The Buick Regal may currently seem like the misfit child of the Buick family, as it happens to be sandwiched between the popular Verano and LaCrosse sedans. At the same time, there are features found in the understated Regal that cannot be found in any other Buick vehicle, while a few cannot be found even in Cadillac products. So in spite of the low sales numbers, the Regal deserves great praise. Here are five reasons why:
1. Sharp Driving Dynamics
In even its most basic form, the Regal possesses a certain poise in its chassis that cannot be replicated by the softer Verano or LaCrosse sedans. The steering is light and crisp, while the suspension serves as a firm ride that cheerfully grips the road. Upgrade to the range-topping GS model, and the Regal stands as one of the best-performing front-wheel-drive vehicles money can buy.
2. Easy-To-Use Infotainment System
Recently, Cadillac‘s CUE infotainment system received a flogging of sorts. One reason is that it’s difficult to operate while driving, as the capacitive touch system has no knobs or buttons, which sounds cutting-edge in theory, but is frustrating in practice. The Buick Regal’s IntelliLink infotainment controls are nothing like this, featuring a handy rotating knob and intuitive buttons near the shift column that allow the driver to dial in commands without reaching over and touching the screen, keeping the hand and arm naturally rested in the center of the cabin. And because the Regal is pretty much a carbon-copy of Europe’s Opel Insignia, we have Opel to thank for this. We have to admit, the Regal’s ergonomics are a favorite of any GM vehicle on the market today.
3. Sporty Interior
Despite all the recent praise given to the Cadillac ATS for its efforts to outperform vehicles from Munich, Stuttgart and Ingolstadt, the Buick Regal still manages to feel more German at times than the compact Cadillac. It is, after all, based on a vehicle that was engineered in Rüsselsheim. A big reason is its all-business interior, blacking-out just about everything that can be touched, save for a few traces of brushed metal and just a bit of chromed plastic. Reminds us of sitting in an Audi S4. There is also an alternative khaki leather interior with faux wood trim, but we like to think nobody opts for that.
4. Powertrain Variety
Like the larger LaCrosse, the Regal offers a choice between high efficiency and power. Want a 36 mpg sedan? The Regal with eAssist can provide that. Want a 220-horsepower turbocharged four cylinder instead? The Regal offers that as a no-cost option. For those looking for something more hardcore, there’s the peppy 270-horse, 295-lb-ft Regal GS.
5. Exterior Styling
Let’s face it, the Regal’s lines are great. Enough said.
Comments
Five things about our 2011 Regal Turbo we don’t like… (And I realize that some of these things may have been fixed in the 2012 & 2013 model years… Ours is an early 2011, with every available option, with a German VIN). 1. No built-in garage door opener available. Had to go back to a clunky box clipped to the visor. 2. No keyless push-button start available (something my wife really liked from her previous CTS). 3. Performance from the 220 hp Turbo engine /automatic trans can be VERY unpredictable. There are times that you hit the gas and NOTHING happens, which is very un-nerving when traffic is coming at you! 4. Torque-steer is very noticeable (may have been cured in the GS?). It reminds of why it’s called “wrong wheel drive”. 5. The front fascia is VERY susceptible to stone chips, unlike any other car I’ve owned. This is a very disappointing quality issue.
That said, I mostly like the Regal, but my wife does not (and it’s her car!). And she likes to remind me of that often! Really makes me wish we’d just gotten another CTS (with fewer options, to come closer to the Regal price). Makes me look forward to the end of the lease.
1. Garage door openers are not usually an option on this level of car in Europe, probably due to fewer garages. Don’t know if this made it into the North American built vehicles.
2. Remote start not available in Europe, has been added to North American built vehicles.
3. Noticed the turbo lag in the North American GS Manual I drove a few weeks ago. I t hought it was just normal lag. I drive a supercharged Cobalt SS with no lag, so it was a bit strange to me as well. Friends who drive the turbo Cobalt SS say you have to keep on the revs to reduce the lag.
4. Tourque steer was non-existent in the GS. Similar to my Cobalt, it has equal length half shafts that reduce it to non-existent.
