The Regal would remain a mainstay in the GM lineup until 2004 when North American production was halted, but it continued to develop and flourish in the Chinese market where it sold exceptionally well.
Well, GM is now reinventing the Buick brand and the Regal mid-size sedan has returned to the stateside for the 2011 model year to help out – but there is an upscale twist to its return. The all-new 2011 Buick Regal is essentially a rebadged Opel Insignia; it is actually manufactured alongside that very same car in the GM subsidiary”s Russelsheim, Germany factory. The return of a classic all-American car however, is anything but an all-American affair; the design, engineering and manufacturing is all German, which to anyone who knows about cars, is certainly a positive thing. So how does an all-German built American Regal stand up to competition the likes of the Acura TSX, Lincoln MKZ, and the Volvo S60? Let”s take a look.
2011 Buick Regal CXL Spec-
Base Price: $26,245.
Price as Tested: $29,035.
Engine: 2.4L Ecotec DOHC SIDI VVT 4-cylinder ”“ 182-hp / 172 lb-ft.
Transmission: 6-speed automatic w/ DSC.
Curb Weight: 3,600 lbs.
0 to 60 mph: 8.2 seconds.
Top Speed: 130 mph.
Fuel-Economy (city/highway): 20/30 mpg.
Interior:
The interior cabin is identical to that of the Insignia, and that is, in our opinion, a very good step on GM”s behalf since it was once known for cheapening out on quality. The German construction really presents itself through the tight fit, strong finish, soft-touch materials, and leather appointments.
Our base 2011 Regal CXL came with chock full of standard interior features including; leather-appointed seating featuring heated front seats, 12-way adjustable driver”s seat (including 4-way lumbar support), tilt/telescopic steering, ample controls located on the steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, USB/MP3 Jack, Bluetooth connectivity, XM satellite radio, and OnStar. These features in a car are impressive when you consider the starting price tag of $26,245 MSRP. A sunroof package is available for an extra $1,000. The Comfort and Convenience package is also available and includes; a 12-way power adjustable front passenger seat, 120-volt AC power outlet and ultrasonic rear parking. Other technology options include a voice-activated navigation system and a premium 9-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system.
A fully loaded Regal, which includes all of the options and packages listed above, will run you $31,030. That is a pretty impressive number considering that most of the Regal”s competition carries starting MSRPs in excess of $29,000; the TSX, MKZ, and S60 start at $29,310, $34,330, and $37,700 respectively.
Exterior:
We mentioned the shared engineering between the Regal and the Insignia, and we feel compelled to mention it again as one of the few primary differences between the two cars when compared side-by-side is the badging. No aspect of the new Regal is reminiscent of the old and we really didn”t expect it to be. This is deliberate according to design director John Cafaro, who says that the new generation is “˜all about great proportions”. “For example, the fenders are flared to wrap around the tires, an aggressive stance that people aren”t used to seeing in recent Buicks,” Cafaro says.
Through and through, the 2011 Regal possesses an air of performance-oriented design, with an aggressively designed front-end, and contrastingly elegant rear-end. Despite the decided “˜German-ness” of this car – even the front license plate bracket is shaped for a German tag – GM did make an effort to “˜Buick-ize” the car for the North American market. The waterfall grille and delicate appointment of chrome trim are two features that are distinctly Buick… and well, that”s about it. But with standard exterior equipment including daytime running lamps, halogen fog lamps, and 18-inch alloy wheels mixed into a sexy German design, we”re not complaining at all.
In terms of exterior appeal and attractiveness, the Regal takes the cake when compared to the Acura TSX or Lincoln MKZ, and we would say shares the cake with its Swedish competitor, the Volvo S60.
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