Buick Rainier
Encyclopedia
The Buick Rainier was a mid-size SUV sold by the Buick
division of General Motors
. Introduced for 2004 to replace the Oldsmobile Bravada
, the Rainier was the first truck
sold under the Buick marque (the unibody Rendezvous
might also qualify, as it is classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
as a light truck) since the 1920s, and was the first body-on-frame
V8-powered Buick since the 1996 Roadmaster
. It is also the first rear-wheel drive Buick since the Roadmaster. The Rainier was only available in a 5-passenger configuration, yet was one of only four GMT360 SUVs to offer a V8 engine
in this configuration along with the GMC Envoy
Denali, Saab 9-7X
5.3i, and Chevrolet TrailBlazer
LT (Optional) and SS. Both rear and all-wheel drive models were offered. An upscale CXL trim added a better Bose stereo and XM Satellite Radio
.
Most of the Rainier's body styling was a direct transfer from the Oldsmobile Bravada
, with a new front fascia bearing a resemblance to other Buick models.
Buick also debuted the QuietTuning sound insulation on the Rainier. Buick's QuietTuning involved designing a vehicle with sound dampening features like triple door seals, acoustic laminate glass, and thicker sound-absorbing pads on the hood and firewall.
The Rainier (as well as the Rendezvous
crossover and Terraza
minivan) were replaced by a new crossover SUV
, the Enclave
, on the GM Lambda platform
for 2008, spelling the end for a rear-wheel drive Buick once again.
However, GM ended production of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer
, GMC Envoy
, and Saab 9-7X
after the 2009 model year according to the GM Fleet website. The last of those three rolled off the line on December 23, 2008, because of the Moraine plant closing.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
(IIHS) gives the 2004 Rainer an overall Marginal score for front impacts while the 2005 and newer models are given an Acceptable score. In side impacts the Rainer was given an overall Marginal score with side airbags present.
Buick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
division of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
. Introduced for 2004 to replace the Oldsmobile Bravada
Oldsmobile Bravada
The Oldsmobile Bravada is a mid-size luxury sport utility vehicle from the now retired Oldsmobile marque of General Motors. There have been two different vehicles to bear this model name, the first and second-generation GMT330, and the 2002 to 2004 GMT360....
, the Rainier was the first truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
sold under the Buick marque (the unibody Rendezvous
Buick Rendezvous
The Buick Rendezvous, introduced in the spring of 2001 as a 2002 model year vehicle, was a Mid-size crossover SUV that was sold by the Buick division of General Motors for the 2002-2007 model years.-Background:...
might also qualify, as it is classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
as a light truck) since the 1920s, and was the first body-on-frame
Body-on-frame
Body-on-frame is an automobile construction method. Mounting a separate body to a rigid frame that supports the drivetrain was the original method of building automobiles, and its use continues to this day. The original frames were made of wood , but steel ladder frames became common in the 1930s...
V8-powered Buick since the 1996 Roadmaster
Buick Roadmaster
The Roadmaster was an automobile built by the Buick division of General Motors. Roadmasters produced between 1936 and 1958 were built on Buick's longest non-limousine wheelbase and shared their basic structure with senior Oldsmobiles. Between 1946 and 1957 the Roadmaster was Buick's top of the line...
. It is also the first rear-wheel drive Buick since the Roadmaster. The Rainier was only available in a 5-passenger configuration, yet was one of only four GMT360 SUVs to offer a V8 engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
in this configuration along with the GMC Envoy
GMC Envoy
The GMC Envoy is an SUV from the GMC marque of General Motors. It was introduced as a high-end version of the Jimmy for the 1998 model year, the same year the Jimmy was restyled...
Denali, Saab 9-7X
Saab 9-7X
The Saab 9-7X was a Saab-branded mid-size sport utility vehicle based on General Motors' GMT360 platform, which also included the GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Oldsmobile Bravada, Isuzu Ascender, and Chevrolet TrailBlazer The Saab 9-7X was a Saab-branded mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) based on...
