2012 Buick Regal: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

2012 Buick Regal: What Is It?

A name from General Motors' past but placed on a car that's not even on the same continent as its predecessor. Based on the European-market Opel Insignia, Regal is fairly small by midsize-car standards. It's also the sportiest vehicles to come from Buick since the Grand National and GNX of the 1980s.

Price wise, Regal occupies a strange spot somewhere between standard midsize car and premium-midsize car. We place it in the latter category, competing against the likes of the Infiniti G Sedan, Volkswagen CC, and Volvo S60. Originally imported from Germany, Regal is now built in Canada.

2012 Buick Regal: What's New

Quite a lot considering Regal debuted in the US for the 2011 model year. The lineup gains a new, optional gas/electric drivetrain and a high-performance variant. New trim-level designations are part of the deal as well.

2012 Buick Regal: Model Lineup, Features, and Options

Buick is phasing out the CX and CXL nomenclature on all its products. For 2012, Regal now comes as the Base, Premium 1, Premium 2, Turbo Premium 1, Turbo Premium 2, Turbo Premium 3, and performance GS.

All models have the usual complement of standard equipment. Some of the more-unusual included amenities are dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and an 8-way power driver seat.

The Premium 1 adds rear-obstacle detection, an 8-way power passenger seat, keyless entry/engine start, and remote engine start. The Premium 2 has a high-end harman/kardon audio system and bi-xenon headlights.

The Turbo Premium 1 and 2 have similar equipment levels as their non-turbo counterparts but add automatic shock-absorber control and a more-powerful engine (more on that below). Going up to the Turbo Premium 3 adds an electronically adjustable suspension and 19-inch wheels (up from standard 18s).

The range-topping GS has an even more powerful engine (see below for details), front-obstacle detection, bigger brakes, 12-way power front seats, and a sport suspension.

We'll talk about standard and optional drivetrain bits below. The option list is fairly small, limited to a power sunroof, special paint and wheels, a navigation system, and some dealer-installed bits and bobs.

2012 Buick Regal: Engines, Transmissions, and Drive Wheels

Standard on the Base, Premium 1, and Premium 2 is a 182-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that's capable of running on gasoline and/or E85 ethanol-blended fuel. Optional on these Regals is GM's "eAssist" gas/electric system. It takes the base engine and adds a 15-horsepower battery-powered electric motor. In addition to the power boost, eAssist allows the car to idle without the gasoline engine running. Unlike many traditional gas/electric hybrid cars, Regals equipped with eAssist cannot run solely on electric power; the gas engine restarts when the driver releases their foot from the brake pedal. The sole transmission for both these engines is a 6-speed automatic.

Turbo Premium models get an E85-capable 220-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder and standard 6-speed automatic transmission. A 6-speed manual is available as a no-cost option.

Buyers of the GS will get a 270-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. Unlike the unit in the Turbo Premium, this motor cannot run on E85. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard, while a 6-speed automatic is offered at no charge.

All Regal models are front-wheel drive. In Europe, GM offers an all-wheel-drive, V6 powered Opel Insignia called the OPC. The company has no plans to bring a version of this car to North America.

2012 Buick Regal: Fuel Economy

Regals without eAssist get an EPA fuel-economy rating of 19 mpg city/31 mpg highway on gasoline and 15/22 with E85. Opting for eAssist boosts the numbers to 25 city/36 highway.

Turbo Premium variants score 20 city/32 highway on gas and and 13/22 on E85 with the manual transmission. Automatic versions should see 18/29 on gas and 13/22 on ethanol.

All GS models, regardless of transmission, receive a 19 city/27 highway rating.

2.4-liter Regals use regular-grade gasoline. Buick recommends, but doesn't require, premium for the turbocharged engines. The 182- and 220-horsepower engines can also run on E85 ethanol.

2012 Buick Regal: Safety Features

The 2012 Buick Regal has a standard complement of expected and federally mandated safety features. Rear-side airbags are standard on the Turbo Premium 2, Turbo Premium 3, and GS but are unavailable otherwise.