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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  BUICK BEWARE - 1998 Buick Century
  By chgostu - August 7 - 2:00 am

  CAR BROKE DOWN WITH 36 k MILES...BAD ENGINE, BAD BRAKES, POWER WINDOWS DIDNT WORK. (DESPITE BEING MAINTAINED AT DEALERSHIP)

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  Expensive, quality problems - 2004 Buick LeSabre
  By ltdangel92 - June 16 - 2:00 am

  Wind Noise. The battery in the back seat. Small Mirrors. Wind Noise @60+mph. seats not comfortable and need to give more support. elcetrical problems.

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  Not worth the money! - 2012 Buick Verano
  By Anthony G. - June 4 - 11:57 pm

  Ever since owning this vehicle, the warranty doesnt cover alot of parts. Transmission is bad. Stalls alot. Electronics just shut off. Ac fan varies in speed. Very, very poor acceleration to pass cars. Handles great though. First time ever owning a buick and certainly the last time buying one. My overall opinion is that car is junk. Shame american makers cant get it right. Im buying a foreign car this time. You can look up on google how bad these cars are. DO NOT BUY BUICK!!!!!

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  AVOID AVOID AVOID - 1997 Buick Park Avenue
  By jim kirk - January 2 - 10:00 am

  This is the worst car I have ever owned in my life. Poor engineering, poor build quality, terrible reliability. Every time I get in it, I wonder if it will end up on the tow truck again. My plastic intake manifold cracked, the coolant mixed with the oil and destroyed the engine. Cost 4,000 plus for a used engine. Other problems include 10" of water in trunk, failed steering rack, warped brake rotors, cracked leather, failed heated seat, constant electrical problems, broken door handle, door lock switch fell into door, burned out (and irreplaceable) dash lights. AC compressor bearing grinding, water pump, wonkie transmission. I rate this car a ZERO, but the scale doesnt go that low

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  High Maintenance GM product. - 2008 Buick Lucerne
  By Ron - August 11 - 2:07 pm

  2008 Buick, currently has 53,000 miles. From 30,000 miles to current, the following items have been replaced, 1/2 shaft in steering, power steering rack, power steering pump, front struts, rear air shocks, brakes on all 4 corners, rear brake calipers (leaking), new battery. Currently has an engine oil leak.

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  Worst car ever - 1995 Buick Regal
  By Breth - August 3 - 2:00 am

  This car is truely the worst that I have ever owned. From the time I bought the car until now I had nothing but problems with this car. In the firt three years while under warrenty, there were three major mechanical problems. Then afterwards, at least twice a year there were other problems that came up. Master cylinder not working, brakes, and other problems. Buick has never improved on this car. I will be glad to get rid of this car by any means possible

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  Dont buy this car! - 1995 Buick Riviera
  By msemensohn - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car from a little old man with under 43000 miles. Since day one I have been funding my local mechanics kids college education. Over $3000 worth of repairs in two years. Air conditioner went twice (Im in Florida!), transmission, intake manifold, etc. Because of this car, I will never buy another American car as I am afraid

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  BLAH What a sick car! - 1991 Buick Regal
  By dre9516_69 - October 27 - 1:00 am

  I started driving it and I realized that the air conditioning was blowing out no air! Then after about two hours of total driving the fuel pump went out, then about 10 min after the fuel pump was replaced 5 of my fuel injectors failed, then it was my electronic ignintion modulator, then it was 3 coil packs!!!!!!! In less than a week I had spent 900 dollars in repair, then it started leaking antifreez really bad, so I had it looked at and i was told a frost plug had rusted out, 48 dollars to fix, I had a cracked block! I hate it, I want to crash it into a train cuz watching it get demolished would be the best time I will ever have with this car

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  Look out large people - 2003 Buick Century
  By M Neviaser - July 20 - 3:38 am

  I am 6 foot 4 and weigh 230 pounds the car is simply not comfortable look out large people

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  Poor - 1996 Buick LeSabre
  By Molly Banks - April 2 - 2:00 am

  This car is not a very good car, it breaks down often and is not very attractive. it gets poor gas mileage.