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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  A must have item - 1990 Buick Electra
  By Ester Van Hooke - March 15 - 12:16 am

  I bought this car new from the dealer in hopes of driving a beast. It accelerates like a raging bull on steroids. You get to the 60 miles per hour mark in a neck snapping 14.6 seconds. The sumptuous angles spark emotions like fire in the night. The suspension rides like a a magic carpet on a silk laden cloud with wheels of cream. I know this because I took a speed bump at a blistering 75 mph and I felt nothing but a jibber. Stepping on the accelerator pedal is like playing a game of pinball. Fun, but there are many strange noises. I hit the engine revolution limiter yesterday and it sounded like a grackel crowing at the edge of a willow forest at daybreak. This car is sleek yet powerful.

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  Awful Car with no value - 2014 Buick Enclave
  By Robert Webb - March 14 - 8:27 pm

  We purchased an Enclave two years ago. We already are having to replace the transmission, air conditioning, and sensors! This car has awful value and a mediocre entertainment system with laggy and sluggish controls. The ride quality is pretty poor with shaky and bumpy cabin.

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  Almost perfect - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By Vernl - March 14 - 6:23 pm

  Bought the first year. Loved the interior room. Big storage in console and wifes pocketbook fit underneath. All cars should have the heads-up display. Never would have ordered it but it came with the car and we loved it once we had it. Unfortunately, instrument cluster failed twice and had to be replaced. Third time vehicle caught fire and was totally destroyed. Bad Buick design or incompetent dealers mechanics? Who knows? Replaced it with the Acura MDX which isnt nearly as good. Wish wed bought another Rendezvous!

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  Poorest Buick I have owned since 1985 - 2003 Buick LeSabre
  By Rog665 - March 13 - 10:33 pm

  I have been purchasing Buick LeSabres since 1985. The 1999 I had had a problem with the intake manifold. When I purchased this 2003 I ask the salesman if GM had fixed the problem with the intake manifolds warping and leaking. He said they did. He lied. I just had to replace the intake manifold on this 2003. You would think that since this problem has been around for so long GM would have fixed it in production. I dont think I will every buy another GM product..

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  Holy cow, whats your fuel mileage - 1997 Buick LeSabre
  By Victorius on - March 13 - 9:00 pm

  Paid a little bit for a ten year old car but I love Buicks and knew when I heard the engine start it was worth the money. Had a mechanic check it over and he gave it a clean bill of health. Only three months with it but Ive noticed that it gets well above 28 mpg on the highway. I had a Bonneville that got 28 on the highway and had the same size tank. Not sure of the exact fuel mileage but took the car on a 400+ mile trip and noticed the the gas guage drops significantly less for distance traveled. The car has at least 100 miles I can safely say longer range than my old 94 Bonneville with the same size engine. How that works? Ask Buick, they built it!

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  This is not your fathers Buick! - 2007 Buick Lucerne
  By Grover T - March 13 - 4:10 pm

  Close tolerences. Beautifully toned exhaust pipes and 275 powerful horses for get up and go. Put that with a quiet ride, a super suspension, a Karmon Harman sound system and you have a great car for under $40,000.00. Its built in one of the manufacturing facilities in the country, the BOC Plant in Hamtramak, MI. It matches up favorably with my Lincoln Mark VIII, Chrysler 300, and Missan Maxima. Try it. You might like it.

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  Great Car. How is this a Buick - 2010 Buick LaCrosse
  By David - March 11 - 11:56 pm

  I was first attracted by the looks. And the interior is hard to beat. Its miles ahead of my last Lexus IS. The engine could use a bit more power. Fuel economy is good too for a 3.6. The ride is very smooth, but not wallowing. The transmission needs to be improved though. Its only the downshifts, which come to slow. But it shifts very smoothly. And its a good value too

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  My Wife Lindas Car - 2007 Buick Rendezvous
  By Brians Wifes Car - March 11 - 10:55 am

  Fun to drive and relaxing too. My wife loves being up above the traffic so she can see well in her trip to work and for her many trips on the Garden State Parkway. We did not want a 3rd seat and its great that Buick offers that option. It gives us more storage room. Love having dials and switches that we can actually read vs a "symbol". I own a LaSabre and really like Buicks quality. I am very, very dissapointed that they are discontiuing this car. I think they should have advertised this more. Oh well, we are very happy to own the Rendezvous and think others would also.

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  Lucerne CXL 2007 - 2007 Buick Lucerne
  By Bill - March 8 - 9:07 am

  I looked first at comparable Japanese cars and discovered GM still does many things better!! This Buick performs and rides excellently, is quiet and comfortable. Its design is not as spectacular as Chrysler 300 but has a feel of quality.

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  Good car - 2013 Buick Enclave
  By Darold Dickerson - March 7 - 4:46 am

  Good family car