“TURBO-BUICK, TURBO-BUICK” the ad got my attention…so off I went to test drive the new 2011 Buick Regal Turbo edition. Now full disclosure I once owned a Buick Century, inherited from a family member, so my interest was piqued at the thought of a Buick pitching to the shamelessly self-absorbed import-driven baby-boomer too cool to consider a Buick. HA! they got me. The 2011 Buick Regal lines are sexier than the Camry, Accord, and Altima that crowd the mid-size sedan class. The look is perhaps a cross between the Mazda 6 and Audi A4, with a better looking grill than the Sonata and back-end of the Optima. The 4cyl 220 HP Regal Turbo flies past the base-line Japanese rivals and holds it’s own with the Acura TSX and Audi A4. I would imagine it will match the stride of the turbo versions of both Korean invaders, yet to arrive stateside. Fuel economy ( 18-28) be damned in this 4cyl 6 speed automatic, the TURBO gets your attention (160mph speedo) and stays on the road… making you forget…AH HA… IT’S A BUICK! The handling and suspension are nimble and quick with a fair amount of body roll in the corners but at least it doesn’t float along the road like it’s predecessors. No wind or road noise transfer into the cabin and the engine growls respectfully when pushed into action. The over length of the Buick is 6″ shorter than the Mazda6, which I would say is it’s closest competitor along with the Kia Optima for Top 3 ranking in the MyCarlady stats. The rear legroom is where these other two beat the Regal. The rear seat headroom is fine and the c-pillar is strategically placed to avoid a massive blind-spot. The side view mirrors are rather small, don’t tilt down in reverse or have the popular side-approach warning mirrors. The seats are comfortable, with bolstering but not to narrow> The Harmon-Kardon sound system is great, with an iPod and USB port that allows you to upload your music and even play movies on the nav screen when in park. The buttons on the dash are small and not easy to grab with nails, but you can navigate the radio and navigation from the steering wheel or console knob. The Navigation is NOT touchscreen. This car was a top seller in the Opal division of GM in Europe, Number #1 in 2009, so the kinks are pretty well worked out, but this also explains some of the missing options I’ve come to expect in a car at this price point, the CXL Turbo I drove was $34k, with an awesome lease program at $400.00 a month (oac) it rivals the top of the line Acura TSX, Audi A4 and the Kia Optima SX Turbo. All in all the Buick Regal would have been easier to pitch if they had dropped the REGAL name and called it the BUICK RGL-T, but hey, I’m just a car enthusiast of the age to remember the saying, “it’s not your father’s Oldsmobile”…oh really? Considering a sport sedan of the above mentioned brands? Take a test drive in the new 2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo it is DEFINITELY worth the time and the price may surprise you!
This isn’t your Grandma’s BUICK!
Positives: Styling, Handling, Sound system, Turbo power for $34k loaded. Negatives: MISSING: Pushbutton START, Touchscreen Navigation, Backup CAMERA, more legroom in the rear. Warranty: 3yr/36k basic and 5yr. or 100k Powertrain ———————————————————————–If you need any car buying, selling, trading or financing assistance on any new or used vehicle, please do not hesitate to email me at sarahlee@mycarlady.com,mvides422@gmail.com,carlady@cox.net or give me a call; 702-788-3868 I’m here to help you with any of your automotive needs and advice is ALWAYS free. Sarah Lee is an automotive executive with 22+ years of experience. She writes about Cars, and is a staunch consumer advocate on car related subjects. Her company: MY CARLADY is a personal car consultant service committed to helping you manage your fleet, one car or many. Servicing, selling or buying, MyCarlady understand how to get the best deal: new or pre-owned. You can reach her at sarahlee@mycarlady.com,mvides422@gmail.com,carlady@cox.net ]]>