This week, GM Authority is off to the great state of Georgia to drive the 2018 Buick Regal GS.
As is customary during our first time driving a new vehicle, we are opening the comments section on this post for your questions, comments or concerns that you may have about Buick’s new performance-oriented midsize sedan-turned-sportback. So whether it’s about powertrain, design, features or anything in between, we’ll do our best to get an answer for your questions.
Notably, the 2018 Regal GS replaces the high-output 2.0L LTG turbocharged four-cylinder engine of the previous generation with the naturally-aspirated 3.6L LGX V-6 engine, which serves as a great conversation starter in its own right.
So, go ahead and ask your questions in the comments below, but please note that it may be 48 hours before we return with relevant answers. Without further ado, ask away.
PS: we’ll be driving the 2019 Buick Envision at the same time, so ask your questions about that model at this link.
[nggallery id=908]First-Drive Reviews
While you await our answers, we invite you to read the following first-drive reviews of GM vehicles to pass the time:
- 2018 Buick Regal TourX first drive
- 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe RSTÂ first drive
- 2018 Buick Regal Sportback first drive
- 2018Â GMC Yukon Denali first drive
- Buick Enclave Avenir first drive
- 2018 Cadillac CT6 with Super Cruise first drive
- 2018 GMC Terrain Denali first drive
- 2018 Chevrolet Traverse first drive
- 2018 Chevrolet Silverado HD max towing drive
- 2018 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 first drive
- 2018Â Chevrolet Equinox first drive
- 2017 GMC Sierra 2500HD All Terrain X first drive
- 2017 GMC Sierra HD first drive
Comments
All I want to know is, do we finally have a worthy sport sedan?
On weekends i play with my cars in autocross events. Does it feel like it could be competitive in its class? and by class Im guessing the SCCA would put this in DS with v6 mustangs, challengers, camaros, 2.0 turbo ATS, and possibly a Mazdaspeed6 if anybody was lucky enough to still own one.
I believe it’s currently unclassified. It looks like they didn’t even class the outgoing model. But the Verano is listed, ironically: https://dk1xgl0d43mu1.cloudfront.net/user_files/scca/downloads/000/037/724/2017-8-25-appendix-A-automobile-classes.pdf?1503699267
I would assume it *would* be a G-Street.
It has W speed rated tires 168 mph. Will it be Governed at 162 mph or lower. I’m confident that you guys can find somewhere to test this.
Does the entire car feel upgraded? Obviously the performance should be upped, but does the interior feel any more quality? That has been one of the big knocks on the regular Regal Sportback.
It’s the same, but with a lot of GS lettering.
How will this compare to the Stinger? We know the Stinger is faster, but what about the rest of the car?
I’d say more refinement for the money. A lot of people seem to like the Kia, though.
What is the engine like? 0-60? Does it feature cylinder deactivation? If so, can you feel it?
We didn’t test 0-60 timing. I didn’t feel any cylinder deactivation. But then again the engine didn’t see a lot of rest.
How does it compare to a Honda Accord Sport, Mazda 6, Maxima? Do we have a true sports sedan? Why would i buy this over the Kia Stinger?
The AWD is pretty great. And I was surprised how little it understeered and pushed. If you want more aggressive looks and power, the Stinger has it. But the GS gives off a more mature vibe.
Who do you think is the vehicles non-GM chief competitor, TLX?
TLX is a strong comparison. Also looking at Stinger. For the money, anyways.
The pictures make it look like a spiffied up Cruze. As in MEH. Is it more of a looker in person?
I think so.
What’s the ambient cabin noise like – road noise, tyre noise – at 30mph, 55mph? Have they improved NHV from the previous model?
Without measuring the actual decibel count, it felt quieter.
Also interested in 0 to 60. How does the exhaust sound. Are the seats as comfortable as advertised?
The seats are great. 0-60 wasn’t measured. The exhaust sounds good wide-open. Wouldn’t be surprised if the accessories department offered a kit for it in the future.
Is there any interior color besides the normal GM funeral home black??
Black is the only color for the interior.
