2002 Buick Regal Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Regal shares a basic design with Buick's conservative Century sedan, but is more similar in market positioning and performance to its other platform-mates, the Oldsmobile Intrigue and Pontiac Grand Prix. Regal comes in LS and uplevel GS sedans. Both have automatic transmission and a V6 engine; the GS adds a supercharger for more power. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, a tire-pressure monitor, and traction control are standard. Leather upholstery, side airbag for the driver, and firmer Gran Touring suspension are standard on GS, optional on LS. A package named for fashion designer Joseph Abboud adds power sunroof, and special paint and trim. On LS, the Abboud option brings much of the GS's standard equipment, including Gran Touring suspension and 16-inch wheels. Among the few 2002 changes: Steering-wheel radio controls are newly standard on the GS.

Competition

Perennial Best Buys Honda Accord and Toyota Camry continue to shine with refinement, model diversity, and comfort. Both come in coupe and sedan forms, offer economic 4-cylinder or sporty V6 power, have room for four adults, and are reasonably priced.

Recommended models include the import-flavored Chevy Malibu, plain-Jane Ford Taurus, and the good-looking Pontiac Grand Prix. All come with V6 power, offer lots of standard equipment, and have pleasing road manners that will suit a variety of driving styles. The restyled and larger Nissan Altima is new to the Recommended list this year. We are impressed with interior room and road manners, but disappointed by the budget-level interior materials and assembly.

News

Like sister Century, Regal keeps losing sales: down 12 percent in calendar 2000 and another 23.3 percent in 2001. Factors include a stuffy image, aging basic design (vintage 1997), and rougher-than-ever class competition.

Regal should remain pretty much as is until it's redesigned on General Motors' "Mid Lux" platform, basically a revamp of the current "W-body" foundation. At the same time, the lineup is expected to expand downward to include lower-priced models as replacements for the Century, which will be dropped. Though originally slated for model-year 2005, the redesigned Regal is likely now an '06 debut. That's because Robert A. Lutz, GM's new product czar, didn't like the proposed styling and ordered changes that will reportedly delay introduction by at least six months.

2002 Buick Regal Road Test

Pros	Cons

Acceleration	Fuel economy (supercharged V6)

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

LS	GS	Class Average
6	7	5

Both Regals feel strong, and in our tests the GS did 0-60 mph in 6.9 sec, the LS in about 8 sec. Transmission shifts smoothly, promptly.

Fuel Economy

LS	GS	Class Average
5	5	5.3

GS not much thirstier than the LS, averaging between 16.9 and 20.1 mpg in our tests. Buick recommends premium-grade gas for GS.

Ride Quality

LS	GS	Class Average
7	7	6.2

Controlled and comfortable. LS's base suspension rides about the same as Gran Touring setup.

Steering/Handling/Braking

LS	GS	Class Average
6	7	5.8

Not European-sport-sedan agile, but controlled and well-balanced. GS pulls to the side due to torque steer in hard takeoffs. Brakes are strong and capable, pedal feel firm.

Quietness

LS	GS	Class Average
6	6	5.4

Some wind and road noise at highway speeds, but quiet overall.

Controls

LS	GS	Class Average
5	5	6.3

Climate controls are too complex, but most gauges and switches are legible and well-placed. Interior ambiance suffers from lots of hard plastic surfaces.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

LS	GS	Class Average
5	5	5.7

Roomy, but shorter people might feel confined by the tall dashboard. Subpar lateral support.

Room/Comfort (rear)

LS	GS	Class Average
4	4	4.3

Sufficient head and leg room for larger passengers, but cushion is too short and soft for adequate support. Not wide enough to comfortably fit three adults.

Cargo Room

LS	GS	Class Average
5	5	4.6

Trunklid opens wide, hinges don't intrude. But there's a wide bumper shelf to stretch over.

Value within Class

LS	GS	Class Average
5	5	6

Regal is less-refined than Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, though it is well-equipped and available with steep discounts.

Total Score

LS	GS	Class Average
54	56	54.6

Scores for all Midsize Cars

Low Score		40
Average Score		54
High Score		73

2002 Buick Regal Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 05/15/2002

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

LS 4-door sedan	$23,485	$21,489	$635

GS 4-door sedan	$27,485	$25,149	$635

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Powertrain

3.8-liter V6 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, traction control.

