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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  Front End and Electrical Problems - 2005 Buick Terraza
  By dinnages - February 9 - 2:34 pm

  Although we bought this vehicle second hand with just over 100k it has had front end and electrical issues constantly that no one can fix. The computer has had to be disconected to keep the brakes from coming on while driving, no one could figure this out and all related it to the computer. Front end problems, electrical problems that no one including GM can figure out. The vehicle is comfortable to drive, but the headaches have been more then enough. Stay away from this vehicle.

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  Expensive vehicle to own - 2009 Buick Enclave
  By donbee1 - January 30 - 7:47 am

  I bought my 2009 Enclave used with 60K on the clock a year and a half ago. Since then had to replace high pressure fuel pump, battery, and just got it back from the shop after having BOTH catalytic converters replaced for check engine light and rough running. I have owned a bunch of cars in my life and never had a catalytic converter go bad, let alone two on the same car at the same time. Love the ride and gagetry but repairs very expensive. Definately not a do it your self repair vehicle. Mileage combined around 20. I expected a little better. The third Buick I have owned and may be the last. The extended warranty was useless. Only covered "internal" parts.

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  Great Little Car - 2014 Buick Encore
  By snoopyfan - January 30 - 7:28 am

  I purchased my Encore in September 2014 and I must say it is the best car I have ever owned. I am not one to like SUVs but needed something with AWD. This car sits up high like an SUV but drives like a small car. It does great in the rain and snow on curvy back roads. Gas mileage is great (average 26 mpg). As stated in many reviews, it is not a powerful car but it has the guts to get up on the highway at full speed. It has every comfort available and the safety features of a much more expensive vehicle. This is the best new car I have ever owned.

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  An excellent buy for an commuter/urban vehicle - 2014 Buick Encore
  By davidgmills1 - January 28 - 10:13 am

  My car came with zero flaws. Great build quality. I have probably bought 20 or so new cars over my lifetime and none came as flawless as this one. First oil change due now after about 5,000 miles. I have not been back to the dealer since I bought it in June.

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  Great car! - 2015 Buick Regal
  By frenchguy007 - January 17 - 7:31 am

  Love this car, great value for the money. 4wd is what makes the difference in this segment, hard to find without spending much more. I have had 2 Legacys before this, the brick is much more refined. Only issue is the touch controls for heated seats and temp control, they dont capture the contact if you wear gloves and even with bare finger the touch often requires several taps before it recognizes. It distracts the driver and is therefore dangerous.

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  Former Honda guy - 2015 Buick Enclave
  By joego1 - January 9 - 1:19 pm

  Recently purchased the Buick Enclave after a test drive and must say I was impressed with the quality of the vehicle both inside and out. We were shopping for a new SUV and being a big Honda/Acura owner we found these dealers had priced themselves out of our market range. I saw the commercials for the special sale of the Enclave and test drove one, liked it and the dealer gave us almost 20% off the list price. Wow! Suv has almost everything heated seats, heated steering wheel, Nav, leather, two sunroofs, remote start, lane and distance control etc. What a great car, we drove it on a 120 mile trip right after purchase in the snow and ice and are extremely happy with our purchase. A lot of ver

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  Needs AWD, and better Infotainment controls - 2012 Buick Regal
  By sa_greg - January 2 - 1:52 pm

  Love the exterior looks and wheels. I chose this over an Audi A4 Avant Quattro (wagon). My choice was based on (#1.) cheaper oil changes and overall maintenance costs vs. Audis $250 oil changes, (#2.) more horsepower/torque over Audi, (#3.) more aggressive look than Audi, and (#4) Not too many GS models on the road = kind of exclusive. Love the car but sacrificed the pre-requisite of an All-Wheel-Drive car (Audi) for the horsepower / looks in the GS. The almost uncontrollable torque steer is annoying & almost embarrassing when you want to stomp on the gas. Also, very upset that I cant stream Pandora to Samsung Galaxy S5. Have to resort to using Aux input. Cheap interior materials.

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  Big drop from the Park Ave and La Sabre Ive Owned - 2010 Buick Lucerne
  By gmckee58 - December 22 - 8:53 pm

  Car rides well on long trips, which is what I use it for. Comfortable to ride in over long hauls. Turning radius and noise was the first things I noticed on the car. Now that its broke in, the noises are more abundant, especially from the read and side windows.

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  Beware! Unreliable! - 2009 Buick Enclave
  By hchambley - December 10 - 1:35 pm

  I purchased my used 2009 Enclave approx. 6 months ago. Carfax report looked good and a friend of mine had one and loved it. I have loved and sang praises of my new car! I traded my 2009 Yukon XL for this car to save on gas and loved the downsize and savings. Since I purchased my Yukon brand new and never had issues, I opted out of the extended warranty on this car thinking I wouldnt have issues either. Boy was I wrong! Within a month one of the coil packs went out but it was replaced at no charge under dealership 30 day warranty. About a month and a half ago I started having transmission problems and my transmission needed to be replaced. Within two weeks of it being replaced started

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  my first real car - 1999 Buick Century
  By hallnutz1 - December 4 - 5:41 am

  bought it at 126,000 miles from an old dude here where i live in north east montana. all highway miles. thing was so quite that it was running and the only way i knew it was on was to pop the hood and see that the belt was spinning! im 20 and i love this car. the engine isnt a brute. but the car isnt that heavy either. its got enough power to do everything you need it to do. pull onto the interstate, get on it, and before you exit the ramp your up to 75. brakes are great. starts in -40 weather, seats you can fall asleep in (quite nice for the girlfriend also ) haha) its a great car. you just gotta know how cars work and keep up on the matience and it will last forever.