General Motors’ near-luxury brand lives a step below Cadillac in the lineup. A part of the corporation since GM’s founding in 1908, Buick surged to popularity with the African-American community in the 1950s, offering prestige and glamour. The Electra 225, introduced in 1959, became the chariot of choice for an entire generation of African-American drivers. The “deuce and a quarter’s” street cred rivaled that of Cadillac back in the day. That popularity hasn’t waned in recent years, and the brand has experienced a resurgence in recent years thanks to the introduction of Tiger Woods as its spokesperson, a growing presence in the rapidly expanding Chinese car market, the popularity of Buick’s trademark “porthole” fender trim as an aftermarket accessory and a brilliant new range of products including the Enclave full-size crossover.
‘Is this a minivan?‘ someone asked as they climbed into the 2008 Buick Enclave. The second-row captain‘s chairs do give that impression, but the Enclave is not a minivan. If anything, it‘s the vehicle that killed the minivan, or so Buick would like you to believe.
After a few years of messing around with SUVs and minivans and whatever the heck you call the Rendezvous, Buick has finally decided to get back to what it knows best; great big sedans. The brand made its name in the U.S. auto scene with long, low and luxurious sedans, and for 2006 it returned to the market with the all-new Lucerne.
