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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  If you can find it, buy it! - 2008 Buick Lucerne
  By Joe - November 8 - 4:38 pm

  Very reliable family sedan. My 4th Buick over 30 years. And I sold them too!!

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  SUPPORT YOUR OWN - 2015 Buick Encore
  By sallyann@iw.net - November 7 - 10:31 am

  Altho not made in the USA, at Least an American company. I have not owned an American car that has not been as good as or better than an import. The Encore is a Delight all around. A great comprimise for Room, Luxury, Cost , and MPG. I am 62" and have NO problems with Room I do have several Classic cars, and a Corvette and I enjoy driving the the Encore. It has a great feel, and works well on Long trips. I do Love the 30 MPG.

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  THE BEST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED! - 2005 Buick Terraza
  By Cheryl - November 5 - 12:10 pm

  I have owned 5 mini vans and this is the 5th and last. It is so comfortable and seats 7! The kids can watch movies or hook their xbox up to it. It has 2 household plugs in it, a compressor with an air hose! No matter how much weight there is in it, it adjusts in the rear and it is never sagged down. I have folded the seats down and put a full size refrigerator in it. It sits up high like an SUV, but, I LOVE the sliding doors in parking lots and the garage. It is front wheel drive, but, goes through snow like a charm!

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  Great work car or student car 2000 - 2000 Buick LeSabre
  By B burke - November 4 - 4:24 pm

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  Worst car ever - 2006 Buick Rendezvous
  By Frances G - November 3 - 6:05 am

  This is by far the worst investment I have ever made. It is one thing after another with this car. Once you fix one problem another arises. To start with it was a speed sensor(wheel bearing) then is was the oil sensor. Then it got to the point where EVERY TIME I fuel up the car would not want to start again. I would literally have to wait 2-3 minutes and still press the gas before it would start again (how embarrassing) very inconvenient. And to top it off last night the battery light came on. I know what you r thinking "simple fix" turns out no. I will have to put it I The garage to find out if it is a problem with the computer, transmission, or the engine. I have had it with this car. I will NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER BUICK EVER!!! All of these problems I am having seem to be common problems if you check other reviews however, there have been no recalls or even attempt to fix these problems. I am done with this vehicle. I also now have a light that says reduced engine power and it will not go more than 30mph.

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  Quiet and smooth - 2015 Buick Enclave
  By Does it matter? - November 1 - 9:12 am

  Bought a fully loaded model in September of 2015. Im fairly tall and leg room was a big concern for me, so my options were somewhat limited. We wanted a mid-sized SUV but ended up with a large SUV because we liked the comfortable seating so much. The ride is great! It is exceptionally quiet and smooth. You can spread out and make yourself comfortable. The engine is a bit undersized but I dont push it so it works fine. There arent enough cup holders up front for such a big car, my old Toyota Seqouia (sp?) had about 100. And the space for storing stuff isnt all that good. I added an aftermarket cell phone holder which really helped. We charge our phones from the back USB ports to save on clutter. The interior looks luxurious. The AC seats rock, but I wish they were stronger. My biggest complaint is the driver side seat has something that pokes me in the thigh and is uncomfortable - I plan on addressing this at my first (complimentary) servicing. The sun roof is small but doesnt blow you away when open so I ride with it open almost everyday. Mileage is terrible. I drive in So Cal traffic everyday and knew this before buying it from other reviews. The infotainment system is pretty good, but the favorites could be a little easier to work with. The navigation system is a joke. Voice control is non-existent even after taking it to the dealer to get it fixed. Not the biggest issue because I trust my cell phone navigation more anyway. Swapping from my phone to my wifes phone via Bluetooth is easy. I plan on not renewing the satellite radio because I can get everything I need from my cell phone at a fraction of the cost. The Bose stereo system is fantastic - makes me wish I listened to louder music. Needs to have a push button start it has everything else, Im cant believe they left this out. The remote start is a nice feature. Safety features like blind spot detection and front collision warning are extremely helpful. The rear backup camera is very helpful, but I have seen clearer cameras on other vehicles. Tons of space on the inside! More storage than we commonly use. Suggestion: if/when you buy this car make sure you speak with a knowledgeable salesperson who can show you the features. I would buy this car again.

