We expect the Buick Regal midsize sedan to be completely overhauled (redesigned and re-engineered) for the 2017 model year, representing the sixth generation of the Regal nameplate.
Following is speculative and unconfirmed information about the 2017 Buick Regal. This page is a continuous work-in-progress and will be updated on a regular basis as we await official details from General Motors and Buick.
If you notice any inaccuracies about the information provided, have recommendations, or suggestions to share, please let us know here.
Following are our expectations of the 2017 Buick Regal:
- Available in four-door sedan (Buick Regal Sedan) and five-door wagon (Buick Regal Wagon or Buick Regal Tourx) body styles
- Longer than the model it replaces
- Unveiled in 2016 as a 2017 model year vehicle to launch in the second half of 2016
- All-new exterior design in line with the latest Buick-Opel-Vauxhall design language
- All-new interior that is of a higher quality and is also more space-efficient than the last-gen model, resulting in more interior room
- Based on GM’s new global E2XX platform directly shared with the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The longer wheelbase variant of the E2XX platform is known as P2XX and will underpin the 2017 Buick LaCrosse.
- Front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive
- Thanks to the E2XX architecture, we expect the 2017 Regal to be roughly 300 pounds (136 kg) lighter than last-generation Regal, improving fuel economy and driving characteristics such as acceleration, braking, and handling
- New turbo-charged engine lineup. The 1.5L LFV Ecotec motor could be the base engine while the 2.0L Turbo I4 LTG could remain the engine in the Regal Turbo. All engines will likely be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
- The latest IntelliLink infotainment and active safety/driver assistance systems
- High-performance Regal GS model will make a return for the sixth-gen Regal
- Pricing expected to start from the mid-$30,000 range
- Very closely related if not identical to the upcoming 2017 Opel Insignia/Vauxhall Insignia and next-generation 2018 Holden Commodore (see section entitled 2018 Holden Commodore Relationship)
Just like the second-generation, 2017 Opel-Vauxhall Insignia on which it will be based, the 2017 Buick Regal could be offered in the following body styles:
- Four-door sedan
- Five-door hatchback (four-door sedan with a lift-back setup, combining both the trunk and the rear glass into one unit)
- Five-door wagon
The traditional four-door sedan body style will definitely be offered in North America and in China. Whether the five-door hatch and five-door wagon body styles make the transformation from Opels to Buicks is unclear at this point. That said, there have been rumors that a Buick Regal wagon could be a possibility:
We expect the 2017 Buick Regal standard (or base) to be powered by GM’s new turbo-charged 1.5-liter Ecotec LFV engine making about 160 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque.
We will update this section when we get more information about the 2017 Buick Regal Standard.
We expect the Buick Regal 2.0T to be powered by the regular output variant of GM’s 2.0-liter Ecotec LTG engine making about 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque.
We will update this section when we get more information about the 2017 Buick Regal 2.0T.
We expect the performance-oriented Regal GS to return for the six-gen model.
It will likely be powered by a high-output variant of GM’s Turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 LTG engine making close to 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque, mated to a choice of either an eight-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual hooking up to the latest Haldex all-wheel drive system, like the one in the new Buick Envision crossover.
More information on the 2017 Buick Regal GS.
Though we initially believed that GM would reintroduce the Regal Grand National and high-performance Regal GNX on its rear-drive Alpha platform, we have since learned from trusted sources that such a vehicle will not be coming to market. Instead, GM will maintain the Regal as front-drive midsize vehicle family.
See our initial expectations about the 2017 Buick Regal Grand National and 2017 Buick Regal GNX.
The 2017 Buick Regal will be sold in various global markets under different brands and nameplates, as follows:
| Brand | Model | Market | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opel | Insignia | Europe, Russia, CIS | |
| Vauxhall | Insignia | United Kingdom | |
| Buick | Regal | China, North America | |
| Holden | Commodore | Oceania (Australia | New Zealand) |
We expect that the 2017 Buick Regal and second-generation Opel/Vauxhall Insignia to serve as the replacement of the next-generation, 2018 Holden Commodore. We base this on several factors, including that:
- The next-generation, 2018 Commodore has been confirmed to be based on a front-drive platform; the Regal/Insignia will be based GM’s new, front-drive E2XX platform
- Dimensionally, the Holden Commodore has been on the larger end of midsize vehicles; just as well, the new Regal/Insignia will grow in length to be on the larger end of the midsize segment
- The next-gen Commodore will have a wagon variant to succeed the Commodore Sport Wagon; the second-generation Insignia will offer such a vehicle
Meanwhile, the next-gen, 2017 Buick LaCrosse will likely replace the full-size Holden Caprice as the next-generation, 2018 Holden Caprice.
