 |
| The 2019 Buick Regal GS AWD. |
Buick.
Okay, I know. This is 2019. The last time Buick sedans were hot, Grandpa came home with a block-long Electra 225 with tailfins.
Things change. And now, things have changed back in Buick’s favor.
 |
| 2019 Buick Regal GS AWD. |
The 2019 Buick Regal GS AWD (all-wheel drive) is the car you probably didn’t think Buick or its parent company, GM, could make. It’s legit. It feels---European. What’s that fine print at the bottom of the window sticker…it’s in, like, seven-point type.
“Final Assembly: Russelheim, Germany.”
You see, the Regal GS is the final fruit of the 88-year long ownership of German automaker Opel by GM. It was sold to Groupe PSA, makers of Renault and Citroen, two years ago. And it makes a strong case for that “saving the best for last” stuff.
For a base price of $39,070, you get what looks like a sedan, but is actually a cleverly-styled hatchback. That means tons of usable space behind the back seats, and when you fold those down, station-wagon level acreage for hauling stuff.
Speaking of hauling, the 3.6-liter V6 is good for 310 horsepower and mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission, delivers an EPA-estimated 19 miles per gallon city and 27 miles per gallon highway. Zero to 60 happens in under six seconds. And a very serious set of Brembo brakes (with red-painted calipers) makes sure that stops are short and straight.
 |
| 2019 Buick Regal GS AWD. |
Best of all, the Regal GS handles. It loves the twisty stuff. A run on your favorite winding road will leave you with a grin on your face that will take hours to go away. The all-wheel drive enhances the cornering and gives you an edge in wet weather. And you can set the sportiness to your particular comfort zone, thanks to a three-setting drive mode---Touring, Sport and GS. Touring’s the softest, quietest, with Sport and GS incrementally dialing up the suspension firmness and elevating the revs that prompt the gear shifts.
 |
| 2019 Buick Regal GS AWD interior. |
Inside, the surroundings are contemporary and tasteful. Apple CarPlay and Android auto are part of the infotainment package, as is an in-vehicle 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.
GM is also trying to up the “my car does that for me” game with Marketplace. It’s the automotive industry’s first in-vehicle commerce platform for making purchases and reservations. Companies such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Applebee’s, Yelp!, Shell, ExxonMobil, Priceline and more have signed on.
Our test vehicle did have some extra-cost options:
•Sights and Sounds Package (Eight-inch color touchscreen with navigation, HD Radio and premium audio) $945.
•Driver Confidence Package #2 (Adaptive cruise control, following distance indicator, forward collision alert, forward automatic braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, front pedestrian braking, head-up display) $1,690.
•White Frost Tricoat paint: $1,095.
•Appearance Package (Wireless charging, LED headlamps, cornering lamps, automatic leveling headlamp control) $485.
With $925 destination charge, the bottom line came to $44,210.
So has Buick built a BMW-killer? No. The 2019 Buick Regal GS’s natural competitors are the Acura TLX V6 and the Kia Stinger GT. The Buick has a bit more power than the Acura and a bit less than the Kia. It’s more refined than the Kia, but that’s part of the Stinger’s charm. My take is that if you test-drive those three cars, you’ll have a tough choice---and the Buick Regal GS could end up in your driveway as easily as the other two.
