Buick has quite a legacy, being one of the first all-American car manufacturers, but is it considered a luxury brand?
Buick is considered a luxury brand, although that label has slipped a little as the years have worn on. It’s a part of General Motors, who also owns Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac. While Buick isn’t considered as luxurious as Cadillac, it is more luxurious than the former two brands.
Read on to learn more about Buick and its vast legacy.
Built Like a Buick
In the United States, the term ‘Buick’ is almost synonymous with something large, heavy, and powerful. It’s a term used to describe something strong, sturdy, and often, reliable.
It’s an appropriate term, given that Buick was a well-known manufacturer of the fastest AFV (armored fighting vehicle) in U.S. military history. They designed and constructed the M18 Hellcat, a ‘tank destroyer’ that was deployed at the end of World War II, and through the Korean War.
While some car builders have offered parts to fighting vehicles, there are precious few that have built a tank from the ground up. For example, Rolls-Royce built the ‘Meteor’ engine, which the British Army would use in their tanks for almost two decades.
When it comes to road vehicles, Buick’s cars are known for their resilience, ability, and to some extent, their luxury. They’ve been a part of General Motors in the United States since 1908, and share their roster with names like Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac.
Of those, it’s Cadillac that takes the top spot, having been the most luxurious of the bunch for over a century. However, Buick likely sits just beneath them in the luxury stakes.
While they’re not comparable with brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, or Audi, Buick holds their own in the SUV and Crossover categories. In reality, although their vehicles are well-built and high-spec, they’re actually quite affordable.
You could pick up a Buick Encore for as little as twenty-three thousand dollars. That cost rises to around fifty-three thousand dollars for the Enclave Avenir, one of their finest models.
The latter vehicle is a versatile and impressive seven-seater SUV, fitted to the brim with extras. There’s a ten-speaker Bose sound system, heated seats throughout, tri-zone climate control, and in-car WiFi.
It’s built around a 3.6-liter V6 engine, capable of reaching top speeds of 130 miles-per-hour. Although it’s not as fast as the Tesla Model X or the Lamborghini Urus, it can go from zero to sixty in around seven seconds.
That’s one of the best examples of Buick’s modern-day luxury vehicles.
Leaving a Lasting Legacy
Buick is one of the oldest brands in the world, having been founded way back in 1899 as an Auto-Vim and Power company. However, in 1903 they expanded and included motor vehicles under their umbrella, with the Buick Motor Company being created.
In 1908, the founders of Buick created General Motors, a company that would one day come to own some of the largest car brands in America.
Since its inception, Buick was marketed as a top-tier brand, with vehicles costing above the average for market competitors. However, it quickly became a household name and, like we’ve said, synonymous with size, quality, and reliability.
The world has changed since the early twentieth century and today, more than eighty percent of all Buick vehicles are sold in China. They do have a market in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, but it’s in the Eastern nation where Buick sells best.
At the start of its climb to the top, Buick was a strong competitor. When the creators of Buick founded General Motors, Buick itself was producing around nine thousand vehicles a year.
This put it ahead of close competition like Ford and Oldsmobile, other All-American manufacturers. The popularity wore on, and Buick would come to experience a peak from the 1950s to the 1970s.
They built some of the most iconic American vehicles in history, which are famed all around the world for their retro and vintage look today. These include the Buick Special, the Buick Electra, and the Buick LeSabre.
These vehicles serve as a reminder for the ‘good old days’ of American vehicle manufacturing. At one point, the nation was at the top of the world, and many of the mid-century vehicles it created are collector’s favorites today.
Ultimately, it’s up to brands like GMC, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and of course, Buick, to continue carrying that torch.