Editor's Overview
Buick's answer to front-drive sporty sedans like the Volvo S60 and Acura TSX, the Regal is indeed more athletic than its lineage implies.
Pricing
Cars For Sale
KBB.com Expert Review
You'll Like This Car If...
If you're looking for a fresh face, and you like making a slightly unexpected choice, and you think it might be time to give a domestic manufacturer another chance, the
2013 Buick Regal just might fit your bill.
You May Not Like This Car If...
While the 2013 Buick Regal's styling is lovely and the car drives with the refinement we associate with imports, its pure performance still falls a little short. And you just might not be ready to embrace that Buick badge.
What's New for 2013
For 2013, the Regal line packaging is simplified slightly, with the 2.4-liter eAssist mild hybrid 4-cylinder becoming the base engine. Buick's IntelliLink smart-phone integration system is now standard on all Regals. A few new paint colors join the palette, though color choices on the GS remain limited.
Gallery
Specs
Fuel Economy
Performance
Seating Capacity
Cargo/Interior Space
Basic Warranty
Safety Ratings
Consumer Reviews
Based on 110 ratings for the 2011 - 2017 models.
Solinor
August 22, 2017
Incredible Driving Experience
Pros: Very sleek, BMW/Audi look with a much lower price tag, Buick is now #3 reliability ranking by Consumer Reports behind Toyota...
David
February 23, 2017
Great!
Wife leased a 2014 regal FWD and had 0 problems here in Upstate NY. She just leased a 2016 AWD that I feel is the equal of any Audi...
Webmaster
September 20, 2016
They only get better
I got my 2017 Regal because I wanted a new sporty car with all the safety features. I tested the lane departure, and it worked great,...
ChuckD
May 01, 2016
Nicest car I have yet to own
Bought Premium II used. Love the HID lights and Bose Stereo. Difficult to use all the engine power in suburban traffic. Getting about...
Leo
December 16, 2015
Great car. Great price, low mileage
Garage kept. Wife became unable to drive. Two cars is one too many. This Buick Regal is one of the finest and finest-looking cars on the...
Rich
September 29, 2015
TECHNOLOGY, POWER, reliability, LOOKS ALL IN 1
This car has everything I could asks for tin the class of automobile.
Scooter
September 28, 2015
Excellent condition Great car best vehicle ever.
Great car in excellent condition This car is the finest car that I have ever owned or driven. I have no complaints.
Roger
February 28, 2015
What's not to love?
Picked up my 2011 Regal Turbo with about 25k miles on it in November 2014 for $14k. Beautiful car with a ton of features and plenty of...
Hal
January 26, 2015
Must see!
This car is beautiful,inside and out! Never driven in winter snow or ice!
Freems
January 26, 2015
only similarity from past is the name buick regal.
Went to buy a Lexus....came home with a Buick Regal. Huh? AND I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! I had a 06 is250 and this regal is so much more...
Similar Vehicles
KBB Editor's Overview
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.
You'll Like This Car If...
If you're looking for a fresh face, and you like making a slightly unexpected choice, and you think it might be time to give a domestic manufacturer another chance, the
2013 Buick Regal just might fit your bill.
You May Not Like This Car If...
While the 2013 Buick Regal's styling is lovely and the car drives with the refinement we associate with imports, its pure performance still falls a little short. And you just might not be ready to embrace that Buick badge.
What's New for 2013
For 2013, the Regal line packaging is simplified slightly, with the 2.4-liter eAssist mild hybrid 4-cylinder becoming the base engine. Buick's IntelliLink smart-phone integration system is now standard on all Regals. A few new paint colors join the palette, though color choices on the GS remain limited.
Driving It
Driving Impressions
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.
Favorite Features
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.
Vehicle Details
Interior
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.
Exterior
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.
Notable Standard Equipment
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.
Notable Optional Equipment
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.
Under the Hood
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)
Pricing Notes
The 2013 Buick Regal Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starts at $29,900 for a base Regal sedan, and the Premium II option package takes a Regal to almost $33,000. A Regal Turbo starts about $31,500 and rises to just over $34,000 in Premium III trim. Regal GS prices start just under $36,000. To make your best deal, see what others in your area have paid for their Regal by checking the kbb.com Fair Purchase Price. As for resale, we expect the 2013 Buick Regal sedan to retain its value nearly as well as its Asian and European rivals.
