2018 Buick Regal GS
The 2018 Buick Regal GS is
a nice blend of sportiness and luxury.
Price: $39,990
Many forget, or never have known, that Buick built fast upscale muscle
cars in the 1960s and early 1970s and that its 1987 Buick GNX could out
accelerate a Chevy Corvette. Now we have the 2018 Buick Regal GS, which
is loosely derived with major modifications from the worthy German
Insignia model.
The $39,990 GS is a sensational looking, roomy all-wheel drive
hatchback sedan. It’s got a 3.6-liter V-6 that kicks out 310
horsepower and 282 pound/feet of torque on its way from 0 to 60 m.p.h.
in about 6 seconds. While hardly slow, it’s no hot rod
because it weighs approximately 4,000 pounds. A turbocharger or
supercharger would be appropriate to accompany the go-fast styling.
You see, Buick is walking a fine line here between offering a rakish
looking but sporty car for younger buyers and one that would satisfy
older late-model Buick buyers.
The low-slung mid-size GS has everything from prominent fascia scoops
to cool its hefty brakes to distinctive lower rocker panels, sexy
chromed dual exhaust outlets and diffuser-enhanced rear fascia. The
19-inch wheels and red-painted Brembo front brake calipers and subtle
rear spoiler contribute to the car’s sexy looks.
The especially large trunk seems as if from a big 1960s family sedan,
although the hatch with its huge rear window is quite heavy. (At least
there’s a large interior grab handle to help close it.) Split
folding rear seatbacks sit flat and significantly increase cargo space.
There’s plenty of room in the quiet interior for four tall
adults, or for five on shorter trips. I rode in the rear seat for a few
miles while the GS was being driven aggressively by a (very big and
tall) auto journalist, but never felt uncomfortable back there.
The extra-supportive heated and ventilated front seats look as if
yanked from a Corvette and liven up the rather bland-looking interior,
which has a lot of average-looking plastic. I didn’t have
time to fool with the car’s 8-inch dashboard touch screen,
but felt that the redundant dashboard manual controls for the HIV
system and such are a good idea.
The engine shoots power through a new General Motors 9-speed automatic
transmission with no paddle shifters that could use more aggressive
shift mapping—the gearbox wants to upshift as early as
possible, hurting acceleration. However, the shift strategy allows the
GS to provide fairly decent fuel economy. It’s an estimated
19 miles per gallon in the city and 27 on highways.
A driver can select one of three drive modes via console buttons that
go from Normal to Sport to GS. You’ll get the best response
from the GS mode, which sharpens the car’s reflexes up a bit,
but Normal mode is best for regular driving.
Keeping the GS glued to the road are its all-wheel drive system and
twin clutch torque-vectoring rear differential, which helps the car
glide securely through curves taken briskly. Push too hard in turns,
though, and the car’s weight can be felt. Steering is quick,
and the brake pedal has a progressive feel.
Continuously damping control shock absorbers help deliver the sort of
smooth ride most have come to expect from Buick and help control pitch
and roll.
Safety features include plenty of air bags.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Options include
rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change alert and side blind-zone alert.
In all, the Regal GS is a great-looking ride that’s easy to
live with, but it’s no sports sedan.