Safety

Dual front airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, daytime running lights, emergency inside trunk release, tire-pressure monitor.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Power steering, leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, cruise control, air conditioning w/dual-zone manual climate control, interior air filter, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, center console, cupholders, 6-way power driver seat, split folding rear seat, power mirrors w/heated driver side, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, tachometer, variable-intermittent wipers, rear defogger, map lights, visor mirrors, AM/FM/cassette, digital clock, remote decklid release, automatic headlights.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system, cornering lights, fog lights, 215/70R15 tires, wheel covers.

GS adds to LS:

Powertrain

Supercharged 3.8-liter V6 engine, full traction control.

Safety

Driver-side side airbag.

Comfort and Convenience Features

OnStar System w/one year service (roadside assistance, emergency services; other services available), leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, Monsoon AM/FM/cassette/CD player, steering-wheel radio controls, illuminated visor mirrors, automatic day/night rearview and outside mirrors, driver-information center (supercharger boost gauge, oil-change monitor, additional warning lights, trip computer), floormats.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Gran Touring Suspension, 225/60R16 tires, alloy wheels.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Premium Pkg. PCH
LS	$1,160	$998
Leather upholstery, driver-side side airbag, alloy wheels.

Luxury Pkg. PCI
LS	$767	$660
Dual-zone automatic climate control, AM/FM/cassette/CD player, illuminated visor mirrors, cargo net, floormats.

Gran Touring Pkg. Y56
LS	$600	$516
Gran Touring suspension, 225/60R16 tires, alloy wheels. Requires Luxury Pkg. PCI.

Touring Pkg. 1SB
LS	$2,502	$2,152
Includes Gran Touring Pkg. Y56, Premium Pkg. PCH, Luxury Pkg. PCI, steering-wheel radio controls, automatic day/night rearview and outside mirrors, driver-information center, floormats.

Prestige Pkg. PCK
LS	$2,190	$1,883
Power sunroof, 6-way power passenger seat, Monsoon sound system, chrome alloy wheels. Requires Touring Pkg. 1SB.

Joseph Abboud Special Appearance Pkg. B2E
GS	$1,495	$1,286
Power sunroof, 6-way power passenger seat, Light Sandrift lower-accent paint.

Comfort and Convenience Features
Power sunroof
GS, LS	$795	$684
LS requires Touring Pkg. 1SB.

Heated front seats
GS, LS	$295	$254
LS requires Touring Pkg. 1SB.

6-way power passenger seat
LS	$350	$301
Requires Touring Pkg. 1SB.

Monsoon sound system
LS	$395	$340
Requires Touring Pkg. 1SB.

Appearance and Miscellaneous
Engine block heater
GS, LS	$35	$30


Chrome alloy wheels
GS, LS	$650	$559
LS requires Touring Pkg. 1SB. NA w/Joseph Abboud Special Appearance Pkg. B2E.

2002 Buick Regal Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Buick Regal 4-door sedan

Wheelbase, in.	109.0

Overall Length, in.	196.2

Overall Width, in.	72.7

Overall Height, in.	56.6

Curb Weight, lbs.	3461

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	16.7

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	17.5

Seating Capacity	5

Front Head Room, in.	39.4

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.4

Rear Head Room, in.	37.4

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	36.9

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	ohv V6	Supercharged ohv V6

Size, liters/cu. in.	3.8 /231	3.8 /231

Horsepower @ rpm.	200 @ 5200	240 @ 5200

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	225 @ 4000	280 @ 3600

Availability	Standard	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

4-speed automatic	19/29	18/27

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Buick Regal 4-door sedan

Front Impact, Driver	4

Front Impact, Passenger	3

Side Impact, Driver	3

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	3

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	None/--	--

Bumper-to-bumper	3/36,000	--

Corrosion	6/100,000	--

Free roadside assistance	3/36,000	--

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: Canada

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive

< 2002 Buick Regal Photos

Also in the 2002 Buick Regal Review:

Buick Regal

Buick Regal Road Test

Buick Regal Prices & Equipment

Buick Regal Specs & Safety

Buick Regal Photos

Buick Regal Full Review

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