Used 2013 Buick Regal

Buick calls its 2013 Regal a "sport-injected performance sedan" and compares it to the Acura TL, Audi A4 and Volkswagen CC. Even if the reality falls a little short of those lofty ambitions, the Regal does have a distinct import character in its feel and road manners. Using a platform from Opel – GM’s European wing – gives the Regal a chance to capture younger fans. For 2013, the Regal comes in seven distinct variations: three models (base, Turbo and GS), the first two of which offer three trim levels. The different engines for each model define vehicle character. The base Regal engine is a 182-horsepower eAssist mild hybrid, the Turbo gets 220 horsepower while the GS uses the same turbo engine tuned for 270 horses.

When you choose a powerplant in the 2013 Buick Regal, you also choose a personality. The base model with its 182-horsepower eAssist mild hybrid engine gives you plenty of time to feel environmentally responsible as it gradually builds speed. The 220-horsepower Turbo model is quite a bit livelier, and the 270-horsepower GS is a legitimate runner. Either of the turbocharged engines can be had with a manual gearbox but the shift throws are long and slow enough that we prefer the automatic. In any guise, the Regal runs smoothly and feels competent on the road, if not quite as light on its feet as a Volkswagen CC. Suspension action is compliant and well damped, and the Interactive Drive Control (optional on Turbo, standard on GS) provides three selectable levels of firmness. The variable-boost hydraulic steering on the turbocharged cars has better feel than the eAssist’s electric power steering.

This is where premium-car credentials really have to show, and the 2013 Buick Regal makes the grade. Design and materials are first-rate, with a clear European influence in the BMW/Audi-like joystick that controls the available navigation and audio functions, a console-mounted central locking button and the steering-wheel-mounted thumb wheel for scrolling through function menus. All the switchgear has a smooth, high-quality feel. If the Regal falls down in any area, it’s rear-seat headroom. The low-slung roof and raked rear window mean anyone over six feet tall will likely have his head against the headliner.

Buick’s signature waterfall grille and porthole louvers are present and accounted for, but the rest of the 2013 Regal sedan is striking in ways that Buicks have not historically been. Based on GM’s European Opel Insignia, the 2013 Regal has a clean but strong look that borders on aggressive. The wheels are pushed to the car’s outer corners while the body drops low to hug the pavement. A distinctive side scallop begins on the front door and fades rearward.

2.4-LITER ECOTECH 4-CYLINDER ENGINE WITH eASSIST
Acceleration may be leisurely but think about that carbon footprint. Buick claims the eAssist mild hybrid system’s improvement in fuel efficiency amounts to 25 percent. And the engine spins with a smoothly polished sense that reminds us of a Honda.

INTERACTIVE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEM (IDCS)
A first for Buick, this system allows you to choose from three different operating modes that modify the vehicle’s suspension, stability settings, throttle response, shift pattern and steering sensitivity. It is optional on the Turbo and standard on the GS.

Inside the 2013 Buick Regal you’ll find leather upholstery, an 8-way adjustable power driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, Bluetooth and a 7-speaker audio system with USB port. Motivation is supplied by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with eAssist paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission (with tap-up/tap-down shifting), and power is put to pavement via 17-inch alloy wheels. The Turbo model uses a 220-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine while the GS tunes the same engine for 270 horsepower. Either of the turbocharged engines can be paired with a no-cost choice of 6-speed transmissions, either manual or automatic.

The 2013 Buick Regal sedan’s options are mostly grouped into packages, called Premium I, II and III. The base Regal offers Premium I and II upgrades and the Turbo offers Premium II and III options. (The GS is considered its own trim level.) Among the many available options spread throughout the groups are a 9-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system, a hard-drive-based navigation system, rear parking assist, an 8-way power adjustable passenger’s seat, power sunroof, 19-inch alloy wheels (20 on the GS), E-Z Key passive push-button start, HID headlights and a 120-volt outlet. Rear-seat thorax side-impact airbags are also available.

The Regal was the first Buick to be offered exclusively with 4-cylinder engines. For 2013, the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with mild-hybrid eAssist becomes the standard engine. Regenerative braking, a dual-function generator/motor and a lithium-ion battery pack help power the car’s electrical systems and offer a slight boost under acceleration. Fuel efficiency is the big payoff, with EPA city/highway figures of 25/36 mpg. Stepping up to turbo power, the Regal offers two excitement levels. In the Regal Turbo, the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine makes 220 horsepower. The Regal GS uses different software tuning and exhaust plumbing to get 270 horsepower. Turbo engines can also be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox in place of the 6-speed automatics that are standard across the line.

2.4-liter inline-4
182 horsepower @ 6,700 rpm
172 lb-ft of torque @ 4,900 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/36 mpg (eAssist mild hybrid)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
220 horsepower @ 5,300 rpm
260 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/32 mpg (manual), 18/29 mpg (automatic), 15/22 mpg (E85, manual), 13/22 mpg (E85, automatic)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Regal GS)
270 horsepower @ 5,300 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 2,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/27 mpg (manual), 18/20 mpg (automatic)