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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  Complaints - 2007 Buick LaCrosse
  By Riley - April 10 - 11:58 am

  The car is like a standard transmission on hills. You have to be quick from brake to gas because it will roll back. I am having trouble getting tires balanced. Dealer replaced all four tires on car because they could not be balanced. I am still having trouble on rear tires. They have been balanced three times. I am taking the car back to try again. I have 2500 miles on car at this time. The radio skips stations. I was told by dealers that the transmission was normal, to me it is a danger as cars pull up close behind. I have been back to dealer so much I am taking a rest for a while.

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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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  Never Buy Again! - 2000 Buick Regal
  By pss1175 - March 19 - 9:35 pm

  I bought this car used with 40,000 miles on it. I bought an extended warranty and Im glad I did. Nothing but problems. All window regulators replaced, HVAC control head, both rear wheel speed sensors. Now has an intake manifold gasket leaking and the ABS pump and EBCM has to be replaced, warranty is up so I am trading. I will never buy again.

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  Very poor fuel economy - 2007 Buick Lucerne
  By R. Cardiff - March 16 - 6:52 pm

  As a long time Park Ave owner, I was spoiled. This Lucerne is no Park Ave! Window sticker showed 28 mpg highway and I have not gotten close to that, 26.3 is best I have gotten and mostly 24 to 25 mpg. On the 04 Park Ave (on the same trips) I would get 31 to 32 mpg. Same engine they say but Buick says they changed the gear ratio and I ask why and get no answer. I find it difficult to get in and out of and the head room is poor. My next car will not be a Buick Lucerne, unless they improve on the fuel economy.

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  Rendezvous Has Mechanical Defects - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By Kathlyn Garcee - February 25 - 8:46 pm

  I loved the vehicle, and still do with the exception of major problems occurring at 51,000 miles. Needed intake manifold gasket replaced as well as new head gaskets. $1,680. Then 2 days later found a crack in the A/C condenser. Condenser needed to be replaced. GM finally paid the cost of the condenser ($400+/-) and we paid the labor ($423). Even though other Rendezvous were having manifold gasket and head gasket problems they refused to help us with the repair costs. 51,000 miles is to early to have these types of problems. I do like the interior design and feel when driving this vehicle. Due to the mechanical defects, I would not recommend anyone purchase this vehicle.

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  Engine Reliability - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By JM - February 16 - 10:42 am

  Purchased used at 33k. Head gasket replaced at 40K at dealer expense. Since then a number of catastrophic failures - 3 different rocker arms and one cylinder head have been replaced. Afraid to drive other than locally. GM needs to stand behing their cars that have these sorts of problems

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  hate this car - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By blattner4 - January 17 - 2:55 pm

  dont buy this car... have had nothing but problems and have had the car not even 3 years and it has been in the shop 19 times. im on my 3rd flywheel and after replacing the first flywheel they gave me a warranty of 2011. dont buy anything from GM they dont take care of their customers.

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  Low quality interior craftmanship - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By Adina - January 16 - 6:22 am

  This car handles very well, doesnt get good gas mileage, but its been reliable. But I wasted too much time in the dealership for minor but annoying fixes. Right now its at the dealers, again, for probably the 5th or 6th time. I had gaping wholes in the posts liner, the headliner is not trimmed at the windshield, started rattling and is ragged. Ive had a rattling speaker replaced. Dashboard lights are on supposedly not because theres anything wrong with the devices they warn about, but because some absconse electrical parts are defective (unclear answers from the mechanics annoy me as well). And the latest: a bulge in the tire.

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  "The All New Lemon" by Buick - 2007 Buick Terraza
  By Thomas - January 8 - 8:45 pm

  This has to be the 2007 Edsel! Worst new vehicle weve ever owned. We bought the first one in January, and within a month had so many problems Buick bought it back. We got this one in April 07. As of year end 07 it has been in the shop over 150 days. The sliding doors are a nightmare. They are especially fun when they wont open or close at all and 5 people have to climb in and out of the rear liftgate. This is the 6th or 7th Buick auto weve owned over the years. No amount of money would ever put me in one of these things again though!

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  2002 Rendevous CXL AWD - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By Theresa - January 6 - 4:01 pm

  Comfortable car as long as you dont need it to run! Loved it when I bought it. Was my dream car, first car I owned with heated leather,sunroof, power everthing..planned on keeping it until at least 110k..only got 84k out of it. Had it 4 1/2 years and racked up over $9,000 in repairs, A/C broke, intake gaskets, coils, computer cellinoid, hubs etc. same as everyone else. Final breakdown was the transmission going at 84,000 miles. $4900 to repair... After being stranded twice and endless repairs finally traded it on a Japanese car. Will never buy a GM product again.