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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  Sinking floor - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By bstevens - February 24 - 2:47 pm

  I love my car. I feel great driving it. It handles so well.

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  2000 Bruick LeSabre Limited - 2000 Buick LeSabre
  By Ron Roesener - February 24 - 8:18 am

  This has been an excellent car. I hate to give it up as we have averavged 25mpg and this is a full size car. The front wheel drive with traction lock is amazing in the snow. Living in the mountains of Colorado this is a must. The car has 193,000 miles. Yes we had to put a new transmission in at 170000 miles but it was worth it.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Joe - February 23 - 4:34 pm

  By far, the best car Ive ever owned (including Lexus, Acura, BMW, etc). Quieter than all of the previous cars, comfortable and great use of space. Incredible amount of space considering exterior dimensions. This is the first car Ive ever owned that I will buy another of the same type.

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  Not your fathers Buick! - 2005 Buick LaCrosse
  By GM 3.8 fan - February 23 - 9:42 am

  I bought this CXL with the legendary 3.8 engine. It had 37,000 miles and was lightly used. I have driven it 7,000 miles. I love the 3.8 engine and GM got it right with the last of the series. Great around town mileage and good highway mileage. The original tires are about shot and I intend to upgrade with premium rubber. GM needs to put better original tires on its premium models. No problems and my mechanic has raved about the good deal I got from a VW dealer. The car depreciated to where a guy with two kids in college can afford a top line car for the cost of a tin can. My only complaint is that I wish the front leather seats were as nice as the European-style seats on my 1994 Bonneville.

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  Bitter Sweet - 2004 Buick Rainier
  By Tony1234 - February 22 - 7:52 am

  This 2004 AWD Rainier has major ongoing issues. Starting at 80,000 miles its one repair after another. I love the features, style and ride. I dont tow, off road or plow. I just drive like any normal person. All scheduled normal lube maintenance has been practiced as recommended by manufacture manual yet the AWD never seems to work. I replaced the transfer case, transmission, front differential, axles, 4 decoder motors, wiring harness and 2 front wheel sensors($9,000+)and the front wheels still dont work. This whole vehicle should have been recalled in my opinion. Oh! The speedometer is brke

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  Bulletproof - 1990 Buick LeSabre
  By Geech - February 21 - 1:29 pm

  I bought the car in 1995 and sold it several years ago. Bought it with 60,000 miles on it, and sold it with 240,000 miles on it. I sometimes regret selling it. In all those years and miles I spent zero time worrying about whether the car would make it from point A to point B. Apart from routine maintenance, all I had to do was replace the fuel pump (at 100,000), the radiator (at 150,000) and the exhaust (at 200,000) which had rusted out in the northern winters. Even my moms Camry (which has 220,000 miles on it) has required more repairs than the LeSabre. I loved the smooth ride & good gas mileage on the highway. I still miss that car sometimes.

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  Surprise - 2002 Buick Century
  By Alan Roberson - February 21 - 11:42 am

  Purchased this car new in 2002 for my wife, and as our primary vehicle for out of town trips. From the beginning the brakes squealed. A knock in the front end developed within the first year...EXACTLY like the previous 1999 Century we had. GM tried but never fixed it completely. Gotta be a design flaw for it to happen on both cars that we owned. Last week while my wife was driving to work a valve spring broke...major engine repair costs. This car has been babied and the oil religiously changed every 3000 miles. We are very disappointed as we thought wed have this car many more miles. Will keep as second car and buy a good Honda for primary.

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  Very Nice Vehicle - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By bayerjv01 - February 20 - 9:47 pm

  Had this 7 months now and it has been very reliable. More than adequate power, very comfortable and quiet. Fuel economy is good for a vehicle of this size configured to seat 7. I wish I got the AWD version - too easy to spin the tires on the FWD. Using mapquest and sending it to your GPS via Onstar is cool. Rear entertainment system has been well utilized. The power lift gate works well and I dont know if I would want an SUV without one again.

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  This aint your daddys Buick! - 2010 Buick LaCrosse
  By jbprice92 - February 17 - 4:26 pm

  Wow! I have had 10 cars in my life and only one did I love--a Mazda Millenia--this blows it out of the water. My husband and I went to the car show to look at cars--I was set on another Mazda until I saw the interior of this car. It is unreal. Beautiful and elegant and Oh what a ride!! I am 45 and feared the stigma of the "old person" Buick--but I got over that very quickly. I cant wait to get in this car and drive it. It is simply amazing. I compared it to the Lexus and it didnt even come close! If you are considering other models--go look at the interior of this car and then drive it. I guarantee it will blow you away.

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  The Best - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By wvg - February 15 - 3:54 pm

  Great suv, quiet, like as much as my S550 Mercedes, no problems, love the fold down seats, rear tail gate.