Skip to main content

2004
Buick Rainier

Starts at:
$35,645
Shop options
New 2004 Buick Rainier
See ratings
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Shop Cars.com
Browse cars & save your favorites
Dealers near you
Find & contact a dealership near you
no listings

We're not finding any listings in your area.
Change your location or search Cars.com to see more!

Change location

Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr CXL RWD
    Starts at
    $35,645
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L6
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr CXL Plus RWD
    Starts at
    $36,695
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L6
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr CXL AWD
    Starts at
    $37,595
    15 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L6
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr CXL Plus AWD
    Starts at
    $38,645
    15 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L6
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Notable features

290-hp V-8
Air suspension
RWD or AWD
Premium amenities
DVD player and navigation system available

The good & the bad

The good

Performance of V-8
Manageable size
Ride comfort with air suspension
Quietness
Stability

The bad

Five-passenger capacity
Fuel economy
Step-up height
Instruments

Expert 2004 Buick Rainier review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

Goodwill Ambassador
2004 Buick Rainier SUV

It was a night of beautiful traffic. The sky was clear, the moon full. The roads were salted, and the drivers on the New Jersey Turnpike were kind.

Maybe it was the cold. The nocturnal scene was frigid, 12 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Buick Rainier’s outside temperature monitor.

Only a committed hothead would raise hell in that kind of deep freeze. Anger needs heat. None was climatically available. This was good.

The Buick Rainier sport-utility vehicle, new for 2004, is a luxury liner. Although it is built body-on-frame in the manner of traditional SUVs and pickup trucks, it is better suited to peaceful cruising than combat. It is a living room on wheels, best enjoyed at a casual pace, even with the optional 5.3-liter, 290-horsepower V-8 engine in the tested Rainier CXL AWD model.

That does not mean the Rainier is weak. It shares a platform with the GMC Envoy and Chevrolet TrailBlazer, its ostensibly tougher midsize SUV cousins.

The difference, especially in comparison with the TrailBlazer, is that the Rainier is more refined and more politically acceptable.

The TrailBlazer, for example, looks very much like traditional SUVs: square-bodied, rugged, borderline military. It easily could be called the TrailConqueror.

But the Rainier eschews more-macho-than-thou exterior design. It is sleek, car-like, people-friendly. The trademark oval Buick grille mimics a smile. The Rainier’s overall demeanor, inside and out, bespeaks family — albeit a family with a big household income.

There is something reasonable about the Rainier’s proportions. Nowadays, car companies have gotten it in their heads that all SUVs must have third-row seats — that such vehicles must be able to accommodate at least seven people. It is a silly notion.

Few of us drive around with six passengers in tow. That being the case, where is the urgent need for stretching midsize SUVs into something larger to carry seven people? Or, worse, for jamming a third-row “seat” into the rear quarters of a midsize SUV?

The Rainier answers those questions by providing sumptuous seating for five people — no more. It’s an SUV, not a school bus. I like that; and I liked it even more on the drive to Northern Virginia from New York with two family members.

There is peace in space, and the Rainier offers lots of interior space along with a couple of optional “space heaters,” such as those installed in the driver’s and front passenger’s seats in the tested vehicle.

Equipped properly, the all-wheel-drive Rainier CXL can be taken off road. But why would anyone want to do that? The Rainier has a premium exterior paint job and pretty, 17-inch, brushed aluminum wheels. The interior, though largely a work of top-grade vinyl, has leather-surface seating, thick carpeting, and (in the test model) an optional B ose stereo system. Does anyone really want to take that package through thickets, over rocks and fallen logs? I don’t think so, even though the Rainier has a suspension system — independent front suspension, and air springs with load-leveling capability in the rear — that could handle light-to-moderate off-road tasks.

Frankly, I prefer thinking of the Rainier as an excellent station wagon, one that offers an SUV’s high-riding view of the road along with the stability and grace of a well-tuned, large sedan.

You aren’t going to win any road races with it. Inasmuch as the Rainier is not the least bit intimidating, you aren’t going to frighten anyone into giving you more than your share of the road either. It’s just a nice, friendly, very useful and enjoyable vehicle — sort of like a good neighbor. Perhaps it should have been called the Buick Ambassador.

Nuts & Bolts

Downside: Some of my peers in the automotive media complain about the amount f vinyl inside the Rainier. I think that’s nanny-nanny-boo-boo nitpicking. Many car companies, foreign and domestic, use vinyl interiors, especially in SUVs. Buick isn’t doing anything unusual.

Ride, acceleration and handling: Lovers of big sedans will applaud the graceful Rainier in all three categories. Truck lovers won’t — they want something hard. The Rainier is a tad soft.

Head-turning quotient: The Rainier is a statesman among SUVs, large or small. It has a dignity and acceptability reminiscent of the Volvo XC90, the first SUV to win a measure of acceptance among the anti-SUV crowd.