You can have any interior color… as long as it’s black.
Well that is definitely an issue for me as the interior is where you spend all of your time in and I’m sick to death of black lung interiors that roast your hide in the Summer!
I live in one of the hottest climates in the world let alone the US and I can tell you a black interior is no more hotter then a red one or blue on or green one or white one when you get into your car and the thermometer says 140.
At that point color doesn’t matter your backside is getting roasted regardless of what color you have!
Joe – what interior color were you looking to see in the 2018 Regal GS?
My ATS has a black interior and it doesn’t bother me during the summer.
The design trend is black or red interiors for sports or sporty cars like the Regal GS… so the black interior fits. A red interior would be a nice option, but I believe the take care on those is very low. Even so, Buick should still offer it.
Regal GS needs a red interior option for sure. It would go well with all of the exterior colors offered, and is sporty and more expressive than black. I think the take rate would be fairly high on a car like the GS. I see a decent amount of Dodges and BMWs with red interiors.
Yes that is exactly what I meant. Choice is a good thing. There should be a red or brown option like in the Camaro or Corvette to spice things up. The black interior of my last Impala sure seemed hotter than the lighter grey one in my current Impala during the hot months. I know it’s that way for the exterior paint. Black holds in heat much more than white or silver.
I am OK with black interior. It’s the exterior color I have a problem with. I want a blue.
So take your car to a paint shop and have it painted what ever color you want?
Do you people think GM makes cars just for You and only You?
No Brian.
You should not have to take your brand new car to a shop to get it painted, which significantly decreases its value, by the way. Rather, more color options should be offered as part of a symbiotic relationship between GM and the customer, wherein 1) the customer gets what they want and 2) GM makes a profit on the customer getting what they want. It’s a win-win situation.
Blue is an exterior color that is not at all too extreme, especially on a sports/sporty car like the Regal GS. Mind you, sporty cars tend to be desired in more expressive colors over more plebeian offerings.
The same can be said about the conversation regarding sunroofs that we had in the Colorado thread. An owner of a brand new vehicle should not be taking their to some shop to cut into in order to install a sun roof… it should be offered instead – making the customer happy and making GM or any one of its brands profit in the process.
This is simply another example of GM going 90% of the way… and calling it a day. Meanwhile, other automakers might be going the extra mile. I invite you to look at Volvo – which is one of the direct competitors to the new Buick.
The difference between you and me i s that I don’t let these road blocks keep me from what I want and how I want them to operate and look. If tyhey don’t have something I want then I find a way to add it.
I don’t run from a car or a truck because it doesnt have one option that I want. This is a fear that I don’t live by.
I think it’s sad that people expect the manufacture to do everything for them when it comes to buying a car. A manufacture can’t offer every option to please every person in the world. So when a certain option is left off it becomes the buyers responsibility to find a solution.
I guess some people don’t have the ability to think for themselves and expect the manufacture to do the thinking for them.
hey man, I know where you can get some really nice swampland you could probably build a really nice place on it and it’s not cheap either it’s going to be pretty pricey so that should make you feel good
If you have the money to buy a $45k car, and then go out and spend another $5000 to have it custom painted just to decrease the resale value by another $5000, because people will assume it has been wrecked, cool for you, but money doesn’t grow on trees for the rest of us. Th Regal GS comes in blue in China, and it looks great. No reason GM can’t offer it here.
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2018-buick-regal-gs-debuts-in-china-looks-may-be-deceiving-119272.html
I don’t even know if they did 80%. Look at this car Buick why couldn’t you? this is the car I would have bought for $50,000 with around 350 horsepower. I am so upset and I wanted to stay with GM but I feel that I may have to sway and give my $50,000 to Kia which has subpar sales and service.
And no you shouldn’t have to go and get your car repainted after you gave $45,000 for a new car. Look up the amount of sporty light cars that do not come in blue I bet there’s not very many
And this is the exact reason you never get what you want but people like me do!
Agreed 100%. If you only go part the way, expect your competitors to see the market opportunity [gap] and wipe the floor with you. Such is the competitive nature of the auto industry.
