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 is a GREAT car! - 2015 Buick Enclave
  By C. Ferguson - September 7 - 9:51 pm

  I was shopping around, currently was driving a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. I liked what I was seeing on the highway in the Enclave so decided to give it a trial. Boy was I pleased! I was offered $7500 off and got exactly what I wanted. This SUV drives like a dream, great acceleration and it is very sporty on the highway. I dont have to let off the gas much going into curves. And what a nice surprise on gas mileage. Averaging 23 mpg on the highway and 21 in town. Electronics work well. A few bugs but not enough to get into a twit about. Great sound. I got a towing package and plan on getting a small travel trailer to do some weekend trips. I am completely satisfied with this car. The only thing I could say negative is the rear seats could be more comfortable for what I paid for the car. Love it!

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  Dont let the looks fool you - 1998 Buick Century
  By Ben Parrino - September 7 - 2:15 am

  She isnt the fastest nor is she the prettiest. But, our 98 Century is holding up remarkably well considering shes about 18 years old. The Odometer went out @ 154k about 9 months ago. These cars are known to have faulty wiring problems, as we have to have the driver door and another door open to control the windows, which is dangerous if you drive off forgetting you had a door partially cracked open. Otherwise, doing regular engine maintenance has kept her running like a dream. The maintenance guy was even like "Wow! Your cruise control still works. A lot of these cars dont have it anymore because they didnt take good care of the engine". So yeah if you take moderately good care of this car it will take VERY good care of you. Our buick gets very very hot in direct sunlight which is great for winter time. Also, if you have decent tires on yours, you can outdrive most AWD vehicles in the snow. And its awesome. We were being told the engine might go soon, so we went out and bought a 2002 Regal LS to have for when this car goes out. But, honestly, since the mechanic fixed her up I think shes gonna make it to 200k hopefully, and we can just have the Regal sit in the parking lot for 4 months and use ole reliable to pay off new reliable.

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  Hey Guys...a great small SUV from Germany! - 2015 Buick Encore
  By Mark Hamilton - September 6 - 10:39 am

  Yes its true, this car was designed and engineered by the German Opel division and marketed as an Opel Mokka / for the Europeans and rest of the world and Vauxhall Mokka for the UK. This South Korean made and assembled vehicle is called a Buick Encore for the American market. This mini SUV handles very well in the typical prowess it has been bred with. The eye catching design is what the second generation 166" RAV4 should have evolved to! GM cleverly re-invented a class of SUV that was abandoned about 10 years ago by the main players as they had all grown about a foot! The 1.4L Turbo Encore has very good looks, great interior, optimal usage of space, great economy and very good power for its size and class. A great SUV for younger folk or empty nesters. Critics have stated a lack of power and space, what?? This IS SUPPOSED to be a 168" SUB Compact SUV, not a Porsche, if you want more power and space you can easily jump up into the 180" (15) Compact SUV class! No doubt the best looking and one of the better choices in the Sub Compact SUV class.

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  best car I ever owned. - 2004 Buick LeSabre
  By Chris - September 3 - 11:02 pm

  Second owner, bought this car in 2009 with 55000 miles. Vehicle is extremely comfortable to ride in and loaded with a ton of great features. My favorite features were the seats, heated and adjustable enough to accommodate a driver with very long legs and a short torso, a problem Ive had in all other vehicles was getting comfortable on a long drive. Front bench seating is easier to keep clean than a center console. Interior features were well ahead of its time and comparable to expensive luxury vehicles of the same age. Even with rust and being beaten half to death by being stored outside in one of the worst northern climates in the states and not cared for very well, the paint hasnt faded or lost its gloss she still turns heads with classic styling and a blue soft top. Car handled better through some really nasty winters with cheap all weathers than my old Jeep with snow tires. Vehicle was a steal at $12000. I got my money out of her, and Im very sad to see her go. Car needs significant work any vehicle would after going through what shes been through, but the vehicle is still solid beyond my expectations and capable of another 60000 miles at least. This is a great low maintenance vehicle perfect for a family, and would be a good choice for a winter rat. Gas mileage isnt great, but decent for a full size sedan. My only complaints is that the gear shifts are kind of laggy, sometimes itll hard shift. GMs 3.8 is a tried and true engine, but the four speed transmission makes for a boring ride. Car handles well and is easy to maneuver but the suspension feels a little rough on highways. Dash lights, passenger climate control, and one of the heated seats burnt out. The only repairs I had in seven years besides standard maintenance and rust related repairs were a blower motor going ($200 with a used motor), an ignition problem (estimated $75), an EVAP leak that has engine light on, and a small coolant leak ($180).

