Buick Regals go under the radar: GS, TourX offer engine, style options

I like the term flying under the radar. It’s especially appropriate this week with two variants of the Buick Regal I drove.

The Regal, and the Buick brand for that matter, is under the radar. It might even be off the radar for some. The Buick brand has always suffered from a bit of an identity crisis. It’s more luxurious than a Chevy but not quite a Cadillac. It’s sort of like the GMC brand in that it finds itself with a niche consumer base. But, for both the Regal GS and the Regal TourX, take everything you think you know about Buick and put it aside.

Both of these Regals are sleepers but are not sleepy. They’re youthful, not stodgy. As you can see, the Regal GS and Regal TourX deserve to be put on all radars.

The Regal has two body styles: the Sportback (i.e. hatchback) GS and the true station wagon TourX. Both are equally nice, and both have their own merits. I’m partial to the GS, only because I love sporty hatchbacks. The TourX is a bit of a throwback to the station wagon of yesteryear, but with a modern engine and plenty of quiet comfort.

The GS looks more aggressive than the TourX with the more streamlined styling. However, the TourX has an elongated look thanks to a chrome accent that runs along the roof line, then slowly slopes down the back, giving way to a rear spoiler. The TourX station wagon has a bit of a sporty side. Meanwhile, the GS won’t bring back the goosebumps of the old grand national, but it certainly does shake off the stodgy reputation of not being youthful enough. The GS, with its hatchback styling, is vibrant and exciting.

There are two powertrains available. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder did an adequate job inside the TourX. The 3.6-liter V6 engine in the GS is somewhat dated and unexciting, but still impressed with 310 horsepower. It was quick off the line and had good acceleration in all gears. Since the GS was AWD, it had an eight-speed automatic transmission. Non AWD Regals have a nine-speed transmission. The TourX had the spunky 2.0 turbo with 250 hp. The GS felt more powerful, but not by much. The turbo TourX was fast and fun, especially for a station wagon. I was impressed and would probably lean toward that engine if I were choosing between the two. I am a fan of small turbo engines anyway.

The interiors of the two Regals were similar and what you expect from a Buick. The interior was quiet. The touch points were good. Certainly materials and quality are better in Cadillac. As both of my testers had what I deemed fair value price points, I gave them a pass on a few of the harder plastic materials I found inside.

Rear legroom is outstanding, especially in the TourX, although the GS also can safely boast a comfortable amount of room for three passengers. The cargo area is impressive. The GS has 31.5 cubic feet of cargo room in the hatchback area while the TourX has even more with 32.7 cubic feet of space. This is one of the biggest assets of these two cars, as the cargo room is similar to many crossovers and SUVs on the road.

The dash’s eight-inch color touchscreen is responsive, and the infotainment system is easy to use. There is smart phone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports and a WiFi hot spot. Those are ideal for families and also make for great daily drivers.

The smaller engine in the AWD TourX meant slightly better fuel economy with an EPA rating of 21 mpg/city and 29 mpg/highway. The GS, which also had AWD, had an EPA rating of 19 mpg/city and 27 mpg/highway.

The TourX with the top-of-the-line Essence trim had a starting price of $35,670, which is fair for a vehicle of this caliber. With several packages and options, my TourX had a final MSRP of $39,390. The Regal GS is slightly pricier. It has a starting price of $39,070. With two different packages added on, my GS had a final MSRP of $43,115.

The Buick Regal is may be under the radar for some, but with both a sporty hatch and a sleek station wagon, it is worthy of consumers’ awareness and consideration.

2019 BUICK REGAL GS