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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  This car has beautiful body style. - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By Doody - September 18 - 4:32 am

  Plastic around drivers seat just cracked off. Wheels look like aluminum film is peeling off on them, this amazes me I thought buicks to be better made. Brakes noise, power stearing empty on fluid tho not leaking, have to keep a check on it. Overall pretty good car. This car dont seem to be as well made as older models like everything else you buy these days.

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  Transmission bad at 69,000 miles - 2001 Buick Century
  By LeValley Buyer - September 15 - 2:00 am

  Transmission had to be replaced at 69,000 miles. Buick does not stand behind their product. I will never purchase or suggest anyone else purchase a Buick and it used to be the car of my dreams!

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  Rendezvous CX AWD - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By skwirl - September 6 - 2:00 am

  Generally happy with the car. No major problems. Lights pulsated until dealer replaced alternator. Ride can be choppy. Poor fuel economy. Our Chevy Venture with same engine got better mileage! Engine has alot of valve noise (not expected in a Buick). Rear hatch pull strap broke/replaced under warranty. Hatch can be hard to pull down. Power hatch would be nice!. Love the AWD in snow. Seats have poor side bolsters and poor lumbar support. Seat belts difficult to engage when wearing winter coat. Cant justify $299 annual cost of Onstar. ABS work wonderfully. Rear visibility is poor, especially when backing up.

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  bad ride --bad suspention - 2003 Buick Century
  By William Sharp - September 6 - 2:00 am

  I will never buy a Centry again.The rough ride is the worst part.The dealership replaced the struts and gave me a new set of tires to see if this would help the ride.This did not help at all.Dont wast your money on a Centry,it dont ride like the other Buicks.

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  Auto stop sucks - 2017 Buick LaCrosse
  By Jerry Adamson - July 27 - 7:30 pm

  This car has an engine auto stop program in it that shuts off the engine at every stop to save gas. The transmission jerks when it shuts off and starts up. It feels like someone just ran into the rear of the car when it starts up. This program will not let you come to a smooth stop before the engine stops. Then after the engine stops and it needs to start up again to operate the air conditioning, the car jumps ahead when the engine starts up again. Impossible to creep forward slowly. It is very annoying, aggravating and uncomfortable feeling. There is no way one can shut off this auto stop program. If I knew that this was going to happen, I would not have bought this car. Everything else in or on the car is great.

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  bad transmission - 2001 Buick Century
  By mike schmidt - June 6 - 2:00 am

  Transmission went bad at 43000 miles called dealer and told them and told me "tough luck, I should of bought the extended warranty. Now coasting me 2000 dollars for new transmission. I take very good care of the car. Will never buy GM product again or buy from GEIS motors in peekskill

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  95 Buick Century - 1995 Buick Century
  By axthetax - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Well built interior, roomy, comfortable. Very UNreliable mechanically, transmission problems, compressor problems, blown head gasket, all at 75,000 miles. BEWARE.

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  A great ride - 2003 Buick LeSabre
  By Horsetrader - May 24 - 2:00 am

  I experience a distinct vibration on the steering wheel, dashboard, front seats,brake pedal. This occurs at slow (2-3) mph and stoped with motor running in idle and transmission in drive. Put i in Neutral snd vibration eases. I have had it in for service 4 times and service manager says this is normal. I have drove ford 4cylander and oldsmobile 6 cylander. Both with no vibration. I have complained to Buick Company but they give me no hopes that they can fix the vibration. They(Buick) promised to write me a letter of explination. I am on verge of filing with the Florida Lemon Law.

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  baby why ? or you poor poor thing - 1991 Buick Regal
  By capricornchild7 - May 13 - 2:00 am

  when i first laid eyes on her i thought wow! what a car. a car i can feel i have arrived, coming from a geo driver who now wishes she still had her geo.i am writing this review because i am so upset in how much money it will cost me according the buick dealership to get my baby purring again and see if she still got something. i need a entirely new braking system in md,temple hills area that will cost approx. $1952.00 please that more than the car. then i think maybe if the other owner had kept her up then she wouldnt be asking so much out of me

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  Not too good - 1997 Buick LeSabre
  By cawa - May 11 - 2:00 am

  Well the car is piece of ... Radio broke at 50k, 62 Air Con. Broke. 75k Censort failed, Check engine light come on. The door panel at 40k came off.