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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  2002 buick rendezvous - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By Todd Morrison - July 4 - 2:00 am

  great style looks like a lexus, comfortable ride built solid

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  Fit like an old shoe. - 2000 Buick LeSabre
  By T. Holmes - July 4 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE MY CAR! I only have 18608 miles on it so far no problems. Getting 26.2 mph average. I keep my tires at 38 psi. This sacrifices a softer ride though. The seating is great for me I would like more lumbar adjustment. I like the body styling. Air conditioning is great. I do experience a slight backfiring when starting but I am told this is normal. Sound system is great.

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  recommend to any one - 2013 Buick Enclave
  By William Allen Havens - July 2 - 6:26 pm

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  Love the Buick brand - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By Lauren Kulcak - June 29 - 5:34 am

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  2 Months Later - still great! - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By loveRDV - June 28 - 10:00 am

  Wrote a review after owning our RDV for 1 week. It has now been 2, months, (3000 mi), and we have never been happier with a new car. Fit and finish is pefect, as we looked in vain for some defect in manufacture, but have found none. The engine is powerful enough for passing on two lane roads and getting up to speed to enter a city trafficway. Who needs more? The comfort is outstanding, comparable to a nice sedan. If you want the room of a van and the ride of a car you should look at the RDV.

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  Nice Car! - 1992 Buick Regal
  By Bill Relaxing - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Hello, I glad I made a wise decision on purchasing this car. I Had no major problems with this vehicle. Itll take me where i want to go, whatever i abuse it or not. Im planning on keep this baby until shes dies ... (the motor). You know what i talking about. So this would be a good car for a starter whos on a tight bugdet, it provides the best relabitiy ever. However, keep in mind, the repairs toward the car can be expensive. Good Luck, if u planning on getting one of these puppies!

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  GREAT SPORT SEDAN - 1991 Buick Regal
  By vikram - June 25 - 2:00 am

  1991 Regal Limited Sedan with the 3.8l is exceptioanlly fast, mine clocks at 7.1 to 60mph. It is a little body roll but otherwise it is very responsive. Luxury feel that can always haul ass.

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  My Car - 1993 Buick LeSabre
  By Chuck Finney - June 25 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car new from Frederick Cadillac (then a Buick dealer) in October 1993. I have had it serviced every 3000 miles by Fredericks and then Huling Buick when I moved to West Seattle. I have all the service records. The transmission has been replaced and serviced as have the hoses and any other recommendation made by the dealer. The car has 106,000 miles.

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  Dont pass this up!!! Seriously... - 2011 Buick Regal
  By Frank C - June 25 - 1:47 am

  Spent a long time looking at Lincolns, Caddys, Nissans, Passats, etc and was almost bored of test drives. They started to feel the same. On a family members suggestion, (I was trying to laugh it off) they suggested the Regal. This Regal shocked me...no ride noise at hwy speeds, unbelievable handling on the equipped 18" tires, great styling (you really cannot tell its a Buick until you see the grille) and comfortable leather interior. The lil 2.4 isnt a speed demon, BUT I am getting almost 29 hwy and 23 avg MPG and its a BLAST to drive. A great value.

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  Bullet Proof - 2002 Buick Regal
  By FRODOG - June 24 - 2:00 am

  I bought a used 98 Regal GS two years ago. Since then, absolutely nothing has gone wrong with it . . . not one nickle spent on corrective maintenance. Its my stealth car: looks like a rental car on the outside with the torque-monster 3.8 SC engine inside. Handling is not sports-car-like but is perfectly adequate in the real urban/suburban world.