1996 Buick Park Avenue Review
1996 Buick Park Avenue Review
View more photos
Used Park Avenue for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What’s new
Ultra gets new Series II supercharged engine as standard equipment, as well as magnetic variable effort steering gear. Colors and trim are revised, battery rundown protection is added, and long-life engine components keep the Park going longer between maintenance stops.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1996 Buick Park Avenue 4dr Sedan and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$213/mo for Park Avenue Base
Park Avenue Base
vs
$219/mo
Avg. Large Car
Vehicle overview
Sporting flowing, Jaguaresque lines, a long list of standard amenities, and all the luxury most buyers require, the Park Avenue offers value, style and performance in one reasonably priced package.
Look at the facts. This is a big sedan, able to accommodate six people and a good portion of their belongings. Fuel economy, a negligible issue what with all the cheap gas in the States, averages 24 miles-per-gallon. The Park Avenue blends European savvy and traditional Detroit luxoyacht feel into one very attractive package. Almost every imaginable feature is standard on this car, and base prices start around $27,000. The performance-oriented Ultra's supercharged V6 gets it to 60 mph much quicker than a Chrysler LHS, and its braking and handling are on a par with the much ballyhooed $45,000 Cadillac STS. This thing is a relative bargain.
For 1996, the supercharged Series II V6 debuts in the Park Avenue Ultra. Output is up 15 horsepower. The Ultra also gets magnetic variable effort steering. Colors change inside and out. Lockout protection is provided for the power door locks. Personal Choice allows drivers to program several remotely controlled features. Battery rundown protection is new for 1996, as are long-life spark plugs and engine coolant.
The only shortcoming this Buick has is the interior. Like the Roadmaster, the Park Avenue is chock-full of shoddy, shiny plastic trim. Ergonomic and aesthetic design were phrases the designer was apparently unfamiliar with. In trying to make the inside look as Jaguar-like as the outside, Buick succeeded in making the interior more reminiscent of an early Seventies Lincoln than anything out of Coventry.
So what if the Park Avenue doesn't give enthusiasts heart palpitations. It offers an outstanding blend of functionality, power and luxury that many premium sedans lack.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1996 Buick Park Avenue.
5 star(61%)
4 star(35%)
3 star(4%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
26 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Unexpectedly Wonderful Car
Suzath, 11/11/2006
1996 Buick Park Avenue 4dr Sedan
I bought this Park Avenue from a family friend with low miles after my Honda CRV was totalled in a head on collison. It would not have been my first choice having sworn myself to Honda and Toyota. I've reconsidered after owning this Buick with good gas mileage (20-22 city/ 30+ hwy) and a luxury interior (leather power interior) looking a bit like a luxury car compared to what I've driven … in past. Few repairs given the age of the vehicle. I performed regular maintenance. One comment on exterior design, when you open the windows first thing in the mornings the water will pour off into the car onto the power controls. For this reason buy vent visors or keep towels handy in the morning.
4.25 out of 5 stars
Not good looking but it's what is inside
bigticket42, 01/22/2006
1996 Buick Park Avenue 4dr Sedan
Bought this car for my wife. The car is not a great looking car but it has every feature you could want and more. This is one of the best used cars you can buy. First of all the styling only appeals to older people so you know the previous owner did not hotrod it Second of all the drive train in these cars is second to none. The gas mileage for a car this size on the highway is … extraordinary. Between 25-30 mpg at speeds of 77-80 MPH. The car has room for 4 adults very comfortably. The trunk is huge. The ride is very comfortable in every way. I have taken this car on all kinds of long trips with the family and it cannot be beat by any other car even from 2006.
5 out of 5 stars
This car was a godsend
Justin, 03/30/2016
1996 Buick Park Avenue 4dr Sedan
I needed a decent car as my daily driver was my 2001 Dodge Ram pickup with a lift getting about 12 mpg. An acquaintance bought this car for his son and he drove it hard for 2 years. Radiator blew and replaced with a new one, only maintenance issue he had. His son told him he needed to buy him a newer cooler car. Bad mistake as he had just turned 18. My acquaintance said first person to … give him $500 got the car and his son could go buy his own cool car. Best investment I have ever made. Had to replace the fuel pump and rear struts at 220k miles. I use this car for EVERYTHING. I run a small moving company and constantly use it to haul a car load of big dudes for long stretches. Equipment, pads etc on highway mpg it's never been worse than 31 mpg. I also use it every month to visit my son who lives 1300 miles away. By myself with luggage, presents etc it gets 34mpg. 34 mpg for that size, power and comfort. Don't worry I wouldn't believe me either.
I'm not sure why it gets slightly better mpg than what other people are posting. I know how to properly calculate and I swear highway is 31-34. City is 26-28. When gas was cheap I drove across the entire USA for $80.
The car is 20 years old and I get a lot of crap from my guys for it being a "grandma" car but really they love it
It rides so smooth, like a big old boat which makes the mpg even more outstanding. Ahead of it's time features like extra extra visors to keep the Sun out at all angles and passenger climate control. The buttons look clunky but it works. Also the trunk is huge. I can load 2 professional hand trucks, dozens of furniture pads, tools, equipment, suitcases, personal items etc.
The perfect combination of power, mpg and comfort was achieved 20 years ago with the 1996 Buick park Avenue. Bullet proof 380 engine still going strong at 230k miles. For $500 it's one of the best investments I've ever made. I love this car!
5 out of 5 stars
What a car!!!
dale thiel, 05/28/2002
1996 Buick Park Avenue 4dr Sedan
Here it is, a car with 90,000 miles
that runs and rides like a new one.
Great get up and go with a motor that
raps a measley 1600 rpm at 70 miles an
hour. Marvel Mystery oil added to the
gas improves the already fine milage. I
hope to never buy or own any other car
than a Park Avenue. This is my fifth.
1996 Park Avenue Highlights
Base
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 19 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $213/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 20.3 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5PassengerNot Rated
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
Related Used 1996 Buick Park Avenue info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used INFINITI Q60 Coupe 2019
- Used Buick Enclave 2021
- Used Toyota Sequoia 2021 For Sale
- Used Toyota Prius 2021
- Used BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe 2022
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
- 2024 Sprinter
- 2024 BMW iX
- Alfa Romeo Giulia 2023
- 2024 S90
- Porsche 718 Cayman 2023
- 2023 Kona
- 2023 Pickup
- 2025 Ford Explorer News
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Research other models of Buick
- Buick Enclave Car
- Buick Envision 2023
- 2023 Enclave
- Buick Encore GX
- Buick Envision
- 2023 Buick Encore GX
- Buick Envista
Other models
- Used Kia Ev9 in College Station, TX
- Used Hyundai Sonata in Lady Lake, FL
- Used Kia Soul in Carmel, NY
- New Nissan GT-R for Sale in Riverhead, NY
- Used Ford Fusion-Plug-In-Hybrid in South Lyon, MI
- Used Hyundai Sonata in Waldorf, MD
- Used Ford Contour in Mchenry, IL
- Used Chevrolet Bolt-Ev in Huntington Station, NY
- Used Aston-Martin DBX in College Station, TX
- Used Land-Rover Freelander in Vernon Hills, IL