What do you think of when I mention the name Buick? For many people the image that comes to mind is a plush, super-soft sedan, with style and performance that appeals to car buyers of "a certain age." Well it's time to get rid of that perception, and I'm sure that's exactly what GM has in mind with the all-new 2011 Buick Regal CXL.
This is not an American car; it's a re-badged, very slightly altered, German Autobahn cruiser. Does that tidbit of information inspire a different image? Names like BMW and Mercedes come to mind, and if you're from "across the pond," you'll also think of Opel, the GM-owned German-based brand. Yes, that's where this design hails from, it's really not a Buick at all, it's the German-engineered Opel Insignia.
This European car was launched in 2008 with every intention of it becoming another one of the "world cars" we're hearing more about these days. In the UK it wears a Vauxhall badge, across Europe it retains the Opel branding, and for Canada and the US they resurrected the name Buick Regal, a model identification we've not seen for about six years.
Everything about this car screams Euro design. The exterior style is just drop-dead gorgeous with lines that sweep in perfect harmony from every angle. It has a proud stance, athletic and modern, with attention to detail that suggests a true artist at work. It's sleek and confident; you can sense the quality even as you walk towards it.
The interior is as modern as it gets. The instruments are simple and clear, and the almost-obligatory driver information screen is perfectly set, with echoes of the Chevrolet Cruze we tested five weeks ago. The central panel is covered in buttons, but everything is fairly intuitive if you're willing to experiment, or read the manual. Soft-touch materials abound everywhere you're likely to come into contact with the car, from the arm rests to the top of the dash. It's a very nice interior indeed, with choices of faux wood or piano-black accents.
On the road the car is a pleasure to drive. At highway speeds the engine is so quiet it's almost a whisper of your imagination, road noise is well-dampened, and even the rush of the wind across the sleek body is subdued. What some occupants of the Regal might not find so impressive though, is the seating. Yes it is covered in nice leather with French stitching, but in keeping with typical German tradition, the seating is significantly harder than you'll find on many American cars.
Personally speaking, I liked the seating, getting used to it on my trips between Carlyle and Wawota. I found it to be well-designed, supportive and perfectly acceptable. However, Buick may encounter a degree of resistance in this matter, North Americans are not used to the seating preferences of European drivers, maybe that's why the brochure even points out, "The ride is firm, yet comfortable. The same can be said of the seating."
Both my wife and I agreed that the mirrors were strangely designed and too small, causing possible limitation of the views when changing lanes. Maybe the drivers on the autobahn stay in the fast lane all the time?
And talking about fast, this car has a healthy 2.4 Litre naturally-aspirated engine that develops 182hp. I have no doubt that it could propel a driver well beyond legal speeds, which is why I kept the thing on cruise control. The Ecotec engine does suffer however in a lack of torque; with less "passing power" than my 09 Malibu. GM knows this, so they also offer the car with a 2.0 Litre Turbo engine that develops 220 horses, and an even sportier "GS" version is waiting in the wings.
What then is my take on the Regal? The pedigree of this car is well known. The Opel Insignia was "European car of the year" when it came out, and it went on to win 39 awards in 15 European countries. From my British point of view, this car is everything I would expect from an executive sport sedan. I enjoyed driving it, and even looking at it through my living room window. The car is stunningly appealing even when standing still.
The question that only time will answer is this - Is the North American market ready to embrace a European midsize car that carries the Buick name? If the answer is yes, this car has a great future ahead of it. Try it for yourself at Carlyle Motor Products.
