1997-2005 Buick Century - Consumer Guide Automotive

Category	Buick Century Custom/Limited Rating (See All Ratings)

Performance	4

Fuel Economy	5

Ride Quality	6

Steering/Handling/Braking	4

Quietness	6

Controls/Materials	5

Interior Room	5

Room/Comfort (rear)	4

Cargo Capacity	5

Value within Class	6

Total Score:	50

Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category

Chart: One rating chart provided for a representative model

1997-2005 BUICK CENTURY BUYING RESOURCES

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1997-2005 Buick Century Review

After a 15-season run in its prior form, Buick's staple sedan finally earned a total redesign. Introduced early in 1997, months after the model year began, the midsize sedan rode a wheelbase more than four inches longer than before. Overall length grew by more than five inches. Only a 4-door sedan went on sale; the former station wagon body style was now extinct. Structurally related to the latest Pontiac Grand Prix and similar to Buick's Regal sedan, the Century contained dual airbags and antilock brakes. Buick offered two trim levels: Custom and more posh Limited. Both used a 160-horsepower, 3.1-liter V6 engine, driving a 4-speed automatic transmission. Both models came only with front and rear bench seats, giving Century full 6-passenger capacity--a rarity in the midsize sedan market.

Year to Year Changes

1998 Buick Century: Apart from reduced-power airbags, changes were few for 1998.

1999 Buick Century: Traction control went into '99 models, as did a standard tire-inflation monitor. The Century's suspension was retuned, in an attempt to reduce body lean in turns.

2000 Buick Century: Century's engine got a boost to 175 horsepower (up 15). Dual-zone climate control became standard, and a side airbag for the driver (but not the passenger) went into the Century Limited. A new Century 2000 Special Edition options package included a blacked-out grille and door moldings, body-colored exterior trim, alloy wheels, steering-wheel audio controls, and "Century 2000" emblems. The Limited's Special Edition group also included a split folding rear seatback.

2001 Buick Century: New for 2001 was a Special Edition option package for Custom models. GM's OnStar assistance system became standard rather than optional on Limiteds.

2002 Buick Century: Bucket seats became available for 2002.

2003 Buick Century: Appearance changes for '03 include a graphite and chrome grille and body-colored exterior trim. Inside, there's new door-pillar and roof-rail trim backed with energy-absorbing foam for head-impact protection. Antilock brakes and traction control were made optional on some models.

2004 Buick Century: Four-wheel disc brakes became standard and a side-impact airbag for the driver was a new option.

2005 Buick Century: Buick's entry-level car makes a brief 2005 model-year run before ending production in late 2004. Buick replaced it with a midsize sedan called LaCrosse.

1997-2005 Buick Century Road Test >

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