Used 2020 Buick Regal TourX

The 2020 Buick Regal TourX is an all-wheel-drive wagon that competes with the Subaru Outback and Audi Allroad. The Regal TourX is the slightly beefier, more spacious sibling to the Regal Sportback, a 5-door liftback. But like that model, the Regal TourX is being discontinued after this year. That’s something of a shame, as the TourX has its merits and was introduced only two years ago. It has more standard power than a Subaru Outback and a sleeker design.

It also has pleasant driving manners. But on a features basis, the TourX struggles. Unlike an Outback that comes with active safety and driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, you have to buy a top-spec TourX model, then still pay extra.

While the Outback rightfully sells like gangbusters, the 2020 Regal TourX is exceptionally rare. Most buyers have probably never even heard of it. In that respect, if you want a more stylish alternative to an Outback, the TourX is worth considering. Just act sooner vs. later.

If you’ve driven a modern Buick and have some experience behind the wheel of European sedans, the 2020 Regal TourX will feel familiar. If you don’t know, the reason for the latter is because the Regal TourX is made in Germany. Like the Regal Sportback, the TourX is based on an Opel, which used to be part of General Motors.

With a long 111.4-inch wheelbase and fine independent suspension, the TourX has a supple, stable ride. It’s nimble without being harsh. The steering is direct, precise and nicely weighted. The 2020 TourX is no sports sedan, but it’s also no land yacht.

Kudos also go to Buick’s “Quiet Tuning,” which provides a serene cabin environment without making you feel as if you’re detached from the car. The use of laminated glass, specific insulation and even tires that incorporate a foam belt take noise, vibration and harshness down to extremely low levels. The quiet ride coupled with firm, supportive seating goes a long way in reducing fatigue on road trips.

While this is a sizable car, the standard 250-horsepower turbo engine enables the 3,700-plus-pound TourX to feel relatively light on its feet. The 8-speed transmission shifts seamlessly. For better or worse, the Regal TourX is equipped with an engine idle stop/start system that helps save fuel. The system works smoothly, but unlike other vehicles does not offer a button to disable it.

With room for five, the Buick TourX provides adult-size accommodations front and rear, plus plenty of cargo space behind the rear seat. The front seats are a bit snug but comfortable. Cloth seating is the only choice on the two lower trims, with leather standard on the top-line Essence model. That is also the only model available with heated seats. Unlike a Subaru Outback, ventilated seats are not available.

Compared to the Subaru, the Buick’s infotainment system looks aged. The TourX only offers a 7- or 8-inch touch screen, whereas the Outback base trim has a pair of 7-inch screens and most models go even bigger with a tablet-like 11.6-inch display. We do, however, like the simple-to-see and -use knobs and buttons for common functions like climate and audio controls.

As noted, the TourX’s cargo space is generous at 73.5 cubic feet — which is now slightly less than that of the all-new Subaru Outback.

It’s on the outside where Buick’s Regal TourX really distinguishes itself. This crossover-SUV wagon has some rugged traits likes flared wheel housings and available roof racks, but its tapered roof and side creases grant an athletic, swept design. We think it’s quite beautiful in profile. It is more in line with the elegance of a Volvo V60 Cross Country than the ruggedness of the Subaru Outback.

The TourX also sits lower, with less than six inches of ground clearance vs. the Outback’s 8.7 inches. All trims are fitted with 18-inch wheels. A hands-free power tailgate is available only on the top-line model.

CARGO CAPACITY
Wagons and SUVs are all about interior room, which is why the TourX provides a generous 32.7 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat, and an even more generous 73.5 cubic feet with the seats folded. That SUV-like space easily swallows a variety of gear.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
There are numerous all-wheel-drive crossover SUVs out there, but few with the sophisticated system Buick bestows on the TourX. Equipped with dual-clutch packs at the rear axle, the TourX can distribute the engine’s torque to whichever wheel or wheels have the best grip, allowing for better traction on both wet and dry pavement.

The Regal TourX comes in three trims: base, Preferred and Essence. All models come with push-button start, keyless entry, fog lights, 18-inch alloy wheels and all-wheel drive. Also standard are dual-zone climate control, heated exterior mirrors, and subscription-based OnStar telematics and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The standard infotainment system bundles a 7-inch touch screen that has AM/FM radio, dual USB ports, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. We’d recommend stepping up to at least the Preferred model, which adds a power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. This trim also opens the door to some options.

The top-line Essence model is the best equipped version of the TourX and includes leather interior, heated front seats and steering wheel, hands-free power tailgate, power-adjustable passenger seat, air ionizer, 8-inch touch-screen display, and satellite radio.

Unlike competitors in which advanced safety systems like lane-keeping assist, collision-mitigation, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control are standard on every model, with this Buick they are reserved for the top trim, and even then you have to pay extra for them. Blind-spot monitoring is also available, as an option beginning on the Preferred trim. A panoramic moonroof, Bose premium audio, navigation, and roof-rack cross rails are also optional starting with that trim.

Powering the 2020 Buick Regal TourX is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 250 horsepower and an ample 295 lb-ft of torque. Unlike a Subaru Outback that uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the Buick uses an 8-speed automatic transmission. All TourX models come standard with all-wheel drive (AWD).

For better fuel economy, a start/stop system cuts power at idle and then restarts the engine once the accelerator is depressed. But unlike most other vehicles that have such as system, this one doesn’t have a defeat button. The Buick has more standard horsepower than a non-turbo Subaru Outback, but is also less efficient: Whereas the Outback attains up to 33 mpg, the Regal TourX tops out at 29 mpg.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
250 horsepower @ 5,400 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/29 mpg