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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  Cheap Always Means "Cheap"! - 2002 Buick Century
  By Roborob - December 11 - 9:00 am

  Weve tried to drive this car for two years, but Ive already spent almost $1,000 in brake work, and now the famous intake gasket is screwing me out of decent trade-in value by leaking water out the tail pipe. This is a hidden leak that some drivers may not be aware of. Check all your fluids regularly. The 3.1 engine is nothing like the two previous Pontiacs weve owned, which gave no trouble at all. It does get the same excellent 27 mpg, though. Save your gas money and buy an import that will last. GM should go out of business.

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  Great Car for anyone - 2001 Buick LeSabre
  By LeSabre Custom - December 10 - 2:32 pm

  I bought the car from the original owner. I have put 15k miles on it and love it. The car has 132k on it and sound brand new. The window regulators have had to be replaced but I did it my self and it only cost $75 per window. The car handles great in any weather conditions. Im confident the car will go for 200k easy! Under the gas cap their has been some internal rust which is know for these cars. The design stinks if you are under 70. It is a definite "old people" car when you look at it but it does have some get up and go. I took a Lexus Rx 350 w/ no problem. Great Car overall

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  gms great hope - 2010 Buick LaCrosse
  By aldinero - December 9 - 1:59 pm

  great looks very nice interior and lots of room. ride is quiet not too hard or soft too much torque steer. handling is very good, visibility decent.

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  Great Buick - 2005 Buick LeSabre
  By TB - December 7 - 5:18 pm

  I have had this LeSabre for 9 months now, purchased used. It is great for over the road as well as commuting. I average 30-32 mpg, even at interstate speeds. Great ride and very quiet. I was commuting back and forth from Colorado to Nebraska for a time and lots of interstate driving. Very comfortable at 75 mph and 30 mpg as well. I could drive from Greeley to Omaha on one tank, just over 500 miles!

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  Grandmas 97 Buick skylark - 1997 Buick Skylark
  By Terry - December 7 - 1:08 pm

  My Buick Skylark has only 35,000 miles and was my grandmothers from 1997- 2003. After she died I got the car and it is a great little car in perfect shape and reliable--until now. The water pump went and I found out that it takes hours to get to the pump and it costs $$$--$750.00 to replace it-- and a gasket too. Why did Buick design an engine that would be so hard to get to a water pump. The mechanic suggested that as long as you are paying for the cost of labor to get to the water pump you should have several other somewhat related items fixed as well. I called the dealer to verify the extent in reaching the water pump and they verified this issue. Not good.

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  GM Enclave Service stinks for us - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Steve Cone - December 2 - 6:22 am

  Bought an Enclave in 2001. Our mileage very much exceeded warranty mileage. So when the entire amp in the car shorted out, they used mileage as an excuse to deny warranty claim, and dumped the cost to replace a defective amp on us, the consumers. It was a defective amp. They should make the amp vendor suffer the loss. After a Suburban, two Tahoes and this Enclave, its HONDA for me from now on.

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  Exceptional in every way............ - 1996 Buick Regal
  By Dean - November 23 - 3:51 pm

  Bought this car from private elder couple who never smoked. Interior well laid out, engine 3.1 v-6 has plenty of power, and in comparison with foreign makes gets a reliable 29 mpg on the road with 25 in town. Full size seating for 6 with great fuel economy,(I would put it up against Toyota or Nissan any day) Handles great, very reliable with minimum maint. and above all very good fuel economy.

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  not as advertised - 2009 Buick Enclave
  By schomeboy - November 23 - 1:50 pm

  Bought car in "clunker" trade-in deal. My wife fell in love with this car based on the interior and quiet ride. she was correct on both. however, after 4 months we see a couple of issues. first, gas mileage is 15-20 not 17-24 as advertised! No different than the "clunker" we had. took it back to dealer and of course found nothing wrong. had to put foam strips on underside of garage door because rear door lifts too high and bangs on bottom of garage door. ill designed. no clothes hook on second row seats. to hang clothes you have to use hook by 3rd row seats and it is difficult to get to. nice car overall, but I would look at others before investing this much money.

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  Great Looking, But Not Reliable - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By darrenjonesoc - November 23 - 12:59 am

  We love the look of our Enclave and the interior is versatile and attractive and comfortable. However, the car is very unreliable! Our engine had been dropped three times (we only have 28,000 miles) for major repairs. We have been without the car a total of 2 months out of the 24 we have owned it. A number of smaller issues have emerged that are annoying (seat tracks falling apart, exterior apliques falling off in the wind, sensors failing, etc.). I hate to say it, but Consumer Reports is right, GM cars are not reliable. That is a shame, because if the car were well built and reliable, I would love it.

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  Acceptable SUV - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By SAM - November 21 - 9:43 pm

  I leased this vehicle to replace a Lexus RX 330. With 2 babies on boards I needed a 3 rows Luxury SUV with decent fuel economy. PROS: Any SUV of that size has a V8. The Enclave has A V6 with decent performance and fuel economy (for the size/weight). It is beautiful inside and out. Very comfortable ride and minimal road noise. CONS: Questionable build quality and reliability. I have already been to the dealer for serious repairs multiple times. I do not trust what the dealer did to repair the car. Thank God it is just a lease. My brother just visit me and immediately notice how the SUV is falling apart. On the other hand, 3 years ago, he though my 4 year old Lexus was almost brand new.