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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  Best damn car made today - 1995 Buick LeSabre
  By Bobo - June 22 - 2:00 am

  This fine automobile has comfort, style & class. Its quiet and smooth shifting. And has the power when you need it. Will ALWAYS buy Buick.

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  Good GM--but dont nickel and dime us. - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By briansal - June 19 - 9:50 pm

  We are happy with this vehicle. 8-passenger seating (counsel unavailabe despite being pictured in all the ads this year). Plenty of pick-up and lots of room inside; OK fuel mileage for an SUV of this size Two words of advice: Consider adding an aftermarket GPS system instead of OEM GPS, because the DVD GPS data is two years old when you buy the vehicle.

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  Overall awesome Car!! - 1990 Buick Skylark
  By Calvin Richmond - June 18 - 2:00 am

  The performance from my 2.3L Quad 4 is eager and satisfying, though it could use a lot more low-end torque. Comfort and fuel economy is good, unless you drive with a lead foot. Interior design is good, but why the heck couldnt they spare to put in some more gauges(Oil temp,etc.)! Build quality is good, and it is reliable as heck, if you do proper maintenance. Get one of these!!!

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  One of the best/Cool - 1990 Buick Riviera
  By fredmac - June 17 - 2:00 am

  Wonderful, graceful lines, great, deep dark cranberry red babe magnet. If only I were young enough to handle a babe. 8-)

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  First Impressions - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Frank - June 13 - 9:53 am

  After 15 years of European cars we finally found a US built vehicle we wanted to own. After a test drive we knew something great had finally come from GM. It was like a jumbo MDX that made a first impression so quiet we could actually talk and enjoy the music. Handling is that of a sedan half the size and seating is second to nothing we ever owned. We were not in the market for a car but had gone to the dealer for an upgrade to an OnStar system when we saw it. Two days later we took it home. For the first time in my life I got a new car with nothing to fix right from the dealer.

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  OLD WHITE and RELIABLE - 1990 Buick LeSabre
  By Bill - June 13 - 2:00 am

  This car has been the best of the best and I have owned a lot of cars!! It now has 222,932 and no rattles. It is smooth,quiet and cleans up like new. I keep thinking it is a super secret car and Buick is going to come take it back.The first 190,000 miles all I did oil,lobe and put on new tires!! New exhaust and timing chain since. I have a 2000 Lesabre-it sits--OLD WHITE travels-quiet-regal and smooth

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  OLD WHITE and RELIABLE - 1990 Buick LeSabre
  By BILL - June 13 - 2:00 am

  This car has been the best of the best and I have owned a lot of cars!! It now has 222,932 and no rattles. It is smooth,quiet and cleans up like new. I keep thinking it is a super secret car and Buick is going to come take it back.The first 190,000 miles all I did oil,lobe and put on new tires!! New exhaust and timing chain since. I have a 2000 Lesabre-it sits--OLD WHITE travels-quiet-regal and smooth

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  Best American Sedan, period. - 1999 Buick Regal
  By Dozer - June 13 - 2:00 am

  Outstanding car! Simply better in every way than my 1995 Taurus SHO (which was itself a GREAT car). Flat out fastest American sedan out there("Buick? Yes!"). Current headlines on Buick quality are absolutely correct this thing is screwed together very well. Torsional rigidity is light years beyond my SHO. If you can get past the oxymoron "Buick Sports Sedan" youll find that this is quite simply the best all-around American sedan you can own. No Kidding.

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  Perfect Florida Car - 2016 Buick Cascada
  By JAC - June 12 - 11:19 pm

  My wife and I had a Pontiac G6 convert and also a VW EOS. This car runs circles around them both, especially the EOS, leaks were constant under heavy rain or car wash. The seats are very comfortable, sound system is great and everything is close to the touch. We recently took a road trip to Naples Fl. from Tampa and got 29.8 MPG. Not bad for a car with only 300 miles on it. We look forward to driving this car every chance we get!

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  The Modern Classic - 1991 Buick Reatta
  By rhr_entrepot - June 12 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Reatta. The first was an 89 coupe purchased with 40000 miles on it. It now has 200000 on it and is still ready for cross country touring. The 91 convertible has been trouble free and driven every day for nearly 100000 miles. The only critism is that the motors that operate the headlamps tend to wear at about 100000 miles and are expensive to replace. Both cars still generate "neat car" comments from young and old. Repairs and maintenence are no different nor any more costly than any other GM car. They do however seem to be less frequent. If my garage was big enough I might try to find another one and start a real collection!!!