Layout/body style: The front-engine Rainier is available as an all-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive vehicle. It has traditional body-on-frame construction with four doors and a hatch.

Engine/transmission: Two engines are available: a standard 4.2-liter, inline-six that develops 275 horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute and 275 foot-pounds of torque at 3,600 rpm; and the optional, tested 5.3-liter V-8 that develops 290 hp at 5,200 rpm and 325 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm.

Mileage: I averaged 18 miles per gallon in mostly highway driving.

Safety: Standard four-wheel, heat-dissipating, vented disc brakes with anti-lock system; rear-wheel-electronic traction control; available side-impact air bags.

Price: Base price is $37,345. Dealer’s invoice price is $33,797. Price as tested is $41,040, including $3,110 in options and a $685 destination charge.

Purse-strings note: Watch those options! Compare with Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer Limited and Toyota Highlander Limited.

2004 Buick Rainier review: Our expert's take
By

Goodwill Ambassador
2004 Buick Rainier SUV

It was a night of beautiful traffic. The sky was clear, the moon full. The roads were salted, and the drivers on the New Jersey Turnpike were kind.

Maybe it was the cold. The nocturnal scene was frigid, 12 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Buick Rainier’s outside temperature monitor.

Only a committed hothead would raise hell in that kind of deep freeze. Anger needs heat. None was climatically available. This was good.

The Buick Rainier sport-utility vehicle, new for 2004, is a luxury liner. Although it is built body-on-frame in the manner of traditional SUVs and pickup trucks, it is better suited to peaceful cruising than combat. It is a living room on wheels, best enjoyed at a casual pace, even with the optional 5.3-liter, 290-horsepower V-8 engine in the tested Rainier CXL AWD model.

That does not mean the Rainier is weak. It shares a platform with the GMC Envoy and Chevrolet TrailBlazer, its ostensibly tougher midsize SUV cousins.

The difference, especially in comparison with the TrailBlazer, is that the Rainier is more refined and more politically acceptable.

The TrailBlazer, for example, looks very much like traditional SUVs: square-bodied, rugged, borderline military. It easily could be called the TrailConqueror.

But the Rainier eschews more-macho-than-thou exterior design. It is sleek, car-like, people-friendly. The trademark oval Buick grille mimics a smile. The Rainier’s overall demeanor, inside and out, bespeaks family — albeit a family with a big household income.

There is something reasonable about the Rainier’s proportions. Nowadays, car companies have gotten it in their heads that all SUVs must have third-row seats — that such vehicles must be able to accommodate at least seven people. It is a silly notion.

Few of us drive around with six passengers in tow. That being the case, where is the urgent need for stretching midsize SUVs into something larger to carry seven people? Or, worse, for jamming a third-row “seat” into the rear quarters of a midsize SUV?

The Rainier answers those questions by providing sumptuous seating for five people — no more. It’s an SUV, not a school bus. I like that; and I liked it even more on the drive to Northern Virginia from New York with two family members.

There is peace in space, and the Rainier offers lots of interior space along with a couple of optional “space heaters,” such as those installed in the driver’s and front passenger’s seats in the tested vehicle.

Equipped properly, the all-wheel-drive Rainier CXL can be taken off road. But why would anyone want to do that? The Rainier has a premium exterior paint job and pretty, 17-inch, brushed aluminum wheels. The interior, though largely a work of top-grade vinyl, has leather-surface seating, thick carpeting, and (in the test model) an optional B ose stereo system. Does anyone really want to take that package through thickets, over rocks and fallen logs? I don’t think so, even though the Rainier has a suspension system — independent front suspension, and air springs with load-leveling capability in the rear — that could handle light-to-moderate off-road tasks.

Frankly, I prefer thinking of the Rainier as an excellent station wagon, one that offers an SUV’s high-riding view of the road along with the stability and grace of a well-tuned, large sedan.

You aren’t going to win any road races with it. Inasmuch as the Rainier is not the least bit intimidating, you aren’t going to frighten anyone into giving you more than your share of the road either. It’s just a nice, friendly, very useful and enjoyable vehicle — sort of like a good neighbor. Perhaps it should have been called the Buick Ambassador.

Nuts & Bolts

Downside: Some of my peers in the automotive media complain about the amount f vinyl inside the Rainier. I think that’s nanny-nanny-boo-boo nitpicking. Many car companies, foreign and domestic, use vinyl interiors, especially in SUVs. Buick isn’t doing anything unusual.

Ride, acceleration and handling: Lovers of big sedans will applaud the graceful Rainier in all three categories. Truck lovers won’t — they want something hard. The Rainier is a tad soft.

