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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  Love this car ! - 1996 Buick Riviera
  By Barbara - June 3 - 10:25 pm

  Im currently at 229,900 miles - I too wish Buick still made the Riviera. It is the most trouble-free car I have ever owned. It always starts, runs and rides like a dream. My dealership says they have seen one Riv with 250,000 miles on it - I see one post here with 283,000 miles. The tape player quit at 100,000 miles (remember tapes ?) and the clearcoat on the paint failed in one small place on the fender. Otherwise it looks like a new car !

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  Classic - 1999 Buick Riviera
  By Lillian - June 3 - 12:13 am

  I love the body style,acceleration,interior design. Pearl exterior,lghtgray interior.Beautiful! Very comfortable car, luxury but sporty.I especially like how low to road it is and its wide wheel base.This car will go! I would love to buy another, the closest ive found to this body style was a jaguar. Makes me wonder why it was discontinued. Car is on the larger side, but you only realize it trying to park in small areas. Does not make sharp u-turns. Other than that this is the best car ive ever purchased. I am looking to purchase a convertable and am shocked that the blue book value for the riveria is less than 4k. NO WAY! Maybe i dont need a different car after all. Happy with what I have

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  best car I ever owned - 2004 Buick LeSabre
  By Debbie - June 2 - 10:23 pm

  I bought my Buick LaSabre in Jan. 04. We had rented one the previous October to take on vacation, because the transmission had gone out on the automobile I owned. We loved it... so I told my husband I wanted to buy one when we traded again. I have loved it! Its a big roomy ride, yet gets great gas mileage. The first 3-4 years, it would get 31 mpg on the highway... and 27 around town. It is older now, and the mileage has dropped a little, but I still get 29 mpg on highway. It is has never had a mechanical problem. I have kept all routine maintenance up to date, and with 120,000.00, I still do not want to get rid of it. I hope it will continue giving me such enjoyment.

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  I am buying a Honda - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By aj - June 2 - 7:55 pm

  I bought this with 45000 miles on it and loved it the first 2 years I drove it. So far I have replaced the brakes 3 times (1 front 2 back) then some wire that cost 1.50 but took the dealer 3 days and hundreds of dollars to figure out why it only started when it was cold.The air compresser in back ran all the time and finally I disconneted it. Coolent problems head gasket problems and now front and rear end problems. After 70000 miles this car was getting fixed every other month. It has "nickel and dollared me to death"

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  Vibration - 2008 Buick LaCrosse
  By ray ham - June 1 - 1:14 pm

  I read the reviews about the vibration. We took ours to a tire shop and they told us the vibration was due to the rear struts being out of line. We took it to the dealer and they put in some shims to align the rear. They also said it was due to a factory defect. However they didnt want to accept responsibility for the ruined tires. Hope this helps anyone else with vibration problems.

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  my exp. - 2007 Buick Rendezvous
  By my car - May 30 - 9:39 am

  GM used to mean quality in my family, but this car has been a complete disappointment. Since buying it in 2007 with 13k miles Ive had to spend $6k more in repairs due to persistent inability of car to start including faulty wiring, axle and wheel train replacement of loose or prematurely broken parts, and a brake job. In the 11 years that I owned a subaru, I never had to do any more than change the oil. For this car I had to even subscribe to onstar for peace of mind because the car is so unreliable. Based on the quality of this car I can see how GM got themselves into thier current setuation. Let a free market economy rule!! I am headed back to the Subaru dealership for a new car.

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  Boring - 2012 Buick Verano
  By Jimmy - May 28 - 9:07 am

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  Second Buick Century and still counting - 2003 Buick Century
  By jausten - May 27 - 5:49 pm

  I bought a 1996 Buick 3 years ago with over 100,000 on it and had zero problems with it. A few people even came up to me and asked me how I liked the car because they knew it was reliable. That sold me and the car grew on me. My son is going to college and needs a car so I searched long and hard for the same Buick, but newer model for me. Just found it, 2003 $5900 for a 35,000 Limited and felt it was a steal. After having trouble prone Fords, Subarus, Chevrolets, Hundais I know this car is the one for me.

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  Outstanding car - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By JDOLANMAN - May 26 - 3:10 am

  I have owned this Buick since January 2006 and it is excellent in all respects. It looks good, feels good and it is the most quiet automobile that I have ever owned. Rack up a winner for Buick and General Motors.

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  So many still on the rooad - 1996 Buick Century
  By Been Around - May 25 - 6:35 pm

  I bought this car in Florida, drove it around the country, through snow, rain, sleet, desert... It has always been reliable. Recntly I parked in a parking lot in our SMALL town and there were five Buick Centuries, from !980s through 2000 models. Little things like power window failures go, I replaced struts, but with regular maintenance, these cars seem to run forever, get good gas mileage, and my giant dog can spread out in the backseat!