I recall a certain company founder saying you can have one color as long as its black???? Dude, 100 years ago….move on.
My question is this car really good enough to sell in a struggling sedan market or will it be like the Lacrosse be a really good car that few buy in the CUV market.
I fear that the timing and market conditions may doom this car even done right.
If GM only had it back in 2004.
Who knows. With less and less customers seemingly interested in handling characteristics it’s hard to tell if the liftback design is enough.
Does this GS feel faster then the previous regal turbo? Does it feel like a true performance upgrade when driven?
We had the Brembos smelling real good when we got to the top of Brasstown Bald. It’s a hell of a package – but I’d argue it could have more power.
How does the 2018 Buick Regal GS drive.. do you feel the weight, is it a constant that makes you wishing there was another engine or is the car put together well enough that it feels lighter than it actually is and you can actually have some fun given the all-wheel-drive.
It didn’t lumber around or scrub much in the turns at the limit. Steering could be better, though. Feedback’s minimal.
My question is .. Will there be a GNX version?
Have to second that question, Lyle. We can always wish, right? Guess we’ll see how the GS sells, anyway. Should label this a 2019, took so darned long to come to market.
I ordered one on March 2, 2018 and the dealer told me they expect to build it on April 30, 2018, just 2 months after they got my $4000 down. Shame it takes so long to tool up to build a Regal GS. It will be mid year 2018 and in a few more months I may just order a 2019 and keep driving my 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. Its still fun to drive, especially when modified.
Do you want a FWD-based GNX?
No I want an all-wheel-drive GNX. With an LF3 or an LF4. How much torque can the nine speed handle? Make me wonder how much torque would be Required for a 4 wheel burn out.
For what its worth, the 2018 Regal GS comes with the same engine as the 2016 Cadillac CTS 3.6 AWD. The CTS has a true dual exhaust and 335 HP and still feels slow off the line. That AWD sucks the torque right out of the engine. The traction is top notch. Never spin a tire unless on snow. Took it to the track and had to step on accelerator when the last yellow flashed on the tree before the green light to get a decent reaction time. Its almost like a pregnant pause. THUS, this car badly needs a twin turbo! Or at the least some aftermarket accessories like a 3 inch exhaust and K&N cone air cleaner to wake it up.
If the Chevy SS Sedan had been offered with a V6 engine….would you choose this over that V6 SS Sedan?
The GS is a lot more buttoned down and feels tighter than the Chevy SS.
NO! The 6.2L LS3 V8 was THE preference if you could afford it. In AU/NZ the SV6 with the 3.6L NA V6 was a sweet ride but ultimately (on the dealer yard) the SS was were your head was at, until you saw the price. Also our gas is a lot dearer in our neck of the woods so if your SS was a daily driver you’d better have deep pockets.
Having deep pockets was to be expected on the SS purchase so gas prices shouldn’t be a issue.
If you don’t have a business account to write off fuel costs, they are a factor (not issue) in this part of the world. A factor because the price of fuel factors into your vehicle purchasing decision if you just want a daily driver.
A mate of mine stopped driving his SS everyday because of the cost of fuel. He got a cheap Japper for runs to work and drives the SS only on weekends.
Different in the US where the auto industry and suppliers are all so price conscious. And your fuel is about 60% cheaper on average.
That’s a you problem not a me problem!
It’s not a problem; it’s just economics, market trends and dynamics.
End of an era and all that. ICE engines are going the way of the dodo. In 20-30 years time the next generation of car buyers will be wondering why us old codgers are hanging on to our relics of the past 🙂 ….and we will…as long as we have the money for gas!
Does the front end plow when entering a corner at high speeds?
Does the nose drop with heavy brake pedal applied?
How hard does the car have to be driven before the rear wheels step out?
How fast can you drive around a corner before the you start to hear the tires breaking lose?
If you’re good with the brakes, the GS seems to barely understeer. It doesn’t feel too nose heavy under heavy braking. Your other questions are highly situational.
