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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  Love my Enclave - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By B. Brown - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Drove the car from No. Cal to Park City, UT in 12 hrs. Ride was very enjoyable and smooth. Averaged 21.5 mpg. Nav system and XM were a big plus. Very little road noise if any. Love the car.

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  buick - not a old mans car anymore - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By sam - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Rides quite. power good for cruising, people are amazed its a buick, even the young ones. Surprised me when I saw it. It speaks class all the way.

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  Enclave - 2011 Buick Enclave
  By Pete - October 24 - 2:00 am

  Recently purchased an Enclave CXL AWD. Tremendous car and we are very pleased. Great comfort. Great ride. Lots of safety features. We were worried about gas mileage. Once we got used to the fact that this car is smoother and quicker than the car it replaced, we went a little lighter on the gas at lights and signs. Went from about 14 mpg in suburban / urban driving to 18 over 3 tanks of gas. Hopefully it will continue to improve.

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  Enclave the beast - 2011 Buick Enclave
  By captalvinscott - October 22 - 2:00 am

  This is the most comfortable SUV Ive ever driven plus the space and easy method of letting down the seats are awesome.

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  GM does it right this time! - 2011 Buick Regal
  By George - October 21 - 2:00 am

  Bought a Regal RL1 in July to replace a 2005 Saab 9-3. GM didnt do a good job Americanizing the Saab, but it has done an outstanding conversion of the Opel Insignia into the Buick Regal. Currently built in Germany, the Regal has outstanding design details, workmanship, and reliability. I have the dark blue exterior, cashmere interior which is really a gorgeous combination. Love the comfortable leather seats, dual climate controls, quiet ride and sporty handling. And even the little things like the power up/down on the passenger seat and the ability to customize the locking system, e.g. I choose to open all doors with one click of the remote instead of two.

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  Second time around - 2002 Buick Regal
  By 58 Impala - October 20 - 2:00 am

  I bought this very same new in Sept 2002 and kept it for 4 years and traded it for an 06 LaCrosse CXL which I trades in on an 08 Silverado LTZ. even thought 06 Buick had more features, it didnt pull the mountians or get the gas mileage the 2002 Regal GS did. This year we decided we would get a used car and I was searching the net. I found our old Buick at a dealership about 40 miles from here and it had less than 60K miles on it. It had aroudn 32K when I traded. The dealership had bought it at an auction, but the car was still in great shape. We missed car after getting the LacCross and are very happy we found it again. Great gas mileage, handling and power in a nice size car.

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  THE Beast - 2000 Buick LeSabre
  By Dave - October 19 - 2:00 am

  Bought a 2000 Buick Lesabre in 2007 with 97000 miles on it. 3 years later it has 150000 miles. The car was still operating on the factory battery. This car is a horse. Cons, service engine light comes on and it usually is a air senson gone bad, which is minor repairs. People need to understand that when you buy a Buick, it is meant to be driven smoothly. This car is not to be driven like a Grand Prix or Monte Carlo. Once you get over 120000 miles Id recommend getting your oil changed a month earlier than scheduled because it will always be a quart low. This is a very solid vehicle and I wouldnt hesitate to get another one.

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  Buick 2011 LaCrosse - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By BOSS - October 19 - 2:00 am

  This is a high quality road dominator, built to suit the ultimate speedsters. Buy it now!

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  Older, but dont want to give up motor - 1992 Buick Regal
  By kaylynn10 - October 13 - 2:00 am

  Purchaed in 2/1992 and have had to only replace water pump and turning signal box. I live in Texas so the heat has wrecked paint job, leather seats in front. Last 3 months though radiator sprung leak, power steering and some basic electrical (1 power window, sunroof off and on again. It doesnt look great, but afraid to get rid of it. Ive left many cars in the dust with speed of take-off (fast motor). Fuel injected if that makes a difference. Wish I knew if engine could be stabbed into another car. I would do that in a heartbeat. Oh year, when A/C worked it froze you out, even in 100+degrees. Love this car(and when I bought it I thought it was a granny car) No way.

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  2010 La Crosse - 2010 Buick LaCrosse
  By PJK26 - October 13 - 2:00 am

  After looking at all the other comparable cars I gave Buick a look. Now mind you I was a former GM only guy. I vowed never to buy GM again in the early 90s. So I looked negative at first but looked kicked the tires and took it for a spin. It beat the Avalon, Infinity, and was surprisingly better than the Lexus 350. After some thought and more shopping I factory ordered a loaded CXS.