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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  Nice car dad! - 2000 Buick LeSabre
  By efpardo - January 12 - 2:00 am

  Very nice car. Everyone I talk to says that the car is classy. All my motorhead contacts say that its one of the most reliable cars avaialble on the planet

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  Great! - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By unknown - January 11 - 10:00 am

  i loved it i have hardly any thing bad to say about it.

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  Cant afford a BMW? This is your car! - 2004 Buick LeSabre
  By S. Farrell - January 11 - 2:00 am

  Have only owned the car for 6 weeks but I love it! Test drove at least 12-15 other cars (Accord, Camry, Avalon, Sorrento, VW Bug, Hyundai, etc.) and this was the car! Its a big car with a big ride. Very smooth and quiet. This is not a sports car but gets up and moves if you push that pedal under your foot to the floorboard. I was driving a Dodge Ram 2500 truck. What a world of difference. This is a good car. No sqeaks.

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  Once a Buick, Youlll Never Go Back - 2013 Buick Verano
  By PJ - January 7 - 10:12 am

  If its good enough for Payton Manning, it was good enough for us. After three years, we traded for a Buick Encore, which for us is easier to enter and exit. The Verano is still five stars with us.

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  Regal all you want in a car - 1996 Buick Regal
  By LJSJr - January 7 - 2:00 am

  Except for a super sport car The Buick Regal is one of the best cars to drive. It handles nicely on the highway or in the city. Very easy to park with excellent vision and Regals come with about all you want in extras so you dont have too much to add on.

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  1996 buick century special great car - 1996 Buick Century
  By sorrel - January 6 - 2:00 am

  very dependable car smoothest ride imaginable for the money lots of convenient options amazing gas mileage- 30 mpg hwy !!!!

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  Beautiful car! - 2014 Buick Verano
  By Pamela Cates - January 4 - 6:48 pm

  Beautiful car! I have had this car for a month now and so there is a lot about it I still dont know. But I do love the car it handles well feels nice and I feel safe. I like it safety features and back up mirror. The only problem I have is because my legs are short, its hard for me To get in and out of the car Unless I change the seat position. I dont like having to change it every time I get in or out. This car has a lot of technology and I have not yet familiarized myself with all of it. I do believe that it will all be helpful and that I will love it. The more I drive it the more familiar Ive become with the car and its workings. Im very happy about the car. I feel like Ive stepped up in the world!

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  Rendezvous With A SUV/Car - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By KGDilly - January 4 - 2:00 am

  We were looking for a SUV which drove like a car and had the versatility of a minivan. We finally settled on the Rendezvous and we sure are glad. It is quiet and feels luxurious like a Buick should yet sporty and nimble like a Suv. Best vehicle weve owned.

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  With all the options. - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By thawk - January 4 - 2:00 am

  when I bought this vehivle, I needed 7 seats, wanted AWD because this is New England and we ski, and the car had to be comfortable as my back is not great. When I test drove the Rendezvous, I couldnt believe how comfortable it was, and how well it drove. I have driven in some amazingly bad weather conditions over the past 2 years and I have always felt safe nad in control.

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  1996 buick regal custom - 1996 Buick Regal
  By howard holmes - January 2 - 2:00 am

  bought new. no major problems, routine and minor repair cost. still runs superb. plan on driving for another 100,000 miles