Buick launched the facelift Regal in China, and they talk about stylish design and outstanding driving dynamics. Even so, the sedan won’t be missed in America.
The car comes with a slightly redesigned front fascia that displays a large radiator grille with wing-shaped chrome accents and distinct double-wing LED headlights, which, the carmaker says, credit the car with an aggressive sporty demeanor. The model sports boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and taillights, the kind of lights that were all the rage in the 2010s.
Buick tried to make the Regal sleeker, with improved aerodynamics, but you don’t have to believe everything you're told. The new twi-shield badge shows up on the hood.
A 2,829-millimeter (111.4-inch) wheelbase provides decent space for those sitting in the rear. Buick claims that there is a premium feeling on board, enhanced by the floating console and door handles, soft materials, patterned leather, and double-stitched seams, plus chrome detailing.
The cabin design isn’t doing any favors to the Regal, a generation that has been on the market since 2017 and has now undergone facelift. But if they can ignore that, the future owners will be glad to get a new three-spoke multifunctional steering wheel with a shift paddle, keyless entry, six-way adjustable power seats with heating function, and dual-zone automatic air conditioning.
Photo: Buick
The latest-get eConnect infotainment system shown on an 8-inch display is on board to also support smartphone connectivity. There isn’t any Android Auto or Apple CarPlay because this is China we’re talking about. There is, though, the Baidu AI voice assistant. Real-time vehicle diagnosis and remote control are provided by the OnStar system and upgraded Buick App.
Buick retuned the chassis for extra stiffness, trying to give the Regal a sportier road behavior. But is it really so?
The engine lineup starts with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder direct injection turbocharged engine with 166 horsepower (169 PS) and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque, which eventually does the 0 to 62 mph run (0-100 kph) in 9.1 seconds. This one is mated to a nine-speed auto box and takes the car to a top speed of 127 mph (205 kph).
But things are getting better upper in the range, where there is the 2.0-liter variable cylinder turbo engine paired with a nine-speed Hydra-Magic intelligent transmission. This power unit brings along 233 horsepower (237 PS) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque for an acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in 7.1 seconds. Top speed goes all the way to 149 mph (240 kph).
The customers in China will be able to buy it for either RMB 159,800, which is the equivalent of $22,312, or RMB 175,800 for the range-topping variant, which would be around $24,550. More than 1.7 million Chinese customers have purchased a Regal since the introduction of the nameplate on the Asian market out of the 10 million cars sold by Buick there since 1998.
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