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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  Steering Issues - 2010 Buick LaCrosse
  By mcoleman22 - May 24 - 11:24 pm

  After 5 attempts to fix the steering issues over 6 months, the Buick dealership has not been able to repair the defective steering issues. They have even brought in a GM Engineer with no success. They just keep asking for me to bring the back the car for another try - like a race pit stop. Since Buick has not admitted the problem cannot be fixed. I have sought help from the BBB Auto Line (http://www.bbb.org/us/auto-line-lemon-law/) . Based on the customer service that I have received from the Buick Warranty Department, I imagine that I will end up in court. I will be parking the car, so I do not go over the 50,000 warranty and buying a foreign car.

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  Buick Rainier: Too many headaches - 2005 Buick Rainier
  By nobuicksjim - February 20 - 3:53 pm

  Bad fuel sender. Buick sends a notice to finally to cover 1/2 the repair cost. Too late. Drivers side door handle. Broken twice. Part is engineered to fail. $127 to buy $4 of plastic Rear air suspension problems. This will be the last Buick I ever own.

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  dont make this mistake - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By jwebb5 - January 3 - 10:16 pm

  bought used. WORSE car EVER! first transmission went out, cost close to 2 grand to fix, then over heated due to a leak in the coolant system, blew an intake gasket costing another wad of money, then the AC went out, AWD and antilock break system went out, replaced thermostat three times, and now has a blown head gasket! been in the shop more than it has been driven. Still paying payment :(

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  Absolutely JUNK - 1995 Buick Riviera
  By inlinewhine - December 29 - 9:10 pm

  Bought this mint condition car in Feburary 2002 and drove till Feburary of 2003. And in the 12 months I had replaced in this order: Struts, spark plugs, spark plug wires oil drain plug, supercharger, brakes, rotors, waterpump, headlights, radiator, coolent, rack and pinion, rear air shocks, leveling air compressor, climate control module, blower motor, transmission, harmonic balancer. It was using oil. it was $12,000 in repair bills . it had 125k hwy miles on it in 2002 and in 2003 it had 139k all hwy miles. Paid $7250 for the car and sold it for $3800. it was in the shop every week. I would not recomend this car to anybody it is a piece of absolute garbage.

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  This car vibrates - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By 6600madison - December 7 - 9:01 am

  I have the V6 with 18 inch wheels and have accrued 4500 miles on this car. Although beautiful, it has a constant vibration through the seats and causes the legs of my pants to visibly move. It has been back to the dealer twice. Once for a balancing which did nothing and once for a force balancing with one of the tires being replaced.The ride is worse than before. The vibration is so noticeable that I cannot enjoy anything about this care. I drive the same roads in a Toyota Solara and Hyundai Sonata which both have far superior rides. I have never been so disappointed with a car and will never return to GM. A huge mistake to leave Toyota. I wish I had paid the extra money to buy the Avalon.

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  Bad GM - 2004 Buick LeSabre
  By nomorgm - August 30 - 11:25 pm

  Nothing good to say except the seats are comfortable. Other than that its a money pit. Replaced window regulators, heater core, thermostat and the motor runs bad with no computer codes and engine diagnostics show fine. Gas milage is 26 at best. Motor lacks power to be one of GMs best.

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  More Electrical Problems - 2004 Buick Rainier
  By brassones - July 30 - 12:50 am

  My Rainer has had soo many electrical problems. 1. No speedometer for over 2 yrs 2. No gas gauge for 1 yr 3. The ambient temp sensor was knocked loose because the water pump dislodged it causing the A/C to quit working. So its 100 degrees outside and the rad out says its -14. Cost me $600 to repair 4. And not to mention every once in a while when you hit a bump wrong at night, the headlights will just quit. And I have checked connections. Anyone else have ideas or comments.

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  Worst. Car. Ever. - 1999 Buick Regal
  By hwysqrl1 - April 9 - 12:32 pm

  I bought this car with only 19k miles on it. In three years time, I have had to replace almost every single engine part. The cup holder pulled off in my hand. The rear mirror leaked the auto-darkening stuff so you couldnt see out of it at all. The visors broke off. The gas gauge broke. The low tire & service engine lights have been on for 2 years regardless of all of the work that has been done. The heat and A/C went out. One window will only roll down halfway. The interior portion of the doors are separating from the exterior - which is severely rusting. This car is a piece of junk. It costs me about $2000 a year to keep it running. I am going to buy a foreign car as soon as I can.

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  POS-All those high ratings are after previous owner spent $$$$ - 2001 Buick Century
  By analytical - January 26 - 1:46 pm

  FACT - all those high ratings come from people who got the Century after previous owner put $$$ into it. ALL GM 3100s & 3400’s for about 7 years had the problem with the Lower Intake Manifold gasket - ALL of them. This was a $1,400 repair at the dealership and the was a class action suit that GM agreed to settle for about $800 per owner but it was opened in 2007 & closed in 2008. Mine happened @ 58k miles 19 days after the close & they told me ‘Tough Luck’. Also they changed me over $300 to clear out the cooling system & replace thermostat and hoses after the GM DEX-COOL antifreeze turned into ‘clumps of sludge’ and clogged the radiator and cooling system. Cost me $1,000s to keep running.

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  Very Dissapointed - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By cbrzezinski - January 23 - 10:54 am

  Getting 14 miles in city and 20 in highway - far below EPA estimates. V-6 engine and steering wheel vibrate - dealer says thats normal as well as mileage. Very difficult to get into car due to low roof line. No storage, interior trunk release and interior gas cover release. Cheap carpets and no glove box lock. Has several fit and finish and mechanical defects - already been in for repairs several times. There is much better out there and for far less money and aggravation.