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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  Shhhh! This is not Grandpas Buick! - 2011 Buick LaCrosse
  By lurker7 - September 20 - 11:37 pm

  14k miles....The ride, handling & acceleration are great! Ive previously owned German, Japanese, Ford & Chrysler...returning to try GM. Cadillac, Lincoln and Lexus do not compare in ride, handling & price in this category. I test drove them. Driver comfort is great! The AWD is sweet in Winter, but drops the MPG all year. Large blind spots side & rear, so you need the rear camera. Camera only comes with antiquated GM Navigation system with old maps. No DC plugs in dash for phones or GPS. Fuel filler is on passenger side. Fuel tank is too small.

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  Buick and Their Dealerships Have Issues - 2010 Buick LaCrosse
  By austin1982 - September 20 - 11:09 am

  My 2010 Lacrosse had issues from day 1 and the dealership in Delaware OH would not assist. I had to take it to another dealership to get the answers as to why the car pulled so badly. It had been dropped when taken off of the car carrier. They said this was common for that dealership. Once that was fixed the electrical system started to go. The sun roof just stopped working, the phone came on for no reason and the radio would change stations on its own. But none of this was consistant and never happened when left at the dealership. The quality of this vehicle was poor and the dealerships unresponsiveness is unexceptable. Im done with GM products.

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  Enclave Seats Poorly Designed for Booster Seats - 2011 Buick Enclave
  By lbardel - September 16 - 1:44 pm

  2nd & 3rd row seats are almost impossible to buckle using backless &"with-backs" toddler booster seats (infant car seats w/5-point harness are ok). The latch at bottom of the seat does not budge & presses against the booster so tightly, youll rub your knuckles raw trying to get the buckle in....also, the buckle is slightly angled making things even more difficult. I transport four 5-year-olds to Kndgarten & not one of them can buckle in......I bought 3 different brands of boosters, & nothing helps. Theres just not enough room on the seat for the booster to fit against the latch. Buick suggested a belt extender Buick later said NOT to use extender they are perplexed for solution.

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  This is a Buick? - 2011 Buick Regal
  By newbuckeye - September 16 - 7:21 am

  Traded in 2005 M-B C320 4-Matic for the Regal Turbo. Sick of excessive maintenance costs and local dealer trying to sell unneeded maintenance. Great salesman and price on the Buick from a great dealer. The old GM is dead and good riddance. This car handles better than my M-B, gets better mileage and is much quieter plus corners better. Have 600 miles on it and 25 mpg for 60-40 highway/city mileage. Drove Altima, Focus, Optima and Sonata. Only the Altima V-6 is comparable in the refinement department, but has harsher ride. Buick and Opel got this one right!

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  from south to west and back - 1998 Buick Skylark
  By ostewart - September 14 - 1:50 am

  as far as major repairs, this car has only needed the alternator, the solenoid, and the battery switched in 6 years of owning it. veeery dependable. drove from texas to washington state and back with no problems. reliable gas mileage for a GM car. trading this one in for a sebring lx coupe...going to be very sad to see this one go. can literally run forever with very little maintainence.

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  My second Buick is small and has half the cylinders - 2011 Buick Regal
  By my2ndbuick - September 11 - 4:00 pm

  I loved my Buick Lucerne with the 8-cylinder engine, it was huge, the ride was like sitting on a sofa, really comfortable, the back seats had space for two huge football players. I sold it after 4 1/2 years being a really reliable car. So I bought another Buick. But the Lucerne was rather big for my garage and I am usually driving alone or with my wife, so I do not need the huge legroom the back. I wanted a smaller car and lthe Regal looked nicer than the LaCrosse. I also liked that it had firmer seats. And I got a great deal, so I bought it now. I choose the non-turbo version as it is fast enough (my wife has the same engine in her Chevy SUV) and it is more economical.

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  The car for people who like cars. - 1999 Buick Regal
  By brls1999 - September 3 - 12:18 am

  Alright, so, i have had this car for around a year and you know what?.... i wouldnt trade it for the world! it has had its share of problems, not gonna lie. Infact, i have to spring for a new transmission at 200,000(km) because mine is destroyed. 2 windows dont work, the dash will sometimes go dark during night driving and i can see my speed or anything, it needs new front shocks and a muffler. But, this car stills rids good despite all this, it has never let me down and never left me stranded. I still get great gas mileage(car says 28 MPG in 25/75 city/hwy driving!) and great power output. and once i put a new transmission in, i know it will be great, just the way General Motors made it

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  Regal Turbo TO7 - 2011 Buick Regal
  By zorrolives - August 31 - 4:10 pm

  Excellent Build quality, lacks mid range torque, say above 45mph, not enough kick when asked, however low end is fine and improves greatly when tap shift manual mode is used. Biggest complaint is overly firm seats and no adjustment for lower back, (always trying to back it off but default sticks out way too far, should be able to adjust to make it flat. Also if you try and raise the seat up it wants to scissor closed, Germanys revenge perhaps? I do get alot of compliments on the exterior design, was asked if that was a Audi the other day.

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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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  going to miss my Rendezvous - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
  By hilzy - August 30 - 6:35 pm

  after reading some of the negative reviews I was a tad shocked! My Rendezvous is a 2003 CX and has 210,000km on it.... it has served me wonderfully! I am just sad they no longer make this car as I am now at the point of needing a newer vehicle. I maintained it well, and the car responded accordingly. The only maintenance outside of the usual wear and tear (brakes!) was a transmission replacement that was done under the warranty so did not cost me a penny. I LOVE this car and reluctantly am parting with it.