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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  My Baby - 1992 Buick Riviera
  By George Kernaghan - March 27 - 11:32 pm

  This automobile is the best road machine Ive ever owned. It is the best built, easiest to maintain and gets the greatest fuel economy for its size, weight and creature features. With an 18 gal tank full of gas I once drove 408 miles from KC to south central Minn without stopping to full up. You cant beat it in the mountians or the plains. Buick needs to bring this type of quality vehicle back into production Again! When General Motors built this car they broke the mold and built the best. Minor cosmetics items are all the repairs Ive made to Baby and its hard to find parts now. Next month, Florida!

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  Luxury Cruiser - 2008 Buick Lucerne
  By luxo - March 27 - 11:43 am

  What a quiet ride. When you start the engine, the growl is so calm, you have to check if its started. Love the pearly white. Also the bench seat where I stretch out and know Im not going to hit the shifter. The 3.8 liter engine is enough for me. The engine is so quiet, I caught myself on the freeway going 95 mph. Very comfortable

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  Elegant Auto - 2008 Buick Lucerne
  By Lynne - March 27 - 8:54 am

  I love this car. It has everything I need and is beautiful to drive and to look at. All the options are very useful and interior room and comfort are great too.

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  Should have kept the 2001 Century I had - 2007 Buick LaCrosse
  By Joy - March 26 - 3:39 pm

  I traded my 2001 Century for the 2007 LaCrosse. Bad mistake. Interior is small. Everything inside is plastic and rattles all the time. It has rattled since I drove it off the lot with 5 miles on it. Chrome and fake wood reflect sunshine bad and streetlights relfect bad off of it at night. Those pieces also rattle. Took it to the dealer and they said nothing could be done about the rattling. Windshield leaks air and has a whistle at 60 mph. Gas mileage stinks. Century got 10 mpg better even after 150,000 plus miles. Trunk is very hard to shut. Large trunk but small opening. Rough ride with a lot of road noise. Im very disappointed in this car.

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  Fabulous -Park Avenue - 2005 Buick Park Avenue
  By Jean Sibery - March 26 - 5:06 am

  No bumps, noise or shimmys felt. Runs like a champ when you need to pick up speed and pass. Self adjusting seats are just what is needed as my husband and I share the car...no need to readjust mirrors on sides, it does that automatically too depnding on the driver.

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  Best car I ever had! - 1991 Buick Century
  By R Peters - March 25 - 8:21 pm

  When I needed to buy a car in a hurry, a mechanic friend recommended this car which was being sold by the owners estate. In over ten years of driving, it cost less than $1000 in repairs. When the car died in an accident, the motor and transmission were still excellent with over 350000kms (about 220000 miles) on the odometer. It made several trips through the Canadian Rockies and BC mountains towing my 14ft fibreglass trailer without a problem. In over forty years of driving this was the best car I owned for perfomance, reliability and value.

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  Good deal - 2002 Buick Century
  By cardy - March 25 - 4:14 pm

  Good dependable get to work car. Driven mostly on the highway. Have averaged about 27 mpg. GM should be forced to recall the intake manifold gasket which blows about every 85 to 100,00 miles. Had to replace it twice

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  Safety is issue - 2007 Buick Terraza
  By John VonBank - March 24 - 10:48 am

  Safety is major concern as power sliding doors tend to not latch and may come off in major accident. Service center have issues that they cannot duplicate and will not spend money to investigate or change parts out not covered by warranty. Left with very unsafe driving condition when transporting grandchildren.

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  Buick Rainier CXL. - 2007 Buick Rainier
  By Harold - March 23 - 11:06 pm

  Handles great on trips, all the bells & whistles you would want. Biggest complaint is with rear seats down it is difficult to access a cooler behind the driver from the passenger side. Sun visors are to small and for the price you would think it would have pull outs so when you use them as a side visor they would block the top of the drivers/passengers window! Very aggravating!

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  Great Car for the money - 1999 Buick Park Avenue
  By Bill T. - March 23 - 11:36 am

  This is my third Park Avenue, and it is by far the best. It gets great gas mileage and handles well for its size. You do need premium fuel, however. Ive had few maintenance problems. I plan to trade the car for a new 2005 Park Avenue Ulrta because it has 77,400 miles on it, and GM is going to stop making the model. I love this car, and hope that the new one will be just as good and will serve me well for five years or more years as this Park Aveenue has done. Park Avenue Ultra is a great car, and Im sorry to see it go.