2014 Buick Regal: A Top-Ranked Modern Version of an Old Favourite

The Regal nameplate has been a player on Buick’s team since 1973, except for a short hiatus between 2004 and 2009. The name reappeared in the Chinese market in 2009 and was reintroduced to the U.S. in 2011. The 2014 Buick Regal has been freshened up with redesigned front and rear fascias, given a host of new options and features, and sports an upgraded interior to distinguish itself from its older siblings. Let’s take a closer look and see what the new guy has to offer.

Model Lineup and Features

Buick offers four varieties of Regals spanning the range from the base Regal all the way up to the top-of-the-line Regal GS, with Premium 1 and Premium 2 packages in the middle to provide you with virtually any combination of features that you can think of. Speaking of features, new for 2014 are the optional Haldex all-wheel drive system, camera and radar-based proximity sensors for the cross traffic, lane change, side blind zone, lane departure and forward collision safety systems and LED daytime running lights. For a complete list of Regal’s many standard and optional features, please visit the Regal website.

Powertrains

For 2014 Buick has consolidated their engine lineup for the Regal, offering a 2-liter DOHC, 4-cylinder turbo producing 259 horsepower standard in all models, and a 2.4-liter DOHC, 4-cylinder engine delivering 182 horsepower with the eAssist option. This option also includes a 15 horsepower electric motor powered by a belt-driven, liquid-cooled motor/generator plus a lithium-ion battery. Be aware, however, that selecting the eAssist option will reduce the normal 14.2 cubic feet of trunk space to 11.1 cubic feet to accommodate the battery pack.

Both engines are state-of-the-art and include 4-valves per cylinder, variable valve timing and direct fuel injection. A six-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and driver shift control is standard as is front wheel drive. Buick has backed-up their claim of sports sedan status for the Regal by offering an optional six-speed manual transmission available only in the Regal GS.

Luxury Interior

The Regal’s cabin has room for carrying you and four of your friends in high-quality luxury. As a bonus for the driver, the dash and instrument cluster have been redesigned for 2014 to give you a more user-friendly interface. Leather seating, heated front seats, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control and a seven-speaker sound system are all standard equipment to let you and your friends cruise in comfort and safety.

A Top-ranked Upscale Sports Sedan

Consumer Reports ranks the 2014 Buick Regal among the top upscale sport sedans that you can buy, behind only the BMW 328i. The Regal finished only one point behind the BMW and ahead of such cars as the Audi A4, Lexus IS, and the Infiniti Q50. Of all of the upscale sport sedans that it tested, Consumer Reports recommended only two cars other than the Regal—the BMW and the Mercedes-Benz C250. No matter how you look at it, that’s pretty fast company.