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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  Start/Stop Nightmare From China - 2016 Buick Envision
  By Peter L - December 21 - 7:16 pm

  This SUV has many great features; however, they are completely off-set by the horrible aspects. It is the poster child for technology gone amok! The "start/stop" is awful! I leased weather was torrid (90+ every day). It "shut" down every time I stopped. The air conditioning stops working and it makes a clunking sound when the engine re-starts. Since the weather has become cold, the start/stop doesnt kick in any more? I enquired at the dealership if this "feature" could be shut off which they didnt know which is typical for them. The backlighting on the dashboard and media panels automatically adjusts to changes in the exterior light but doesnt work properly and will dim so much that they are unreadable. This "feature" can not be turned off and per the dealership this is a complaint of many owners but Buick does nothing about it. Gas mileage is awful at approx. 18 mpg combined city/highway and I drive conservatively. My previous car was a Buick Verano and I loved it but this vehicle was twice as expensive and I hate it. My last Buick!

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  ATTENTION: Caution from a Canadian Owner - 2003 Buick LeSabre
  By canadianowner - July 27 - 2:00 am

  ,from after the 1st six months, the block heater was leaking, the dealer had to fix it 6 times, then the steering column had to be taken apart to be change the steering sensor, the trunk was leaking, allowing all the rain water hose from within the trunk, the side pillor post plastic, dashboard, headsups display, instrumention cover, all had to be replaced because of clips popping out, stabilitrack had to repaired 4 times, vibration on idle on steering wheel and dash, EGR valve replaced 2 times, A/C trouble on dual climate control, sometime blows warm air on driverside, A/C leak still present

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  8 Years of Headaches!!! - 1995 Buick Skylark
  By bewareskylark - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Wish my mechanics were with me before I bought it. Mainly drove to the train. But it needed brand new brakes & roters 3x’s and a new engine after 5 yrs. With low speed driving, the oil can’t burn off efficiently, even with regular oil changes. The front alingment design caused flat tires and needed new lower ball joints. It had continued fuse problems, and the alternator got replaced twice. 1 month ago it died on the expressway without warning. Another engine design problem allowed the antifreeze to leak into the engine & overheat. Never did any warning lights go off. With 67K miles, the body looked great, but under the hood was junk!!!

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  No! Just no, - 2014 Buick Verano
  By Debra - May 30 - 9:43 am

  Sorry to say, this car is awful! I regret buying it! You can find better, for the price else where.

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  A cheap car for a cheap price - 1998 Buick Skylark
  By vixkix69 - April 23 - 2:00 am

  This car has had several problems starting with unexplained stalling.It has been diagnosed / checked but no problem to be found as of yet. The tires are very easily flattened or destroyed by hard bumps or curbs. The interrior and exterior doesnt hold up.The car very easily gets dings and dents in it.The carpet and seats are falling apart.

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  not a good first car - 1996 Buick Century
  By vash gulan - March 15 - 2:00 am

  as a teen you hate it. all your friends have nice cars while you are stuck with a 1996 buick century. it is like something your grandma should be driving. i did not like it i got bad gas mileage for a poor teenager. it had no pick up. had to upgrade everything.

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  Poor workmanship - 2002 Buick LeSabre
  By Raymond McIntyre - March 12 - 2:00 am

  The car has had oil leaks. brake problem,and steering problems.

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  Simply Unreliable - 1993 Buick LeSabre
  By UnreliableCar - January 28 - 2:00 am

  Bought and drove a 1993 Buick LeSabre from Dec. 1998- Jun. 2001 (bought at 80k sold at 140k). Vehicle required significant repairs appx. every 4 months: Transmission, alternator (2x), computer parts, power steering, etc. Cost me over $6000 in repairs over just 2 and 1/2 years. THIS IS NOT a car you want to buy USED. It is NOT reliable. It was NOT built to last.

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  Buick Junkbox Review - 1997 Buick Skylark
  By AZA - December 18 - 2:00 am

  A real junkbox that in the last two years has required extensive repair and replacement of various suspension, mechanical, electrical and other parts. I will never own another Buick.

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  Low mileage isnt always good - 2003 Buick Century
  By David - October 26 - 8:42 am

  Purchased car 2 years ago, only had 36000 miles on it with all service records. Looked like new. After only 6000 miles the #5 fuel injector stuck open which flooded the cylinder with gas causing the compression ring to break. Due to low mileage I decided to have engine completely rebuilt by a very reputable machine shop. Car ran good for about another 6000 miles and started skipping on #3 cylinder. Inspection revealed valve stem had pulled out of head. In shop again and now so Ill have alot more in car than its worth. The 3.1 GM engine is a piece of junk. PERIOD