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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  2005 Buick LeSabre seats burst in flames - 2005 Buick LeSabre
  By Betty Scrogham Conway - August 19 - 12:59 am

  I want to make everyone aware who owns a buick lesabre. My aunt owned a 2005 buick leSabre and loved the car because it drove good, it was good with gas miles, the interior had plenty of room. Yesterday my aunt was driving the car coming back from Taylorsville, Ky. and she reached about one mile west of Mt. Washington,Ky. and mom and husband was in the car with her when my mom yelled at my aunt to stop the car because it was on fire. My aunt pulled off of the road and was yelling for help and yelling for everyone to get out of the car and the back seat under on the driver side was burning out of control. In a matter of a few minutes this car was completely destroyed by fire and it is believed the cause of the fire was from the battery which sits underneath the rear seat on the driver side. I am so lucky that my family is alive, but it could have been much worse. I want to make everyone aware if the battery is under the rear seat you will not want a car that is not safe. My mom was with my aunt and she was in the back seat on the passenger side and saw the seat in flames and yelled to my aunt to stop the car because it was on fire. If my mom had not been back there to see the seat burning and my aunt was in the car, this could have been worse. So, think twice before you buy one of these cars because next time it may be you, your children, your parents, or some other loved one. Betty Scrogham Conway

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  less then a 1 star - 2008 Buick Lucerne
  By marian newhouse - August 7 - 10:10 pm

  it is the worst car ever.

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  Horrible car - 1999 Buick Regal
  By Connie - July 29 - 5:30 am

  I bought this car when it had 55,000 miles I finally had to junk it at 130,000 miles I had to put at least $8,000 into it, What a lemon.

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  Do Not Buy - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By zp1151 - May 27 - 9:44 am

  Having owned this car and model for over 3 years now, I have seen some things that scare the living crap out of me when driving this car now. The car seems to be slowly falling apart and breaking piece by piece. The AWD Disabled light comes on at least 4-7 times monthly which is indicating that the cars wheel bearing has been broken so the wheels could potentially lock up at any given moment while driving. The air conditioning vents have been leaking gas fumes into my car even though I have taken it to get fixed many times for that reason. So many things are wrong with this car so dont bother buying one and save your money for a Non Buick automobile.

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  what a piece of crap!! Do not buy!! - 2002 Buick Century
  By conniej1954 - November 22 - 8:51 pm

  I bought my 2002 Buick Centry as a program car in 2003 with about 13,000 miles on it. Within weeks it was in the repair shop. Repairs over time include motor mounts & king mounts replacement (there is still a "clicking" when braking, it was never fixed), complete dash replacment ( a year later, the odometer quit working again). The automatic windows roll down by themselves and do not roll back up. Anti lock brakes quit working with in a year of buying. Fuel pump replacement, brakes replacement. I take good car of my cars and do oil changes every 3,000 miles, tune ups, radiator flush,etc.

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  Unsatisfied - 2010 Buick Lucerne
  By Marie - September 5 - 2:56 pm

  I recently got a rental Lucerne and it is not good. The gas mileage is bad. It has too many buttons in the inside to set things how you want them. The radio system is bad. If I had to buy one I would rather walk.

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  worst carEVER!!!! - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By janet - October 12 - 1:10 pm

  I was very happy w my rendevous until April-2007. After only having the vehicle 1 year EVERYTHING:brakes,minifold,alternator, starter,sensors,motor for the windows on 2 doors,knock sensor,battery,gas tank,door handles,wheel bearing,transmission started jerking, EVERITHING started going wrong,the worst thing is that the warranty had already ended. Finally in October 6,2008 the suv turned OFF on me while making a turn in a busy intersection causing me an accident (Thank GOD my kids were NOT w/me).

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  Big Mistake - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By MP - September 21 - 7:37 am

  Purchased this vehicle with 35,000 miles on it. It was ok for the first year and then one thing after another started to go on this car. It seems to be in the shop every other month and each time costs range from $300 up to over $1000!!!! I am getting rid of this car and most likely wont buy another Buick any time soon!

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  Not a car to recommend - 1996 Buick Regal
  By car nut - June 12 - 9:10 pm

  I made a huge mistake in this purchase. I used to work for Buick and felt some loyalty. However, this is a disaster car. Brakes needed replacement within the first 100 miles. And after replacement, the brakes are so soft to operate, versus other cars, I am constantly worrying that the car wont stop. Rear end sounds loose and engine light wont go off (the dealer said they corrected it but did not). The interior is worse in class by a wide margin. Seats are terrible, and there is no cup holders. The heater/A/C controls were designed by a total idiot, and very hard to operate. The radio confounds everyone who trys to use it. The door storage is a waste for all the good they do.

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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.