingSpeakersMayBeCause. IgnorantProgrammingOfSeatMemory. I have documented 3 pages of complaints that stop this automobile from being the high quality/luxury I expected. SomeAreLackOf,UsefulStorage&Armrest, CorneringLamps, LoadLeveling, SpeedSensitveWipers(MalibuHasIt). OnlyOneAdjustableBackSupportForDriver, NoneForPassenger(Malibu W/LeatherHasMoreSupportiveSeats). NotAsQuietOrNiceRidingAsLincoln.

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  Totally disappointed - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By disappointed - October 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive purchased this vehicle with excitement only to find out that it is high maintenance with very expensive repairs. Bearings and rear differential have to be replaced which is going to cost me $4000 thousand dollars. Rear hatch handle broke easily, snow builds up in wheel well, gas gauge has a mind of its own, spedometer also has a mind of its own. Too many problems with this vehicle and very very very disappointed with the many repairs having to be made.