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:

• 

  Only liked it - 2002 Buick Rendezvous
  By MOM - June 29 - 3:44 pm

  I bought my Rendezvous 2 yrs old from a dealership. The A/C was not working and two weeks later, the wheel bearings on the front went out. I had to pay 1/2 on the wheel bearings to the dealership because they claimed it wasnt covered on the warranty I purchased, saying it was "normal wear and tear". But, Id only had the vehicle two weeks and couldnt have done that damage. They decided to charge me 1/2 to fix it. I thought it odd that a vehicle only 2 years old had such problems. I have not had any other problems and really the vehicle.

• 

  Nice ride, easy entry - 2005 Buick Rendezvous
  By jack - June 25 - 2:52 pm

  We strongly recommend this vehicle for those who have relatives that have trouble getting into a car. This was the case with my inlaws, with my father-in-law having two hip replacements. The Buicks ride is very smooth. It feels much like a full size passenger car and the road noise is low.

• 

  Best car I ever owned - 2005 Buick LeSabre
  By robert delalio - June 23 - 10:49 pm

  This car has been a total joy on long trips. It is a comfortable, safe car. The great gas mileage and low usual maintenance cost have been excllent. Dealer support has been excellent.

• 

  Surprisingly Good - 2004 Buick Rainier
  By rainer owner - June 21 - 11:04 pm

  This is my first GM product in many, many years. With 13,000 miles on the odometer, the vehicle has been completely reliable. The only visits to the dealer have been for oil changes. It rides very well and is extremely quiet, much better than a Pathfinder that I owned in the past. I am pleasantly suprised.

• 

  2005 Buick LaCrosse CXL - 2005 Buick LaCrosse
  By Gary Vandervest - June 21 - 3:56 pm

  The car has good pickup and the engine is smooth. I have to look at the tachometer to make sure the idling engine is running. It is a comfortable car and my last two cars were a 1997 Cadillac and a 2001 Olds Aurora. City driving yields 18-19 mpg...may get better. I have not had it on an extended highway trip but expect to get 30 mpg. Have had no problems the first four months.

• 

  Review on 04 Rondevous - 2004 Buick Rendezvous
  By Frank Wollam - June 20 - 2:00 am

  Mileage reasonably good, very good ride, excellent turning ratio and can seat 5 or even 7 very nicely. Blind spot on right rear not good, but fun to drive and overal very good and nice looking. We are quite pleased.

• 

  Great Value - 2005 Buick LaCrosse
  By cozumel retreat - June 16 - 9:11 am

  Very comfortable and quiet, I bought the CXL and have been very pleased thus far. Fit and finish is excellent. Great price if you get the Smart Buy rebate (dont forget to pay it off asap if you think you are going to exceed the mileage limits), drive out was $20,450 on a sticker of $28,000.

• 

  LaCrosse - 2005 Buick LaCrosse
  By Epr7339 - June 10 - 10:08 am

  I am a 19 year old male. This is the 2nd Buick that I have owned. The car is just alright. I think that the mileage is really bad! I dont find the seats to be good on long trips. The car never shifts right when going down hills. It feels like it is up shifting and down shifting on its own. The dealer told me that they did a software update on it to fix it. The fix works most of the time. If I had to do it all over I would not buy this car. This car is nice in a lot of way but also needs work in a a lot of areas as well.

• 

  Great Car!! - 2005 Buick LaCrosse
  By Great Car!! - June 8 - 4:35 pm

  I traded a 2000 Regal GS for an almost fully equipped CXS Lacrosse. What an improvement in quality, fit and finish. It drives like a German car, not quite as tight as a BMW but that is what I like about American cars, they are like driving your easy chair around! Off the line performance cant compare to the supercharged Regal. The CXS loses roughly 60ft/lbs of torque from the SC 3800. Sometimes I wonder who makes decisions like this. Once going though, acceleration is nice. The sunroof is extremely dissappointing to me. Air noise is high when open and the worst part is the roof glass goes up over the roof. It doesnt tuck inside the roof like most others! That isnt refinement to me!

• 

  Disappointed - 2005 Buick LaCrosse
  By C.Werth - May 30 - 2:10 pm

  Well, it isnt as quiet as the ads proclaim. Tire noise, interior rattles, and a constant buzzing sound from the dash after starting that the dealership cannot fix. I wish I had waited for next years model. Perhaps, the bugs would have been worked out. Im ready to trade it after only 6,000 miles.