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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  I wish we had gotten another mini-van! - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By dana angell - October 12 - 2:00 am

  -There is no light that shines directly on driver or front passenger seat. - NO leg room in the back. -With back seat in use there is NO room for luggage at all. -"removable" second row seats are HEAVY!, I can not remove them by myself. -The headrest are dangerous! -Rear vent for heating & cooling is terrible, there is only one it is located on back of center console. -Doors are heavy, plenty of wind noise. -The back bumper scars easily when brushed by bags, luggage etc. -If you run the AC engine power cuts dramatically when accelerating. -No smooth transition to overdrive, vehicle runs great 70-80, unfortunately 50-70 causes constant shifting.

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  Not another Buick - 2005 Buick LaCrosse
  By Grandpapaul - October 9 - 5:37 am

  My wife wanted a Lacrosse and bought this car 3 years ago with 28K on it. Three months later she bought a Honda Accord and couldnt sell this piece of junk. I had a recall on my Grand Prix and got an email from Buick suggesting I consider a Buick for my next purchase. I replied that I I have an 05 Lacrosse and it junk. After a year of back and forth emails they quit responding. 1. Climate control utilizes air conditioning 100% of the time. I turn it off every time I start it to save gas but it as it comes back on when restarted. 2. Replaced hood struts. 3. Replaced rear window regulator which is rarely used. 4. Drivers mirror quit working. 5. Head lights dont turn off until driving in daylight for an hour. 6. Outside temp takes a couple of miles before going to correct temp. 7. On occasion the engine runs rough. Shut it off and restart and its fine. 8. Dash cracked four times in the first year and looks like varicose veins. 9. Wipers quit so I replace the motor. Poor design as the entire mechanism must come out. 10. When there are riders in the back I can hear the wheel bearings grind. Lots of road noise so I believe most of them need replaced. 11. Rear suspension squeaks. 12. Piece of plastic broke in power seat mechanism. Six ways power seat is now four way. All these problems in the first two years of ownership. I drive it on occasion and now has 49K. Putting miles on my 01 Grand Prix then will put an estimated $1500 in it when I retire. I am not the type to pass on junk to others so will keep it since it is paid off. IF I EVER BUY ANOTHER CAR, IT WONT BE A "BUICK". Bring back Pontiac Grand Prixs! I do like the 3.8L engine. Not sure why they changed. It shifts sooner and RPMs are lower that my older Grand Prix for better gas mileage.

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  2014 Buick Enclave Engine seized after 3 years - 2014 Buick Enclave
  By Henrik - April 2 - 3:18 pm

  Our 2014 Buick Enclave engine seized after 3 years and 71500 miles. Called the dealers around my area and got the worst respond to how they can help and one of the dealer never called back at all. finally talk to corporate office and they suggest to take the car in to find out what is going on and they were going to help me in repair because the mileage was over 70000. We decided to take it to local mechanic shop to take the engine in part and repair this way we save money. They find out one of the valves spring was broken and land it on top of the piston and cause all the problems. I never heard the engine stop working in 71500 miles because GM uses all made in China parts. This was my first American made car and last American made car going to have. Never will buy another American made car again.

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  Beautiful rattling tin can - 2016 Buick Cascada
  By Scott S. - December 1 - 6:47 am

  To date, the 2016 Cascada with 5148 miles, has been in the dealership service lane 5 times, all for the same reason. The convertible top is faulty. I initially took the car in due to a very odd knocking and popping sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. My first dealership said it was road noise and I had to deal with it. This was literally metal on metal banging... After I insisted the dealer attempt to diagnose the noise concern, a technician somehow broke the interior panel but didnt tell me, nor replace the actual part. I then received a message once again stating the knocking was just road noise and body-flex and couldnt be fixed. After contacting Buick, I was connected to another dealership which took the time to review the knocking and found the broken panel, and also a screw that wasnt seated properly. Drove home in complete quiet. Three days later... The knocking was back and this time I had a leak on the opposite side of the car. Back to the dealer... They adjusted the top and replaced the seal as the dealer stated the seal had managed to fold incorrectly and formed to that shape and had to be replaced. Further adjustments to the top and the knocking was gone again. A week later... The banging and knocking is back. The interior panel that was replaced has again disconnected and is flapping around constantly. Adjusted, reseated, no more knocking. A week later... banging is back again. Returned to the dealer and had a technician drive the car. After a day in the shop the technician decided to replace a guide pin for the top cover. Noise gone again. 3 days later... Knocking and clacking is back, I have a leak, and the chrome trim was gouged by the service team during the last service. Being returned to the dealer. At this point, the 2016 Buick Cascada has become the biggest let down / regret of my car purchasing life. Though the service team has been polite and helpful, I didnt buy the vehicle for it to be in service more than I am able to drive it. Definitely regret the whole purchase at this point.

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  Deathtrap and GMC does not care - 2011 Buick Enclave
  By T - April 25 - 12:27 am

  As a former loyal GMC owner for 47 years it is shocking to find out GMC are horrible crooks who do not care this is a dangerous vehicle. Without warning the engine broke on the freeway. Car has perfect maintenance. The dealer mechanic said this is common; he sees it all the time; in fact he didnt even have to take it apart because he had seen the same thing six times in 2 months. All GMC could do was read their script and say they understood--does that mean all six customer service reps and two Detroit located supervisors all have Enclaves that have done this!?! Why arent they recalling this paperweight? An expensive luxury car with 50,000 miles with engine failure--complete--ludicrous. Wrote the President of GMC, VP of North American operations, and Vice President for Customer Experience and received absolutely no reply to my email--still waiting for the form letter that says they feel my pain although it is doubtful they have or give one iota about a customer once they have been suckered into this car. Do not expect this car or company to be anything but a bad experience. Check the web reviews carefully; I wish I had.

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  Buik Envision - 2016 Buick Envision
  By Mark - April 24 - 8:58 pm

  The front seats are remarkably uncomfortable. I cant imagine how an engineer figured out how to combine a church pew, high school bleecher, and a cheap 1970s lawn chair, but they succeeded. And I dont think the Buick designers ever encountered a switch or knob they didnt like, or wanted to use. The adjectives I would use to describe this car are: squirley, buisy, jittery,. I would opt for a nicely equiped, low mileage pre-owned AWD wagon, maybe a Volvo.