5. ALL GM North American plants use the latest hardened clear coats from Sherwin Williams. Not sure what they use in Europe.
Sounds like almost all of the issues are with the Euro spec version. An unfortunate circumstance for not getting the “tweaked” North American built Regal.
Isn’t the GNX, Grand National, and T-type are coming?? possibly the Regal too to Alpha?
Yes, the GNX pics fix the one exterior part I don’t like about the Regal — the back. Verano is also odd in that respect. The Lacrosse by comparison just looks good.
@ Bill: My 2012 has the built in garage door opener, and it has the ability to open 3 garage doors (don’t know why). I agree with you on the front bumper. One time somebody mentioned how easy it to chip on the forum and so I happened to go outside and really examine mine. While just glancing it wasn’t noticeable, getting close up showed lots of pitting. There was no clear bra option for my GS which sucks.
I’ll let everyone know my biggest gripe with my Regal was options. The GS comes with so much stuff standard that I’m not interested in, the price sky rockets. For instance, the ONLY things I was interested on the GS was the performance aspects, I.e. the 270 HP/295 lb ft of torque, the Brembo brakes, and the Interactive Drive control with sport and gran sport modes. I could care less about leather seats, front parking distance assistance. So, the two options I added brought my GS to a total of $37,500. I got the Nav system which is pretty worthless at times and to have the Nav system, you must get the sunroof option. The one option I wish I had gotten was the ’20 wheels. Those wheels are nice and really set the car off. Another gripe I have is the wheel gap. It really does nothing for the looks of this car. I will be lowering my GS this Spring, so I’m not to worried about it. Now, this car has very noticable turbo lag. This should be remedied on e I decide the time is right to go on ahead and install my Trifecta tune. The driveability of the car can be touchy as some days the engine is smooth and precise and other days it makes shifting some what non enjoyable. As of this posting I have had my GS just shy of a year and I currently have 14,995 miles on it. It is a very nice car. It’s quiet. Too quiet for my liking. When I say quiet, I mean there’s no exhaust note, no turbo spool, you know the things you like to hear on a sporty car. I know it’s a Buick, but you’d think on a car with the GS moniker, they’d make it a little bit brash!! Basically, you should give the Regal a try. I honestly have t been in a car that feels this solid in a long time. There are no squeaks and rattles. It looks nice and is well built. Just so everyone knows, something happens to the car when you turn off the traction control AND the stabilitrack. The owners manual tells you how to turn the the traction control off by pressing the traction control switch on the dash. It does not tell you that pressing and holding this button again for approx 5 seconds turns off stabilitrack as well. This is confirmed by a display letting you know it is off. Why do I mention this? Because the car drives differently with both off. The engine is more responsive and it seems as of t/c and stabilitrack messes with the ECU. It’s weird, but definitely makes the car run better.
We had the German built 2011 Turbo, we liked it but Hated that hit the gas and “nothing” and that was not Turbo lag just “Drive by wire throttle”. No opener or remote start. Got a 2012 GS its got it all and “Wow” 270 hp. The “only” problem is the brake dust from the Brembo brakes, for that reason alone my wife is glad its a lease and it will be turned in. If GM can put regular pads on it, we’ll “Buy” another one!
This seems to be typical of German cars. Excessive brake dust on the front wheels in particular seems to be quite common for some reason. I personally hate to see it and would opt for aftermarket pads for that reason alone.
Go to the dealer and they will swap out your pads for ones which don’t squeak and have little or no brake dust. This is done under warranty at no cost to you. There is a bulletin on this topic, check with your dealer.
The biggest problem is the name. Everyone knows an octogenarian who drove a Regal. Doesn’t suit the “new” forward thinking Buick and saddles it with the baggage of the bad years. What happened to Ivicta, which was the pre-pro revival bashing? That would have added sex appeal to what is a very attractive and more than capable car. Change the name!
Typo. I meant, of course, Invicta. And bring back Electra too. Another name from the glory days. Exotic and sexy.
It’s not the name Michael, it’s the pricing. We were discussing cars at work this past Friday and the one word that was used by others to describe my car was “sexy.” The car is nice and the name is not negative. Turbo Regals in the eighties were a force to be reckoned with.