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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  Great car - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By Carey Grant - March 26 - 2:36 pm

  Buick is back and with a vengance. This is a superior car. It blows away the domestic and foreign competition. If you are looking at Lexus take a look at Lucerne. The Lucerne is the better value, but more important the better car. Great ride and handliing. Average fuel mileage is running about 23 miles per gallon. Check it out you will like it.

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  Still Happy After 2.5 Years - 1995 Buick Riviera
  By BigTexKahuna - March 25 - 9:27 pm

  I offered a review 2.5 years ago, and I thought Id give an update. Had to rebuild tranny nearly 1 year after purchase- $1800. That was a surprise, but nothing major since. Only expected, non-surprising things: replace radiator- $300, fix pssngr-side pwr window- $120, replace noisy supercharger- $750. I added custom-made cold-air induction, modified exhaust... car really screams now! Added 18" chrome wheels, manual air shocks, custom dark-blue paint with red pin-stripes, and a kick-butt sound system. I receive a lot of admiration, and I am always asked, "What kind of car is that?" I did lose the steering wheel control features due to factory sound system shorting out. I miss that luxury!

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  Would buy another one - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By Cobble - March 25 - 8:57 pm

  There have been two annoyances: 1. Readablility of instruments in bright sun is very poor. 2. When very hot i.e.sitting on hot macadam for hours and/or driven hard, the steering has a tiny "thunk" feel on occasion when making a turn. Its been traced to a universal joint in the steering linkage. Dealer got 95 percent of it out, but a slight amount remains. I suspect it might be a design flaw. Had Lexus LS-400 before. Buick is as good and in many ways better. Recently drove 09 Lexus ES-350. Prefer Buick. Smooth, silky traveler head-snapping acceleration quieter than new Lexus 19.7 mpg around town very little roll on twisties (not a sporty car, though) 4-spd is slick.

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  Buick Enclave - 2008 CXL AWD - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By traveler - March 25 - 12:15 pm

  We have 12000 miles on our Enclave. Love the car. Traveled from Illinois to Florida and car performed beautifully. Car had a bad battery at delivery but that was quickly resolved. Excellent highway mileage, 22 mpg. with full load. Very comfortable ride and so far all accessories performing perfectly. Some visibility problems for shorter drivers.

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  1998 Regal GS (l67) powered - 1998 Buick Regal
  By Kam - March 24 - 7:10 pm

  I got my buick regal gs in february 09 with 27k miles on it, and so far i am very happy with it, no issues what so ever performance is great out of supercharged motor, interior is comfortable, buick`s theater seats makes you feel like you seat higher, radio controls are easy to access, ride is nice and quiet, automatic climate control may seem confusing to operate, no ac button,just gotta get used to it

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  Many problems - 2001 Buick LeSabre
  By Alan - March 24 - 1:51 pm

  Bought car from my mom. Had 14,000 when I purchased her. This was all the mileage it had after 6 years. After driving the car for 4 months 3 of the 4 power window regulators failed. I doubt they were even used more than 50 times. The power steering chatters on hard turns. The dash electronics constantly go out. The radio/disc player constantly goes on and off. The brakes are all chattering and grabbing. Had to replace all 4 tires after 16,000 miles. General tires are the worst. Put new Goodyear Assurance tires on and it made all the difference in the world! Buick is no help at all regarding repairs. I do however love the comfortable ride and great gas mileage. Its a great looking car.

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  A Sweet Ride - 1995 Buick Riviera
  By ClassicCar - March 24 - 12:22 am

  I purchased this car from a Buick dealership. It had 14,000 miles and was everything I had been looking for in a car. Over the years it has gone to college for four years, Prom, Weddings, corn fields, mud, snow, good and bad streets, carried teens, grandkids and dogs. Through it all, it has handled every situation with grace. The only "major repair" was the harmonic balancer. Outside of that, just regular oil changes, new tires, and air conditioner. My entire family loves the Riviera. We would buy it again and wish that Buick would continue the car, adding a four door version and make it a crossover. Oh, yes, it now has 140,000 miles and drives as if it was brand new.

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  GM Deserves to go under - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By Never Again - March 22 - 2:38 pm

  The only other GM product I have owned was a Vega the Rendezvous is much worse. I complained about groaning hydraulics from day one, but CMP Classic said it was normal. Then the AWD quit, just out of warranty. Both GM and the dealer washed their hands of it. Everything has gone wrong with this piece of rubbish, including the drivers lumbar support exploding while I was on the highway. Acceleration (if you can call it that) comes in intermittent bursts the transmission doesnt change down until you floor it, then it kicks down into first - all show, no go.

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  Nicely done, and it turns heads - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By TommyGun - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Didnt want just another SUV. The ads touting its utility and style, its size and comfort got me to look at it. Ive had my fill of mini-vans, but liked to sit up high. SUVs seem pretentious for the most part. This kinda hybrid was just what I was looking for, and Ive always liked the ride of a Buick. Off-road? You gotta be kidding... No one takes an SUV off- road, so that was not a consideration.

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  Great car - 2000 Buick Century
  By Rich - March 21 - 2:44 pm

  i have had this car for over 6 years got it with 1100 miles on it it now has 153,000 only thing i have changed was the abs battery 2 times which was under warrenty and about 10,000 miles ago my odometer goes out and i have to tap the dash to make come back on this car was build in canada which is diferent from usa so for having 150,000 miles and still running strong is a plus well worth the 8000 that i paid for it!!!