Pre-Owned Buick Regal: What Should You Know Before You Buy?
Are you looking for a comfortable, spacious, classy and fun to drive sedan with a lower-than-average price? Take a look at the Buick Regal.
The cars in this division of GM don’t offer the same standing or level of luxury as their German—or even Japanese—rivals, and their discontinuation over the last few years has also contributed to their strong depreciation, but some models are still worth your attention. The Regal is one of them.
The last generation was launched for model year 2018. If you wish to go further back in time, stop in 2014, because that’s when the Regal has enjoyed the best update: new LED head and tail lights, as well as a complete dashboard and console redesign.
Fairly Powerful
The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine was powerful enough (259 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of torque) and an all-wheel drive was available on some trims. The ones bearing the mention “e-Assist”—traction only—had a naturally aspirated 2.4-litre engine with electric assistance, a sort of simple and inexpensive hybrid system that had better fuel economy than the turbo engine, and 182 horsepower.
If you are looking for a sportier version, go with the GS, which had an adaptive sports suspension, oversized brakes, a more aggressive style and an optional manual gearbox.
Sportback Trim
Entirely redesigned for 2018, the Regal became more attractive and versatile, especially in hatchback format (hence the Sportback name). Its 892-litre trunk was a valuable feature, and the cargo space increased to 1,719 litres by folding the back seat down.
The turbocharged four-cylinder dropped to 250 horsepower, but the Regal GS received a 3.6-litre V6 with 310 horsepower. A nine-speed automatic transmission came standard, as well as a front-wheel drive. An all-wheel drive system coupled with an eight-speed automatic gearbox was offered as an option.
A luxury trim called Avenir was added for 2019, but unfortunately, it came with the base engine and front-wheel drive. In all Regals, you’ll find Buick’s Intellilink multimedia system, which is rather good.
And what flaws does this American sedan have? We can mention some unsatisfactory cabin materials, a low roof for the rear passengers, and a lack of responsiveness of the V6 at low RPMs. Only two minor recalls have been issued for the Regal since 2014, but still, reliability is not its strong suit. An extended warranty could be a wise decision, especially with an older model. You should also favour a certified pre-owned example that has been fully inspected.