Head-turning quotient: The Rainier is a statesman among SUVs, large or small. It has a dignity and acceptability reminiscent of the Volvo XC90, the first SUV to win a measure of acceptance among the anti-SUV crowd.

Layout/body style: The front-engine Rainier is available as an all-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive vehicle. It has traditional body-on-frame construction with four doors and a hatch.

Engine/transmission: Two engines are available: a standard 4.2-liter, inline-six that develops 275 horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute and 275 foot-pounds of torque at 3,600 rpm; and the optional, tested 5.3-liter V-8 that develops 290 hp at 5,200 rpm and 325 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm.

Mileage: I averaged 18 miles per gallon in mostly highway driving.

Safety: Standard four-wheel, heat-dissipating, vented disc brakes with anti-lock system; rear-wheel-electronic traction control; available side-impact air bags.

Price: Base price is $37,345. Dealer’s invoice price is $33,797. Price as tested is $41,040, including $3,110 in options and a $685 destination charge.

Purse-strings note: Watch those options! Compare with Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer Limited and Toyota Highlander Limited.

Safety review

Based on the 2004 Buick Rainier base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Nhtsa rollover rating
3/5

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
6 years / 100,000 miles
Powertrain
3 years / 36,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
5 model years or newer / up to 75,000 miles
Basic
12 months / 12,000 miles bumper-to-bumper original warranty, then may continue to 6 years / 100,000 miles limited (depending on variables)
Dealer certification
172-point inspection

Consumer reviews

4.2 / 5
Based on 23 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.4
Interior 4.2
Performance 4.4
Value 3.9
Exterior 4.4
Reliability 4.3

Most recent

  • This is the one that got away! My own fault.

    I had my Rainier for 10 years with very few problems. Wish I had never sold it. I loved that car! Looking for another I can afford!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    13 people out of 13 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Buick Rainer perfect suv

    Front Seats 8 -way power driver seat8 -way power passenger seatBucket front seatsHeight adjustable driver seatHeight adjustable passenger seatLeatherDriver seat with power adjustable lumbar supportPassenger seat with power adjustable lumbar support Rear Seats Rear ventilation ducts with fan controlSplit-folding rear seatback Power Features 2 one-touch power windowsRemote keyless power door locksHeated mirrorsPower mirrorsReverse tilt passenger mirror provides curb view when vehicle in reverse Instrumentation ClockCompassExternal temperature displayLow fuel level warningTachometerTrip computer Convenience Cruise controlFront and rear cupholdersFront door pocketsFront seatback storageOverhead console with storagePower steeringRetained accessory powerTilt-adjustable steering wheelUniversal remote transmitter (for garage door, security system, etc.)12V rear power outlet(s)Audio controls on steering wheel Comfort Cargo area lightElectrochromatic inside rearview mirrorFront and rear reading lightsLeather steering wheelSimulated wood trim on center consoleSimulated wood trim on dashSimulated wood trim on doorsTurn signal in mirrorsClimate controlDual illuminating vanity mirrorsRear floor mats Memorized settings Memorized settings for 2 drivers In Car Entertainment 6 total speakersBose premium brand speakersMast antennaRadio data systemSatellite radio satellite radioSeparate rear audioSpeed sensitive volume controlAM/FM stereo EXTERIOR FEATURES Roof and Glass Intermittent rear wiperPrivacy glassRear defoggerRoof rackVariable intermittent wipers Truck Features Auxiliary transmission fluid cooler Tires and Wheels Alloy wheelsFullsize matching spare tireUnderbody mounted spare tire17 x 7.0 in. wheelsAll season tiresP245/65R17 tiresSteel spare wheel Doors Manual flip-up lifgate windowRear liftgate door Towing and Hauling Cargo tie downsTrailer hitchTrailer wiring SAFETY FEATURES Safety 2 front headrests2 rear headrestsAuto delay off headlampsChild seat anchorsCornering lightsDaytime running lightsDusk sensing headlampsElectronic brakeforce distributionEngine immobilizerFront fog/driving lightsPost-collision safety systemRemote anti-theft alarm systemTraction control4-wheel ABSFront and rear ventilated disc brakesRear center 3-point beltRear door child safety locksRear height adjustable headrestsTurn signal mirrors
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    8 people out of 8 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Don't buy this truck!

