2012 Buick Regal GS: European roots show

Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 19 January 2012 12:04

The 2012 Buick Regal GS.Long stereotyped as a purveyor of land yachts, General Motors’ Buick division is trying something fresh with its sports sedan, the Regal, now in the middle of its sophomore year. The Regal is functionally similar to the midsize LaCrosse, but their personalities are distinctive.

The LaCrosse, for all its modern suspension and power-train accouterments, is a classic stately Buick that pampers its occupants with the mellowest of road manners. The Regal seasons its high level of refinement with a decidedly sporty character.

Driving north along a nearly deserted Route 8 toward Waterbury one unseasonably mild January morning, we were impressed — maybe even overwhelmed — by the Regal’s self-assurance along the highway’s perilous twists and turns. It reminded us of the first time we drove an Audi A6 more than 10 years ago. There was something artistic about the way driver and car worked as a team.

This Buick is, in fact, a European product. It’s designed by Opel, with a German engine and transmission, and assembled in Canada. And it performs more like the comparable European sports sedans — including Audis, BMWs and Volvos — than like the Buicks of old.

The front-wheel-drive Regal’s powertrain can run from mild (182 horsepower, automatic transmission) to wild (270-horsepower turbocharged Four, with six-speed stick shift, and Brembo front). Our GS was equipped with the latter package, plus normal, Sport and GS suspension settings; the latter modes increase suspension stiffness to improve the car’s handling. The GS is exceptionally well appointed with luxury features, including leather upholstery, automatic dual-zone climate control, heated seats and push-button start.

The GS starts at $34,450. Adding a navigation system, power sunroof and 20-inch polished alloy wheels bumped the price of our Quicksilver Metallic Regal to $38,155. The base model, with the most mild-mannered engine and automatic shifter, starts at $27,055.

Buick’s lineup makes a little more sense for 2012 than it did last year. Gone is the big, floaty Lucerne, replaced by an upgraded LaCrosse that starts just north of $30,000, a price point that distances it somewhat from the rest of the Buick pack. Unlike the Regal, the LaCrosse also is available with all-wheel drive. Filling out the line for 2012 is the compact Verrano, a $22,000-plus sedan based on the Chevrolet Cruze.

The mellowest of the Regals is rated as high as 31 mpg on the highway, a commendable fuel-economy number considering the car’s size, weight and luxury character. Our GS rated 19 and 27 mpg. In mostly highway driving, however, we weren’t able to do much better than 22.5.

A Top Safety Pick, as ranked by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Regal is likely to be reliable, based on the experience owners of other Buicks have reported in Consumer Reports magazine surveys.

The Regal GS delivered the most fun we’ve had at the wheel of a Buick since … well, forever. It’s well worth consideration among the panoply of European-built sport sedans.

Steven Macoy ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) is a longtime car enthusiast and full-time editor who lives in Bethel, Conn.

Price: $38,155

Engine: 2-liter turbocharged inline Four, 270 horsepower, 295 lb.-ft. torque

Transmission: 6-speed standard

Drive: Front-wheel

Weight: 3,710 lb.

Suspension: Four-wheel independent, MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear

Wheels: 20 x 8.5-inch polished alloy (optional)

Tires: P255/35R20 blackwall summer-only (optional)

Seating capacity: 5

Luggage capacity: 14.2 cu. ft.

Fuel capacity: 18 gallons

Fuel economy: 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway

Fuel type: Regular unleaded