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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  Made In China....China Can Keep IT! - 2016 Buick Envision
  By Halle Smith - October 7 - 6:25 am

  Our car was in an accident on May 3rd. It is now August 10th and we still do not have our car. They cannot get parts and GM has been of NO help. I would NOT buy this car again, nor would I tell anyone to buy this car. It has been a complete disaster! I have never been as disappointed in a car as we have been with this car. Do not buy a car made in CHINA!

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  Never buy this junk - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By harminder.s.baidwan - April 7 - 2:13 pm

  I was the fan and proud to use GM vehicles, but now I will never buy or recommend to buy GM. Can you believe transmission problem at 63,000K.One problem after the another. Tapping noise in the morning and the dealer says it is normal. Does not have enough power. Going on the hill looks likes 4 cylinder car will do better. Bad mileage. Noise from the front wheel, had to replace both bearings. Back latch recall. It should be discontinued. I should have listen to my friend and bought some Japenese car instead. I will never recommend this junk to anybody.

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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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  Do yourself a favour dont buy the RDV - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By AP - March 4 - 10:01 pm

  First GM vehicle and confirms why I always steered clear in the past. GM deserve their loss of market share, It this is the best they can do then they should give up now. Japanese and Europeans have them beaten on all fronts. All this topped off with appalling customer service, cant wait to get rid of this lemon.

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  Unbelievably Unsafe - 2007 Buick Rendezvous
  By Shocked - February 24 - 9:50 am

  We were absolutely shocked to learn that this vehicle is the only GM vehicle (including all other Buick models) that includes rear seat seatbelts that do not "lock" unless or until it becomes necessary. Subsequently, small children have the ability to "hang" and "dangle" from the seatbelts. Should the seatbelts reliably "lock" when needed (not proven), children are at risk for severe injury if they are not sitting upright or if the belt literally "snaps" them backwards. Utterly ridiculous and absolutely unsafe for children. We returned our vehicle within days of taking delivery. All research indicates that even the slightest slack in the belt increases substantially the risk of head/neck injury

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  The Worst Buick Ever - 2007 Buick Lucerne
  By buickman1 - January 10 - 1:14 pm

  I replaced a 2004 Park Avenue with a 2007 Lucerne, big mistake! The Lucerne is far smaller than a Park Avenue. The interior is a joke! It is so cheaply done, as soon as you sit in it for a month you begin to feel like your setting in a Kia. Buick made their first mistake back in 1996 when they dropped the Roadmaster and now they have really gone looney by dropping the Park Avenue! The interior room in the Lucerne is so small, I felt like I was in a circus car and clowns should have been in there with me. Go with a Lincoln Town Car! The Lucerne is a big mistake, treat yourself with a true luxury car: go with the Lincoln Town Car!

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  Worst Vehicle I Have Ever Owned - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By John Ashton - November 30 - 12:05 am

  This is only the second GM vehicle I have ever owned - and the last. The first GM vehicle I owned was a Chevrolet Vega back in the 1970s - enough said - and incredibly, the Rendezvous is even worse! Engine, transmission, AWD drive train, climate control, you name it. I thought in the three decades plus since the Vega, they would have learned how to build cars no such luck.

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  G.M./Mexican Reject - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By JohnnyApel - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Worse GM Car I ever owned and I hear the same story from many other Rendezvous Owners. So, I guess its just not me.Everything broke on it shortly after purchase. Permanent shimmy,( which service mgr.said was a "normal shimmy") wore out the front end in 10K so that it wouldnt pass state inspection. It was fixed under warranty but car still has the shimmy. Currently trying to get GM to "buy back" Montesumas revenge on the U.S. Car Buyer.Havent had a G.M. Car this good since my 1980 Cadillac Seville Diesel Motor blew up at 10,000..It dont get any better than this.Never again GM

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  This car is junk - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By ckinny - July 14 - 4:19 pm

  GM is clearly cutting corners. The interior of the 05 compared to earlier models is subpar. The fabric is cheaplooking and feeling. The dash has been changed and not for the better. Very hard and uncomfortabel to get to/sit in third row seat. Gas mileage is a nightmare.

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  Feels like a new 1996 Geo Tracker - 2016 Buick Encore
  By TheManInDboX - December 23 - 4:34 pm

  The seats are hard, the seating position is terrible, and you cant see out of it.. I have had the little SUV now for the past 3 days due to my Volt (which is a complete pile of garbage) being fixed again.. During that time i can say it is pretty good on gas, but the transmission is jerky, there is no snot at all in it, meaning it wont get out of its own way.. the seats are too small, i am thin and tall, but the seats are way to short and too hard.. making it feel like you are sitting on a pick-nick bench. The audio controls require a degree in computer science to figure out, nothing is labeled well, the steering column plastic isnt straight, and there are noticeable creaks and rattles when you hit bumps.. (The Loaner has 395 Miles on it) There is NO storage at all in it, there are nooks and pockets to store things around the driver, but the rear of it where you would put groceries, or other shopping things, or even a baby stroller, there is simply just not enough room back there. As per handling it may handle well, but it feels top heavy when you hit a corner which doesnt leave much confidence in the handling ability. Good: The BOSE stereo is amazing.. sounds fantastic.. The look of the materials makes it seem like a high end vehicle.. I mean until you realize, they are cheaply made.. Gas mileage seems pretty good for a small SUV (Very small) Bad: Fit and finish Seating position is hard short Seats The telescoping steering wheel is worthless it rattles You cant see out of it, and the parking sensors indicate you are too close at nearly 2ft from something Its slow (The Volt feels like a corvette in comparison) Its expensive (There are a lot of MUCH better options for less) Due to its shape you cant get anything in the hatch area Controls arent well laid out..