Big, plush sedans used to be synonymous with Buick. The 1975 Electra, most egregiously, was more than 19 feet long.
Today, Buick's best-selling nameplate is the Encore, a nimble subcompact crossover that's much more land dinghy than yacht. By the end of this year, the brand will have just one traditional sedan left in its U.S. lineup, a remarkable transformation that shows how far large cars have tumbled toward irrelevancy.
More than three-quarters of Buick's U.S. sales now come from the Encore and two larger crossovers, one of which is imported from China. The Regal sedan is being replaced this fall by a five-door hatchback and a sporty wagon.
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