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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  Relax and go really FAST - 1994 Buick Roadmaster
  By JohnnyBoy - February 27 - 4:48 pm

  Wonderful highway cruiser. Carries plywood flat. Invisible to state troopers.

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  review title - 1990 Buick Skylark
  By keffi - February 26 - 9:22 pm

  a bit slow, but one of the most comfortable cars ive ever driven. This babys built like a rock(no major repairs since purchase)

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  Fun to own and drive - 1992 Buick Regal
  By Joseph Weglarz - February 26 - 5:19 pm

  Provide quick response and handling. Turn radius is wide and must be planned. ABS excellent. Leather seat not best choise in florida sun crack care for regular Carpets showroom appearance despite 14K oginal tires poor in snow. tended to break loose. Goodyear. Pleasent to own and drive. Four wheel disc brakes excellent. Original calipers in rear froze require early replacement. After market cured problem. Trunk spacious, Original AC ice producing - really~!

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  Better than the 1999 - 2000 Buick LeSabre
  By cranecreek - February 20 - 3:44 pm

  Much better than the previous design, a pleasure to drive. 30 mpg is real. Problems are the center console and early strut problems. The dash rattles like the older la sabres,but all in all at 40,000 miles its been a great car.

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  Over - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By Lou - February 17 - 9:19 pm

  My 2004 Buick Rendezvous has over 225,000 miles on it !!!!

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  Overall great vehicle - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By PV 13 - February 7 - 10:00 am

  This is the most comfortable SUV that I have ever owned. I have driven the car for 10000 miles and I average 18MPG in the city & 24 on the open road. This SUV has had only oil changes and has never had any "new car bugs" to work out. It was perfedct from the day I got it. I get a lot of compliments about the looks of this vehicle. My only negative comment is that it could use a little more power, but the trade off is the great gas mileage it gets.

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  Tried foreign definitely back with U. S. - 2005 Buick LaCrosse
  By Horkee - February 4 - 10:10 am

  First, I dont believe in 10s. I compared the car to the 300 Chrysler Limited, 300 series BMW, and 330 Lexus. We drove all of them including the Acura TL (snakey handling in the wet when pushed). All are nice cars. but for the money this was the winner ahead of the Chrysler. The Lexus is O. K. but its a dog, requires premium fuel, and doesnt handle that well. The interior is nice, but uses an egg shell finish on everything to hide the flaws. Its really expensive for what you get...or dont get. We traded an ex v-6 Honda and my wife is the one who will drive it most. She liked the performance over the looks of the Chrysler and I agree.

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  99 Buick LeSabre Custom - 1999 Buick Park Avenue
  By penly - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Bought it recently as my wifes car. Its a good solid car bought with low miles and well under book because of its fuddy duddy image. Bought it mainly for the overall value. Boy do these things depreciate fast, which worked out very well for me.

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  A Buick Among SUVs - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By King of the Highway - January 11 - 2:00 am

  Not the sexiest SUV on the market, it is attractive and has the uniqueness of being a Buick. Wont see yourself like you would in a Ford Explorer. It is fairly easy to see the minivan platform the RDV is based on. Buick came up with a great design given what there was to work with. The interior is huge and quiet. The power seats are comfy, the instruments easy to read, controls easy to reach and HUD is useful. The ride is well controlled. The engine is more than satisfactory w/ a torque curve that is flat and over 200 lb/ft from 2000 to 5500 rpm. Avg 19 mpg in mixed driving.

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  Love the Ride-Not the Problems - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By magnets4u - January 5 - 2:00 am

  Love to drive this SUV, but have had many mechanical problems. Speed sensors, front brakes and rotors, rear brakes and rotors, broken wiper motor. For 25,000 miles, this seems a bit excessive in the wear department.