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  just a good car - 2003 Buick Century
  By johnbortz - October 29 - 11:57 am

  Bought this car used high mileage but this car was garaged and well maintained. has a few minor maintenance issues to be taken care of need motor for the windshield washer sprayer. a couple of new front tires and a coolant flush normal maintenance! before winter otherwise should be ready for the cold winters here in Montana. owned a 88 Oldsmobile 96 and it went three years with very little repairs. hope the century can give me a least 3 to 4 years service. this car looks sharp and seems to get pretty good gas mileage. hopefully will buy a newer one in the future.

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  Good Car, but some Disappointments - 2015 Buick Regal
  By Karina Espinoza - October 27 - 4:13 pm

  Im about 8,000 miles into my 2015 Buick Regal (Premium II) class and Ive had it for about 7 months now. It drives really well and feels comfortable enough behind the wheel However the interior has a few problems. In order for me to access the window/lock buttons I have to contort my body a bit and bend my arm considerably (Im 6 1"), its not natural. Also, for me to access the storage console in the center, I have to reach back and put my body and arm in an awkward and uncomfortable position to open it... Basically, should not do this while driving as it can be dangerous. My other cars allowed my arms to comfortably go off the steering wheel and to the window switch with ease rather than have to start bending and contorting... Same with the center storage console. Visibility while backing up and changing lanes is not so good. You really have to depend on the camera However, the camera in my vehicle is too bright during the day and has poor detail, so its not very reliable. Finally, the "Infotainment" console has had some glitches in just the 7 months, which makes me feel its just a matter of time before something goes bad: 1) Within 3 Months the temperature gauge stopped working consistently... it takes about 10 minutes to start gauging the right temperature outside. 2) twice Ive entered my car to a loud buzzing sound that stopped once I turned the vehicle on. 3) twice Ive pressed my ignition button and the car wouldnt wouldnt start (as if the battery was dying). 4) Several times when Ive turned my vehicle on, the console has "glitches out" shut off and then turned back on. 5) Once, after reversing and going into drive, the parking camera stayed on for the entire time I was driving and never switched back to my radio/console view. 6) Many times Ive adjusted the volume and it switched my radio channel instead. I took it in once for a minor issue and told them about the issues and they said there was nothing they could really do about it yet.

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  First Buick after five Cadillacs - 2015 Buick Regal
  By Daniel Wal - October 25 - 8:51 am

  So, after five Cadillacs (3 STSs, and 2 CTSs), I decided to try the Buick Regal. I liked the size and fuel economy (we commute 150 miles daily). I couldnt stand the CUE interface in the Cadillac and was a little dismayed that the same basic system is used in the Buick. I have to say, though, that it works much better in the Buick - there are hard buttons for the climate controls and radio - very nice. The individual temp controls and seat heater controls are a weird touch-panel that doesnt work very well - Buick should have just used hard buttons like the rest of the climate controls. The front seats are very comfortable and there is plenty of room. The center console is a bit small, as is the glove box, but this is a fairly small vehicle so I guess thats to be expected. The back seat looks nice, but it also looks very cramped although my 56" mom doesnt complain at all, even when she sits behind the driver seat (Im 64"). The trunk is spacious and the Premium I package includes almost everything my Caddys had (except, alas, ventilated seats). Driving dynamics are great - shes fast, fluid, and agile. Passing is a piece of cake, the brakes are monsters, and the ride is well-controlled (definitely not grandmas Buick). The Navigation, like CUE and other GM products is flaky - we end up using our phones more than the cars nav. Also, the split functionality (between the nav and the instrument panel) is a very strange design - sometimes the system initially finds a destination, but then the navigation system cannot... routing is also terrible... more than once GMs Navigation systems have tried taking us down non-existent roads. Fuel economy is great for the size and performance. The 2.0 Turbo is plenty powerful and we always use premium "Top Tier" gasoline.

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  Great - 1999 Buick LeSabre
  By Nany - October 24 - 12:52 pm

  I got this as my first car when I turned 18 (which was 4 years ago) and at over 207,000 miles its still going strong. Ive never had any problems, Ive never been left stranded. The only thing Ive had to repair is the gas pump and minor details. The car is not the best looking but for the year it was made this car is great