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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  Fun to own and drive - 1992 Buick Regal
  By Joseph Weglarz - February 26 - 5:19 pm

  Provide quick response and handling. Turn radius is wide and must be planned. ABS excellent. Leather seat not best choise in florida sun crack care for regular Carpets showroom appearance despite 14K oginal tires poor in snow. tended to break loose. Goodyear. Pleasent to own and drive. Four wheel disc brakes excellent. Original calipers in rear froze require early replacement. After market cured problem. Trunk spacious, Original AC ice producing - really~!

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  Excellent Value - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By BillF - February 23 - 1:13 pm

  I rented this car over christmas and drove from Dallas to Nashville. Outstanding millage and performance. So much room for luggage. Very comfortable. You need to try this out!!

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  Great for twins! - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By dean&cathy - February 21 - 10:00 am

  We have been very impressed with the price point and the quality of this car. It was well thought out and very user friendly. We have the captain chairs for the second row and highly recommend that configuration for baby seats.

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  Better than the 1999 - 2000 Buick LeSabre
  By cranecreek - February 20 - 3:44 pm

  Much better than the previous design, a pleasure to drive. 30 mpg is real. Problems are the center console and early strut problems. The dash rattles like the older la sabres,but all in all at 40,000 miles its been a great car.

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  Over - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By Lou - February 17 - 9:19 pm

  My 2004 Buick Rendezvous has over 225,000 miles on it !!!!

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  mikes big bad buick - 1990 Buick Skylark
  By mike - February 8 - 11:15 am

  this has been the best car I have ever owned by far (out of thirteen diffrent vehicles).

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  Overall great vehicle - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By PV 13 - February 7 - 10:00 am

  This is the most comfortable SUV that I have ever owned. I have driven the car for 10000 miles and I average 18MPG in the city & 24 on the open road. This SUV has had only oil changes and has never had any "new car bugs" to work out. It was perfedct from the day I got it. I get a lot of compliments about the looks of this vehicle. My only negative comment is that it could use a little more power, but the trade off is the great gas mileage it gets.

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  Tried foreign definitely back with U. S. - 2005 Buick LaCrosse
  By Horkee - February 4 - 10:10 am

  First, I dont believe in 10s. I compared the car to the 300 Chrysler Limited, 300 series BMW, and 330 Lexus. We drove all of them including the Acura TL (snakey handling in the wet when pushed). All are nice cars. but for the money this was the winner ahead of the Chrysler. The Lexus is O. K. but its a dog, requires premium fuel, and doesnt handle that well. The interior is nice, but uses an egg shell finish on everything to hide the flaws. Its really expensive for what you get...or dont get. We traded an ex v-6 Honda and my wife is the one who will drive it most. She liked the performance over the looks of the Chrysler and I agree.

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  Stunning car, love it - 2006 Buick Lucerne
  By JMB - January 29 - 2:23 pm

  Only had it a week but I just fell in love with the pictures. I was going to go for Infinity or Jag but I wanted to wait for this car. Im glad I did. No kidding. I work at a law firm and my coworkers teased me that I had bought a Buick. Then we went out to lunch today and they were amazed. Absolutely amazed. One of my partners -- a die-hard Lexus owner -- asked to drive it. He really liked it.

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  Buick Has Scored - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By D1 - January 29 - 10:00 am

  This is the nicest ride I have ever owned. At 61 and having had many new cars, this one has pleased me the most. It is really engineered well. Solid, noise free comfortable ride with plenty of guts when needed. The options are great. Best deal for the money out there in SUVs.