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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  1997 Disaster - 1997 Buick Park Avenue
  By Judd - October 18 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this low milage car just recently from a person I know well. He took painstaking care of it. It looks brand new inside and out. Within two months the door lock button popped inside the door. The transmission failed and cost $1975 to rebuild. The ash tray broke and wont stay closed. The volume button on the steering wheel functions some of the time. The self- leveling feature has failed and I shudder to think what that will cost to fix. This could be a wonderful car if it was better built. I have had many GM cars over the years most of them purchased new (I still have my 84 El Camino) but this is the last one.

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  My Last Buick - 2010 Buick LaCrosse
  By Austin - October 17 - 6:06 am

  I had rave reviews for this car when I first bought it. That has changed after a month of ownership. I will start off by saying that this car would be owned by Buick right now, if I was not pressured into taking $500 to waive the 60 day buy back program. Two days after I bought the car it started pulling to the left. The dealership in Delaware OH) said they didnt have the equipment and told me to try back in a few weeks. The dealership then refused to return any calls. Another dealership tried to fix the pulling and have not been successful. Now the Sunroof doesnt work and the sun shade works when it feels like it. And they wont buy it back! Thanks GM-you lost 1 more.

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  GREAT VEHICULE, BUT? - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By DAVIDOFF - August 23 - 10:00 am

  Problem at 300km:solenoid (transmission)

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  Could be my next car if.... - 2016 Buick Cascada
  By opensky1 - August 11 - 3:42 am

  This car is basically great for a baby boomer like me that wants a comfortable, safe convertible cruiser, but it needs a few additions after driving it. Even if they are stand alone options this needs blind spot/cross traffic monitoring, and adding automatic emergency braking to its forward collision warning. I would gladly pay 2 to 3 thousand greenbacks more for these options. They already have part of this on the Verano. I will be replacing my Mustang convertible with another one, loaded with all the tech (including adaptive cruise control) available now. If more is added in the next two or three years to the Mustang or even the Cascada (I dont need a fast sports car) I will trade. Smart folks my age want the driver assist tech, because as Clint Eastwood put it so well, "A mans got to know his limitations." A tech assist comfortable cruiser is in order. Bring back the Toyota Camry Solara Convertible? That puppy has a REAL back seat.

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  too much like your farthers Buick - 2010 Buick LaCrosse
  By fastphil - August 6 - 11:13 am

  manual shift on transmission is BAD; performance is weak at best; passing on 2 lane road and the damn thing up shifts at 4500 when the pedal is still to the metal; manual up shifts are so slow that you have to begin the process at 5000 otherwise it will dump you into the dreaded "overspeed" shutoff of any and all power; cannot imagine what a twisty road would be like in this unit, even if one petal to the metal it is like the Buick field mice have a conference to see if and when it might happen

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  my problems - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By Thomas Pender - June 1 - 10:00 am

  my 2002 cxl awd needed a new transmission at 29,700 miles and rear differential at 35,682 Tried to trade it in on a 2004 same mode and found the vallue to be $11,000 paid 35,000 appr new..Pathetic and the last american car i will own Been buick driver for 30 years

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  I Guess It Works - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By Adam - April 23 - 4:57 am

  I have had this vehicle for 3 years and have put 20,000 miles on it. It gets the job done i guess. I bought it in good condition for 3,000 and i think i have put 7,000 dollars into it for work. Steering kinda sucks, gas mileage is as expected for an SUV. Technology i upgraded myself (not included in my cost). The floor leaks so the carpet it always wet. AWD drive kicks off in the snow...so i dont know what the point is of having it. The dealership offered me $500 for it for a trade in but KBB says its worth 1,500. Wouldnt ever buy or recommend a buick again.

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  same as above and below - 1997 Buick Park Avenue
  By donny87 - December 23 - 7:56 am

  Same problems everybody else had, manifold melted oil and anti freeze mixed trahed engine found out when we replaced motor sensors were glued back on after being snapped , ,Nice, paint peeling off the trunk spreading like cancer the bug shield plastic wrap crap on the hood peeling, sunroof warped closes 1/4" lower on one side, control pad on both seats hang out, yup glad to know Im not alone lol

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  Look Elsewhere - 2016 Buick LaCrosse
  By Steve H. - October 23 - 6:51 am

  The Lacrosse was a potential candidate to be a retirement gift to myself in a year or two. I decided to rent one for a week to take on a 1,000 mile trip. It is now off my list. The first shortcoming is the cramped driving position. Im 6 foot, 190 lbs and the position is much tighter than it has to be. The console flares as it approaches the dash reducing valuable seating real estate. My right leg was constantly fighting the console trying to get my foot squarely on the accelerator pedal. The foot well size is reduced by the intrusion of the wheel well. The seat went back far enough, a big plus. The dash seems to be close to the seating position and it curves as it approaches the door. I hit it the corner twice during exiting. Then there is the road noise. It is unacceptable for a car of this supposed caliber. The noise is intrusive starting about 35 mph on anything but smooth asphalt. At highway speeds, it is a constant nuisance. Thankfully, the wind noise is minimal, as it should be. Handling was very excellent and the ride was OK, nothing worth noting. Brakes, OK. The climate control worked very well and the controls were easy to understand. The entertainment system was another weak area. The screen was a nice size, but distracting because of the scarcity of buttons on the dash. The screen is tilted and so is the bezel which made is difficult to push the smallish station preset icons. Everything has to be done via the two knobs and a couple of buttons or the touch screen. Either way, it causes the driver to divert their attention from the road. The sound was excellent and it was not the premium radio. The powertrain (V6) was excellent, as was the gas mileage. I averaged just over 30 mpg (calculated) for highway (mostly), suburban and in-town driving. The trunk was nice and big and the fit and finish were excellent. By contrast, Im leasing a 2015 Verano which is superior in several areas. It does not exhibit as high a level of road noise as the Lacrosse and the entertainment system is easier to use because it has buttons for things like the radio presets. The drivers position is not as cramped, even though it is slightly smaller overall and the pedal feel of the brakes is better. However, it is smaller and does not have the same ride comfort as the Lacrosse which runs 10-20k more. Maybe the redesign will improve many of these deficiencies which would put the Lacrosse back on my list.

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  2003 RVD - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By occking - August 17 - 10:00 am

  Underpowered. Too much brake dust in front wheels. Does not get mileage as advertised (at least for the CXL) Does not take rough roads well Love the satellite radio (main reason I got the vehicle) plus that it has a fold away rear seat and the vehicle is somewhat shorter than GM products with third seat