Brian, I just got my GS two weeks ago and can say (with only 685 miles), (a) very slightly over 90, (b) haven’t slammed on the brakes yet, (c) I finally got the rear end to kick out a little over 95 in a set of ess curves and (d) I was getting worried at 100 in the aforementioned curves. This was on backroads in Texas, not around a track so I did have to take the neighbors fence into consideration. 🙂
sevenfourteen – how were you able to get a GS? I’ve had mine on order since Sept. 25 and still don’t have it!!
I just saw this car at the Chicago Auto Show. Very impressive, but I have a picky issue that is a big deal for many: The cup holders are mashed at the front of the console that doesn’t seem to hold a normal large tumbler of coffee. Forget about a big gulp for those of you inclined for that.
No cupholders in the door either. Very strange, especially when the new VW has 17 cup holders. Huge oversight.
If your biggest issue is cup holders then this kind of car is not for you..
17 cupholders how many people does it hold?
Since you guys brought it up…
I’ve spent a few hours in this car, and I wouldn’t say that the front cup holders are cramped. They’re not as huge as those on a full-size pickup… but they’d still fit a coffee cup. That in and of itself is important, since many people drink coffee or some other beverage while driving. Plus, the door can hold a water bottle – though I haven’t tried doing so directly.
Obvious sign this car wasn’t designed in the US.
Cup holders, really dude! This is what people focus On? These are the things that keep people up at night and lose sleep over?
This is what’s wrong with the automotive industry. People worry about things that are secondary at best!
I see lots of questions but very few answers. When do we get answers?
I was already to order a 2018 GS, but after test driving the Sportback, I was disappointed by the following:
* Extensive use of hard plastics throughout the interior. Nothing wrong with the style. Buick needs to retool the interior panels using more soft plastics. My 2013 Verano Turbo and 2017 Encore incorporate much nicer, more upscale materials in their interiors.
* Center console armrest had a minimal (~1/16″) amount of padding. Made my elbow sore even with my coat on.
* Only an 8 speaker audio system. There is room in the cargo area aft of the wheel well to incorporate a subwoofer.
* Cheap engine compartment trim and no under engine/chassis cover. Not at all like my Verano and Encore.
* Regardless of what many of the reviews state regarding Buick quietness for the Sportback, the all wheel drive Sportback that I drove allowed excessive noise to enter the cabin through the wheel wells and the engine compartment. The 4 cylinder turbo was not smooth sounding at higher rpms. My Verano turbo is much smoother sounding. Also, my 2013 Verano and 2017 Encore are much quieter. I know the V-6 engine, tires, and exhaust system on the GS will exhibit different sounds, but I am just stating the observations from my test drive.
* So for a $43,255.00 list price and a 3 month lead time, I told the dealer I am going to wait and look elsewhere. I will be test driving the LaCrosse and giving the Avenir my consideration.
My only question is does the bottom seat cushion on new sport seats in the 2018 GS offer more hip room between the side bolsters than the sport seats in the previous GS? I have a smaller posterior, and felt the bottom seat cushion in the previous GS were too constrictive even my small behind.
How is the steering compared to an ATS, also compared to something like a Mazda 3 or GTI?
ATS has better steering by nature. I think the GTI might have more feel to it as well. The effort levels are good but the feedback could be better.
Is nobody going to ask how much this thing will cost?
No need to ask. It’s already on the Buick website – you can even build one to your specs.
Build it in a two-door and/or convertible & then you got soup !
What are your thoughts on the omission of paddle shifters for the US model (Vauxhall and Opel both offer paddle shift for their equivalent GSi models)?
Does the console shifter have a manualmatic shift detent to allow gear selection?
Interested in your thoughts on the GS vs. Kia Stinger
I think the deletion of the paddle shifter sucks along with not having 20 inch rims, lowered suspension, larger rear spoiler ,blacked out accents that the other markets have. I mean seriously what were they thinking have you seen the wheel Gap it must be set up for off-roading LOL
I don’t understand how the Enclave has paddle shifters and the Regal GS doesn’t. The shifter does allow for manual gear selection, but it’s simply not the same.
Build it in a two-door and/or convertible & you got soup !
Rear wheel drive works.
