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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  Ultra Nice - 2002 Buick Park Avenue
  By davescrafts - October 4 - 2:00 am

  This is our 3rd Park Avenue. It has a better ride than Cadillac and Lincoln.

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  Buick Ranier - 2004 Buick Rainier
  By cobradriver - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Ride is excellent for and SUV. Very quiet, much quieter than wifes Acura. Passed on the V8 as performance is quite good, V8 only adds 15 HP but more torque. Build quality was very good, as are materials. Terrific seats, and audio system.

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  Engineers vehicle.... - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By Perry Kravec - October 4 - 2:00 am

  This is a Two Year review... 25K in severe duty... and doing very well... the gas milage for a vehicle that weighs over 4,000lbs with 185HP is as good as a VW beetle that had 85HP... 26mpg on the road.... goig to work and back Im getting 22mpg ... thats more than the 4cyl CRV my cooworker is getting driving the same route. Needless to say this vehicle was designed for my taste.. its roomy as a full size SUV but gets the gas milage of a much smaller vehicle... all the seats come out easily just like a minivan for more cargo space than any SUV... and the ride is smooth and quiet. The large 16" wheels take the rough roads around here very well. Very satisfied.

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  Dont want to get out of it! - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By Love my Clave - October 3 - 11:51 pm

  Handles quite nicely. Rides like a dream. Quiet and smooth. Found fuel economy reasonable. Sound system great. Nice looking vehicle, very classy at a reasonable price. Looking forward to at least ten years with this vehicle. Still have my Montana van, which is ten years old. Love my Clave.

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  So far so good - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By KWD - October 2 - 3:52 pm

  We bought our Enclave a little over two weeks ago. We are very satisfied with our purchase. The vehice interior is very luxury. The outside vehicle design is very appealling.

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  My Park Ave - 2002 Buick Park Avenue
  By Ted S - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Everything I had hoped for. The Park Ave Ultra is like being in your favorite chair

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  WOW - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By john john - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Great SUV love everthing about it. Tons of room for everone, gives you the feeling of a fun bus ride. Rides like a car, handles like a car. You feel secure in this SUV. Well worth the money. Not a accura or lexus but not 5 to 10 thousand more either. Would tell everone to get one just for the fun of it!

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  03 Regal Chrome/Aluminum Wheels - 2003 Buick Regal
  By Flash - September 30 - 5:01 pm

  I love my Regal with two exceptions. Recently discovered that the $250.00 16" Chrome over Aluminum Wheels have corroded leading to separation between the Chrome and the Aluminum. This resulted in my new Michelin tires not sealing to the rim. In addition the headlight dimmer switch, buried in the stalk on the steering wheel failed. Discovered that there is no relay, so failure is expected. Most other cars in the world use a replaceable relay for high current use. Very bad design!

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  Steve Preston - 2009 Buick Lucerne
  By Steve - September 30 - 3:18 pm

  My new Buick gives me 3 mpg less mileage than my 1993 La Sabre. Acceleration at 60 is very, very poor especially when typical highway speed is 65 to 70 mph.

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  Good Car - 1997 Buick Century
  By Marsheen - September 30 - 11:04 am

  Ive owned this car over a year now. Since Iam quite young and a maniac on a road, this car is takeing a beating every day. I make the engine of this car cry after its roaring and the car still drives good. Im not sure but I might have felt a little power loss over the time but I might be wrong. So far the only thing that broke on it was my cup holder and two mottor windows, and the interior trim is not holding in few places, because I had a 1200 watt system put in and the plastic wasnt put on properly. Im bored of this car now and I want a faster one, but if youre not planning to drive like an idiot than defenetly purchase one of these cars.