1997 Buick Skylark Review
Price Estimate: $300 - $498
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Spunky Twin Cam engine, standard ABS and traction control
Cons
- Cramped interior, uncomfortable driving position, low rear seating
What’s new
Skylark gets minimal revisions this year. The standard equipment list is expanded.
For sale near Nashua, NH
Vehicle overview
Give Buick's styling department credit for trying something new back in 1992. Too bad it didn't work very well. The Skylark's funky curves, creases, bulges and sharp edges inside and out combined to create quite a jarring spectacle. The result? The car was found more often at your local Avis lot than in private driveways.
Last year, Buick toned down the Skylark. Current front styling is far more conservative than the original design, and stylists have done what they could with the rear end. Side moldings are subdued, and now sweep front to rear less dramatically. Inside, the interior has been redone, and looks far more contemporary than the originaly bizarre arrangement. Dual airbags became available for the first time. Combined with a new standard engine, a 2.4-liter twin-cam good for 150 horsepower, and a revised antilock brake system, the Skylark made a quantum leap in marketability for 1996
This year, changes are understandably minimal. A front seat storage armrest is standard, and all Skylarks have an uplevel speaker system installed. Powertrain isolation is improved this year, and two new exterior colors debut. No longer available is a red interior (replaced by Pewter Gray), or Jadestone leather upholstery.
Until 1996, we found the Skylark to be an aberration, offering little value in the compact class. These days, we think it deserves a look, particularly in comparison to corporate cousins the Pontiac Grand Am and Oldsmobile Achieva.
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Buick Skylark Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
My parent's 97 skylark...
4.38 out of 5 starskslaughter322, 01/24/2012
1997 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan
Just got my permit in November, and love to drive this car. The controls are all easy to get to, It has a lot of power, very good handling, safe and smooth ride, but don't expect it to drive like a Caddy or Roadmaster. My parents made 2, 300 some mile trips from wv to ohio and had no issues to speak of. also, later on after I got my permit, we made a drive from oak hill, wv to … Grantsville, MD, and 3 weeks later Oak Hill, WV to Severn MD and again, no problems to speak of. And the car has around 119,500 miles on it. Have had the car a little over a year and it is very reliable. When I turn 16, I want a Skylark as a first car.
Takes a beating
4.13 out of 5 starsluvinit, 04/28/2006
1996 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan
I despised this vehicle when I first began to drive it because it is a "grandma" sedan. Over a year of driving it, i have learned to love it. I have had some pricy repairs but given the age, the mileage and some of the notorious parts that come with it standard, i had expected it. The parts I believe may be due to the dealership's, and the previous owners fault; they were in moderate … condition when purchased but went far downhill over the course of five years. My vehicle has had basicly everything worked on except for the lower portion of the engine. The repair costs that i have suffered are most likely not common given that the main notorious object in the vehicle, has just failed(tranny)
It Never Dies
4.75 out of 5 starsMr Blah Blah, 02/14/2009
1996 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan
I purchased this car from my father-in- law who put 112,000 miles on it. I have a 76 mile round-trip commute to work and go through about a tank of gas a week. I can get close to 400 miles off of one tank. Had a not-so-easy-to-find electrical problem with it, but once that was ironed out, no other problems. I now have 150,000 miles on it and love it. One of the most dependable cars I … have ever owned.
Grandma's 97 Buick skylark
3.63 out of 5 starsTerry, 12/07/2009
1997 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan
My Buick Skylark has only 35,000 miles and was my grandmother's from 1997- 2003. After she died I got the car and it is a great little car in perfect shape and reliable--until now. The water pump went and I found out that it takes hours to get to the pump and it costs $$$--$750.00 to replace it-- and a gasket too. Why did Buick design an engine that would be so hard to get to a water … pump. The mechanic suggested that as long as you are paying for the cost of labor to get to the water pump you should have several other somewhat related items fixed as well. I called the dealer to verify the extent in reaching the water pump and they verified this issue. Not good.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1997 Buick Skylark, so we've included reviews for other years of the Skylark since its last redesign.
1997 Skylark Highlights
Coupe
Custom
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 23 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $162/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 10.2 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- 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
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