Rear wheel drive sells.
Front wheel drive puts you in the same category as all the Asian stuff,
Want to overcome the SUV ignorant trend?
Had ice and snow last week and 8, as in eight roll-overs, all on exit ramps, and every one SUV.
Do rear wheel drive.
What the hell is wrong with your market/marketing clowns GM?
You’re not implying that RWD is superior in poor weather compared to AWD or FWD-based vehicles… are you?
How is the transmission? Are the shifts quick?
Very positive review, maybe interested again, plus the car looked very good to me in this video
https://youtu.be/WAxugsolmNY
Will this GS fit a full size men’s bicycle in the hatch with the rear seats down? Started looking at sedans last fall and almost bought a TLX until i heard about this new beast. Hope the transmission does much better than the one in the TLX.
Yes it will! The 9 speed is also oh so smooth.
IMO they went 80% with this car and got the drivetrain and suspension mostly right. The roomy and different hatch design that still looks like a sedan is also a plus. But GM dropped the ball a bit on 4 things. Only one interior color is a problem. Lack of paddle shifters on your top sporty offering is just plain being cheap. So is having to pay extra for self leveling LED headlights and safety features like forward collision alert and auto braking. Last is the exterior paint colors. The only one that grabs your attention is the Sport red. All of the other bland colors of white, black, silver and grey can be had on the most mundane cars. They need to consult with Dodge on a more interesting color pallet where the sportier versions of the Charger have a Indigo blue, a mango orange, two different reds and even a yellow.
Those nit picks aside I’m looking forward to driving one myself and what the authors impressions are.
have you driven the Gs to know how the drive train and suspending really are? The only thing with Dodge is they should consult Buick on quality.
Good luck trying to order a GS. The dealerships and GM chat are clueless as to when you might get one. I have been waiting for 3 months and all I know is “the vehicle is available to sequence”. Its been in build limbo for 2 1/2 months. Anybody know if GM is having problems with this vehicle? Parts issues or potential design flaws which might have halted production in Germany?
Update to New 2018 Regal GS order. Well, I finally received my new vehicle after pushing Buick to call the dealer and seaport in New Jersey on why my vehicle has been sitting there for 1 1/2 months! I received it on August 4, 2018. It took 5 months to receive. Totally unexpectable in my opinion when it only takes 2 weeks to build and ship out the vehicle to the states. It spent half of its time sitting in seaports in Europe and New Jersey and a couple of weeks on the high seas. They did give it white glove treatment. Wish I could post a picture of it on the car transport when it arrived at the dealer. Entire car covered in a white bag. The car does drive amazing nice and despite the reviews, I would take it any day over an Audi A5. More utilitarian than most SUV owners would ever expect.
Wish they offered some different interior color options or dash panel upgrades like in a Cady CTS.
Hello, I’m not sure if my last inquiry went through, so I’ll post it again, and that is: Does anyone know when the expanded color range and specific interior/exterior colors for the 2020 Buick Regal GS will be definitely announced?
The timing of this announcement will determine whether or not I buy this car. Any information on this topic would be greatly appreciated, thank you!
I would say don’t hold your breath on new colors. They could offer some of the base model colors. They may bring some new interior options as the vehicle gets later in its life expectancy of about 4-5 years. Thumbs down on Avenir. Buy the GS and you get more bang for the buck with the 3.5 L engine. Mine gets 34 mpg on the highway with torque vectoring AWD. Unbelievable! The 9-speed transmission is the key reason. Way underrated in comparison to the specs which state 27 highway. Already have my first speeding ticket while passing another car. I actually stood in the dealership when someone came in inquiring to test drive one. Opps, the dealer refuses to stock them. The customer walked out of the showroom. Another women wanted one pretty badly and settled for a upgraded Regal Sportback they had on the lot. While still a great ride I told her, she should have waited an placed the order for a GS. Future gratification far outweighs immediate satisfaction.
Next model year information isn’t usually available until the summer.
I doubt we’ll see more colors. But we could see a refreshed exterior.
https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1121973_2020-opel-insignia-spy-shots