5.3i, and Chevrolet TrailBlazer
Chevrolet TrailBlazer
The Chevrolet TrailBlazer is a mid-size sport utility vehicle produced by the Chevrolet division of American automaker General Motors.On November 10th, 2011, General Motors officially revealed a second generation of the vehicle to be sold worldwide...
LT (Optional) and SS. Both rear and all-wheel drive models were offered. An upscale CXL trim added a better Bose stereo and XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
.
Most of the Rainier's body styling was a direct transfer from the Oldsmobile Bravada
Oldsmobile Bravada
The Oldsmobile Bravada is a mid-size luxury sport utility vehicle from the now retired Oldsmobile marque of General Motors. There have been two different vehicles to bear this model name, the first and second-generation GMT330, and the 2002 to 2004 GMT360....
, with a new front fascia bearing a resemblance to other Buick models.
The Rainier (as well as the Rendezvous
Buick Rendezvous
The Buick Rendezvous, introduced in the spring of 2001 as a 2002 model year vehicle, was a Mid-size crossover SUV that was sold by the Buick division of General Motors for the 2002-2007 model years.-Background:...
crossover and Terraza
Buick Terraza
The Buick Terraza is a minivan from General Motors' Buick brand that was sold from the 2005 through 2007 model years. It filled the position of GM's luxury minivan that was previously occupied by the Oldsmobile Silhouette until the division's demise in 2004...
minivan) were replaced by a new crossover SUV
Crossover SUV
A crossover SUV is a vehicle built on a car platform and combining, in highly variable degrees, features of a sport utility vehicle with features from a passenger vehicle, especially those of a station wagon or hatchback.Using the unibody construction typical of passenger vehicles, the crossover...
, the Enclave
Buick Enclave
The Buick Enclave is a full-size crossover SUV launched in May 2007 as a 2008 model by the Buick division of General Motors. The Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse, and Saturn Outlook all share the GM Lambda platform. The Enclave was previewed at the 2006 North American International...
, on the GM Lambda platform
GM Lambda platform
Lambda is General Motors' full-size crossover SUV automobile platform. It is largely derived from the GM Epsilon platform, which underlies the Chevrolet Malibu sedan and similar models....
for 2008, spelling the end for a rear-wheel drive Buick once again.
However, GM ended production of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer
Chevrolet TrailBlazer
The Chevrolet TrailBlazer is a mid-size sport utility vehicle produced by the Chevrolet division of American automaker General Motors.On November 10th, 2011, General Motors officially revealed a second generation of the vehicle to be sold worldwide...
, GMC Envoy
GMC Envoy
The GMC Envoy is an SUV from the GMC marque of General Motors. It was introduced as a high-end version of the Jimmy for the 1998 model year, the same year the Jimmy was restyled...
, and Saab 9-7X
Saab 9-7X
The Saab 9-7X was a Saab-branded mid-size sport utility vehicle based on General Motors' GMT360 platform, which also included the GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Oldsmobile Bravada, Isuzu Ascender, and Chevrolet TrailBlazer The Saab 9-7X was a Saab-branded mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) based on...
after the 2009 model year according to the GM Fleet website. The last of those three rolled off the line on December 23, 2008, because of the Moraine plant closing.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that...
(IIHS) gives the 2004 Rainer an overall Marginal score for front impacts while the 2005 and newer models are given an Acceptable score. In side impacts the Rainer was given an overall Marginal score with side airbags present.
Engines
- 2004–2007 LL8 4.2 L (256 in³) I6Straight-6The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
- 2004–2007 5300 5.3 L (323 in³) V8
2007 model
- Available in CXL Trim Model
- Standard Rear Air Suspension
- Available all wheel drive
- OnStar Directions and Connections with turn-by-turn navigationTurn-by-turn navigationTurn-by-turn navigation is a feature of some GPS navigation devices where directions for a selected route are continually presented to the user in the form of spoken and visual instructions. The system keeps the user up-to-date about the best route to the destination, and is often updated according...
- Standard StabiliTrak
- Last Year for the Buick Rainier
- Heads-Up Display (projects speed & other info on the windshield)