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  CPO Great Price and Value Compared to Mercedes - 2012 Buick LaCrosse
  By RF - September 2 - 7:15 pm

  Test Drove a 2011 Mercedes C300, it broke down on test drive ($23000) Shopped Buick Lacrosse and Impala Liked The Buick Touring CPO vehicle better for the money $23450. It has more features than I need, the AC/heated seats are really nice especially in South Carolina Summer. AC cools the car quickly, Bluetooth very easy to set up and use. Plenty of power not a race car but it was not designed as such either. Very quiet on the road, people complain about the engine noise - drive a Honda or Toyota and compare for yourself. Brakes are great - emergency stop in traffic when a car pulled out in front of us and stopped. Wing mirrors are the only down fall on this car huge blind spots difficult to get adjusted to avoid the blind spots

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  Early First Impressions - 2015 Buick Enclave
  By Paul Horvick - August 21 - 9:46 am

  We spent some time looking to replace our 2011 Toyota Sienna. Looked at the Toyota Highlander, new Honda Pilot and the Enclave. Because of a bad back, getting in and out of a car that has a high floor lip, or low ceiling is hurtful. The Enclave is a perfect size for ingress and egress with no back strain. In fact, the seats are marginally higher than those on the Sienna (and we loved the Sienna). The car was delivered with radio issues it would not accept the signal from Sirius/XM to put it into subscription mode. A neighbor also just got a new Enclave and had the same issue. I am sure it will be resolved, but it does speak to the necessity of having a good warranty that covers the electronics (and, at 48 month warranty, it is excellent.) Steering is heavier than I would have thought not really an issue, just an observation. The interior is quite plush and upscale quiet. Kind of the old school luxury feel. Many consumer reviews comment on how comfortable it is on the go. I would say that is a matter of opinion. Our Sienna rode much better and was much less truck-like. Even in town, you notice every bump. Granted it is a soft bump, but somewhat disappointing compared to the Sienna. Controls, although there are many due to the sophisticated technology, are pretty intuitive. Sight lines forward are great rear mirror vision is less than the Sienna due to rear headrests etc. Passenger side sight line is poor. The "blind spot" warning system is nearly a must have option. One odd thing, and it is a negative in my view, is that there is nothing stopping anyone from opening the gas cap. I would have assumed that at least some basic security would be in place, but nope...just push the cover and it pops open. Easy for sure, one less thing to go wrong I suppose, but I like the security of an in-cabin release. Resale value of the unit is (based upon a cursory review) rather typical of American vehicles. However, if you buy at the end of the model year, there are big discounts to be had. Ours had an MSRP of over $48000, and the cash price was $37000, and that puts the later resale in a much more competitive mode. It is a good looking SUV, and comes in a nice range of rich looking colors and interiors. We have the dark brown, and it is very rich looking. Time will tell if we made a good choice with the Enclave. As much as I want to love it, I am disappointed by the harshness of the ride. I wont downgrade the review for that, because it is so subjective. But, if you are expecting a cloud like ride....it is not there.

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  Very quiet, a surprisingly good ride & value - 2015 Buick Verano
  By GregR - August 5 - 9:00 pm

  6,500 on the odometer now and I have to comment how impressed I am with this car. We would have never bought a Buick, but after riding in one, before you buy something else you need to take this for a ride. Easy to get in and out of, comfortable seats, large trunk, lifetime 30MPG per the OnStar app, no issues at all, well laid out interior, nice fit and finish, and the engine and transmission work well together. We have the LEather group and the keyless ignition is awesome. This car is loaded with safety features, and when you compare to other models, and the price, you can no go wrong. Lane assist, forward facing camera, all the airbags, blind spot monitoring, self-dim rear mirror - all for an affordable price. I drive an Acura, a Jeep, Honda Civic, and another GM product, and this car is THE quietest of all of them. Reliability well wait and see, but so far not a single warranty claim. Were in for our first oil change in about 2 weeks, complements of Buick. Someone posted there is no back seat room. Im 64" and I dont need the front seat all the way back to be comfortable, and yes, someone can still sit behind me when Im driving. Sure, I can push the seat all the way back, but its not needed. This is no large 4-door sedan, so for the size car were talking about, the interior room is impressive. Dont pass this model up. You will be surprised as we were. (Exterior color is the upgraded White Pearl, with two-tone brown interior).

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  New 2015 FWD - 2015 Buick Encore
  By Jeff - July 28 - 3:06 pm

  Where to start? Been Toyota people for decades. Buick brought us back to GM. Certainly not built here nor does it have a majority of American made parts. Point is the Buick dealership wanted our business and had a smart, sharp looking vehicle to offer us. A week in to it and my wife and I both love it. Plenty of space for the two of us, empty nesters, and plenty of pep to get us around town and so far to where ever we want to go. Looks, feels and drives like something that will last us for years to come. At our age we driven alot of new cars. This does not feel cheap. On par with more expensive vehicles weve owned. And alot of features youd look for in higher end cars and SUVs. I have no reason to suggest not buying or leasing a Buick Encore.

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  Amazing... - 2015 Buick Enclave
  By M. King - July 27 - 9:18 pm

  This car exceeded my expectations. It is so comfortable and quiet and did I mention comfortable. Excellent safety features with great care and consideration on the part of Buick to successfully produce a true luxury SUV.

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  GREAT AUTOMOBILE - 2015 Buick Verano
  By howard - July 27 - 8:13 am

  I am 64", i have plenty of leg room. Beautiful riding car. Easy to read all the different things on the dashboard.plenty of trunk space. It is a very large trunk. Has the rar back up camera. Very helpful.