It’s been a long time coming, but Buick is back in the wagon business with the 2018 Buick Regal TourX. Boasting all the cargo room you’ll likely ever need, the Regal TourX offers a serious alternative to a crossover with just a pinch of soft-road capability.
We’re excited about it, we like it, but what about you? The Regal TourX is the source of today’s Hot or Not.
The good news is if you like the Opel Insignia Country Tourer, you’ll love the Regal TourX. It features the same, slightly raised suspension and plastic cladding to protect the body from whatever an active lifestyle throws at it. And it doesn’t deviate too much from the Regal Sportback‘s decidedly handsome looks. It’s inoffensive, sleek and we think it will age pretty gracefully.
If we had one complaint, it’s the plastic cladding itself. We understand the more rugged Insignia Country Tourer is an easier sell in a country where consumers are brainwashed into thinking the Buick Encore is a small SUV, but there’s no denying the Insignia Sports Tourer is much better looking with a traditional body and lower ground clearance. Slap a Buick badge on the Sports Tourer and we’ll be at the dealership tomorrow.
We digress, we still love the idea of a Buick wagon. Vote in our poll below and strike up a conversation in the comment section should you feel so compelled.
Comments
It’s “just ok” . The unpainted cladding really ruins it for me, removing it would make it a truly hot vehicle.
I am with the folks about the plastic cladding. looks cheap better yet! offer it as a off road package and let the customer decide if they want it.
I still do not understand why GM isn’t offering cooled seats on the Regal even though the Opel Insignia offers them. Inexcusable. I know someone who was waiting for this wagon but will not look at this now without that feature. Has it in their current car and will not give up that feature at all. GM always cutting corners in the NA market for some crazy reason. I thought Buick was supposed to be a Premium Brand.
People lie.. as sales figures will prove this out just like people who say they will buy a EV (electric vehicle) or Hybrid; just look at Chevy’s numbers as they sold over 18,000 of their Cruze in MAR 2017 while the Volt managed just over 2,000.
An impressive vehicle ruined by plastic cladding. I won’t consider buying as result of that mod from the Insignia. Like the authors say, slap a Buick badge on the Sports Tourer and I’ll be at the dealership tomorrow.
Hot-
Styling. We are finally getting a wagon available from an American manufacturer.
Not-
The cladding makes it look cheap. 4 cylinder only power. Only available with AWD, why? And no ventilated seats. What is GM thinking on this one? You can get them on a Malibu or Impala but not a Buick. Insane
While I am very interested in the TourX, the cladding really messes up what was a VERY good looking wagon. I’ve been waiting for someone to offer a reasonably priced and stylish AWD wagon like the Sports Tourer. Go ahead and offer the TourX for those that want it but also send over the Sports Tourer. If that were offered, you would have my down payment now! I have to wait to see the TourX in person to see if I can live with the cladding. I don’t really need the raised ride height either. Please….
don’t like the cladding –no up grade options – and it is not made in the USA — will not support foreign made autos
GM can’t afford to offer a niche vehicle like Regal much less an even more niche product such as TourX unless the car is made on one production line. Because this is really an Opel, Regal TourX is made in Germany.
I was furious about the Chinese Envision because SUVs sell well plus Chevrolet and GMC use similar tooling. Regal is a different situation and I want Buick to market quirky, white space cars.
As long as it it comes with the 3.6. If not, I think I will pass.
I own a 2016 Reagal which i love…….from the look of it to the inside desighn….great engine with awesome pickup speed love it…..this new wagon desighn i do not like….such a drastic change to such a awesome looking car…..sorry not into it
Let’s hope common sense prevails and they drop that butt-ugly cladding. What were they thinking?
I like it, but I would like it more if it were offered as a GS with the V6 powerplant and no plastic around the wheel openings and around the bottom edges of the body.
Beautiful
Almost ruined by the cheap-looking plastic body cladding. Almost. It would have been ruined if the suspension had been raised higher. I’d love a cladding delete option for this car.
I have a VW Golf Sportwagen TDI so I love wagons and will actually pay for one but also have a decision to make whether to keep my TDI, turn it in and get a gas Sportwagen, or get something else.
I already rejected the other competition when I bought my TDI in 2015 (Volvo, BMW, Subaru) so it’s nice to see another potential option.
Unlike others in this thread, I don’t care about the lack of a V6. What I really want is something to compare with my wife’s Passat VR6 wagon in power and options. I love her car.
Really reminds me of a Subaru Outback, but low ground clearance in a Wagon with AWD is just not sensible. I live on a mountain and snow and ice are just something I can’t see this wagon handling.
I believe that the reason for AWD on this wagon and on most wagons that evolved from FWD sedans is mainly for stabliity on slippery surfaces. Any FWD vehicle that has the potential for the rear axle having more weight on it than the front axle does is going to get into serious trouble on an icy road, because if you hit an icy spot, you will find that the heaviest end of the car is going to take the lead unless there is some kind of positive traction on both the front and rear of the vehicle.
Mabe we can take off the cladding ourself or have the dealer do it (BETTER YET) offer it as an option the volvo v 90 wagon doesn’t have it and that is really a premium wagon