EXECUTIVE EDITOR-AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: Forget everything you ever thought you knew about Buicks, about Regals and about soft American near-luxury sedans. This 2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo does not fit the mold.
Instead, this Regal Turbo is a sporty car to drive, with a turbo-boosted, peppy four-cylinder under the hood, suspension settings and a well-appointed interior.
Buick has run a few superchargers in the past decade, but the last time the division offered a turbo engine was in the 1987 Regal and Regal Grand National, back when performance and Buick went together like Indy and 500. The last manual, Buick reminds us, was in the utterly forgettable 1990 Skylark, and never has Buick offered a turbo-engine-and-manual-trans combination.
Here's what: General Motors has been cloning Buicks from Opels for a few years now, with the LaCrosse and the Regal as the primary beneficiaries. Now GM is daring to take it one step further, to push Buick outside the comfort zone and into a new world where Buick stands for something more than rolling lounge chair. With the Turbo manual, the company nails it.The car is nothing short of astounding to drive and the steering wheel, pedals and shifter fall right where you want them.
Punching up sport mode gets you a noticeably dialed-up suspension and steering response, where actual road feel is transmitted into the cabin and up through the steering wheel. Stability controls and throttle response also are modified. The effect is evident, with road imperfections telegraphed into the cabin, along with how the suspension is responding under hard cornering and aggressive driving.
This car is a capable competitor to the Acura TSX, but is more handsome.
MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: The new Regal is as stylish and exciting as I would have ever dreamed.
This turbo Regal indeed struck me as a skilled, efficient and nice-looking cruiser more than a serious sports sedan.
Power delivery is smooth the car stops well, I was comfortable behind the wheel and I was able to find a good driving position easily.
Overall, Buick has a winner here, and I suspect most potential buyers will enjoy a test drive in it more than enough to sell them on taking it home, especially if they fall for the nice design.
2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo
- Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4; FWD, six-speed manual
- Output: 220 hp @ 5,300 rpm, 258 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm
- Curb Weight: 3,768 lb
- Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 26/20.9 mpg
- Options: T07 optional equipment including rear-seat-mounted airbags, power sunroof, interactive drive control system with sport and tour modes, 19-inch alloy wheels, HID headlamps, premium nine-speaker sound system and audio system with navigation and single CD/DVD player
The Borcherding TeamSource: [Auto Week]