    Bought used 2 years ago first month ok,then after prev owner had, I called it quits replaced almost everything, power steering and air conditioning needed to b replaced, the engine light came on and a bunch of other things failed. When the transmission started to slip and ultimately would refuse to work at all, I called it quits. I had already spent 2 times more than I did for the truck. I came to find out that the manufacturer, Buick, knew all about these problems and instead of recalling the parts they slithered out of responsibility by issuing Technical Alerts rather than Recalls. Today it is being Junked for $200 dollars, a far cry from it's cost of $5,700. Today I am car or rather truck less for a very, very, very, very long time.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 1.0
    Interior 2.0
    Performance 1.0
    Value 1.0
    Exterior 2.0
    Reliability 2.0
    4 people out of 8 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Nice SUV

    Very happy with the 04 Bjick Rainier CXL... purchased it used with 90K miles ....The 4.2L, IL 6 cyl is a good fit in this model....very comfortable, well designed and capable.....The AWD does excellent in snow, with all season Bridgestone Dueller tires, the Rainier walked right through 8" of snow covered, un maintained, Ozark Mountain roads...never lost traction once in a 30 mile trip....Fits our family perfectly with plenty of cargo space....Nicest vehicle we've owned.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    5 people out of 5 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Look it over GOOD, many EXPENSIVE repairs at 140,0

    Bought ours with slightly over 140,000 miles, had MAJOR trouble with front wheel drive, trouble shot it trying to forestall the most expensive fix, the front differential (find it hard to believe no one else has discussed this, as they are notorious for THAT failure)! Got into it fairly cheap, have a fortune in it, so I'm stuck for now (in to deep), hoping for a bit of GOOD LUCK to offset ALL the BAD! Like I said look it over GOOD, and listen for a growl out of the front differential!!! HOPING you have better luck then I!!!!!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 2.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 1.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • I love my suv

    I love my suv. It fits all my needs and is very reliable. I would recommend this suv to anyone spending a lot of time on the road.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Super nice ride

    Got this used. It is a really nice ride. Super optioned out. Has air ride suspension. Do not know why GM stopped making these.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • A Eventual Disappointment

    My wife fell in love with the 2004 Rainier when they initially came out, so we traded in our Blazer for one. Very roomy, comfortable, quiet, and nice ride for long trips. After time the nickel and dime stuff starting happening: module lights on the dash, arm rest, and steering column were burning out regularly (and they're expensive!); right front fender well was coming loose; speedometer quit working on two occasions; driver's side seat warmer broke down continuously; and the rear end air suspension would no longer steady the vehicle in its proper posture -- it often bottomed out sitting overnight in the garage and would raise up after ignition, a real annoyance. Numerous so-called fixes never worked. Finally got fed up and went with a Subaru. In summation, this vehicle had features new to the market and GM was behind the times correcting the problems that came associated with it. Most expensive vehicle we had purchased and nowhere near the value.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 2.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 2.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • The only car i?ve had thin most problems with

    Over the years and use of this vehicle. The vehicle aged very badly. The only good thing about his vehicle is the ac
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 2.0
    Interior 1.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 1.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Great value

    Purchased my rainier as a GM certified used car with about 40K miles on it. Have had it for now for 11 years with over 200K miles. Other than the normal maintenance items like water pump and bushings and bearings etc. the car has been rock solid. Only two repairs were unexpected a bit of a disappointment. One cat-converter at just over 100K and A/C compressor at about 125K. I check fluids regularly and try to be proactive in replacing parts that are reaching their end of life. Best car I have ever owned. Starting to look for a lower mileage one as a replacement. Great in rain and snow..
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Most smooth driveable car I ever drove.

    It's luxury with a dvd player and navigation system way before it's time. I can drive to utah look at mountains and have a joyful ride back to Florida watching a movie. It makes you feel like you're home.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • used suv

    I needed a vehicle fast. went to the car lot and spotted this beauty. Its a 2004 and it had 153000 miles. i drove it from Pensacola, FL to Selma, Al with no problems. The A/c blew cold all the way. All the electric system works, seats work, dvd player and dual radio/CD/tape player works. the Bose speakers gives it a clean sound. Absolutely everything works. This is my first SUV but not my first choice. I am glad i chose the Luxury SUV. Gassing it is expensive but worth it
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No

Latest news from cars.com

See all news

Buick dealers near you

FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2004 Buick Rainier?

The 2004 Buick Rainier is available in 2 trim levels:

  • CXL (2 styles)
  • CXL Plus (2 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2004 Buick Rainier?

The 2004 Buick Rainier offers up to 16 MPG in city driving and 21 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2004 Buick Rainier reliable?

The 2004 Buick Rainier has an average reliability rating of 4.3 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2004 Buick Rainier owners.

Is the 2004 Buick Rainier a good SUV?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2004 Buick Rainier. 78.3% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.2 / 5
Based on 23 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.4
  • Interior: 4.2
  • Performance: 4.4
  • Value: 3.9
  • Exterior: 4.4
  • Reliability: 4.3
Your list was successfully saved.
 
 
 
 
Save list Compare
[{"cat":"suv_midsize","stock_type":"used","bodystyle":"SUV","page_type":"research/make-model-year","oem_page":false,"search_fuel_types":["Gasoline Fuel"]}]