2012 Buick Regal Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Buick Regal overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Regal, and includes safety, reliability, and fuel economy information for the Regal.

The 2012 Buick Regal is a front-wheel-drive, five-passenger sedan based heavily on Europe’s Opel Insignia. Available with a generous array of features and powertrains, the Regal represents Buick’s answer to competitors like the Acura TSX, the Chrysler 200 and the Volvo S60.

We’ve hardly had time to fully evaluate the new-for-2011 Buick Regal, but here we are with the 2012 model and its myriad updates. Among those are name changes: last year’s CXL and CXL Turbo have been replaced by a base model and five Premium trims. At the top of the lineup is the new Regal GS, a variant that allows “Buick” and “performance” to be spoken in same sentence with a straight face. At the other end of the spectrum is the fuel-sipping eAssist feature that’s available with the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which can now be operated on regular gasoline or E85 (a blend of 85-percent ethanol and 15-percent gas).

Other enhancements include the addition of faux portholes on the hood, secondary turn signals moved from the fenders to the mirror housings and a host of new features, such as Buick’s IntelliLink in-car multimedia technology that will be available late in the model year.

Last year’s CXL and CXL Turbo variants have been replaced by several new variants for 2012: Base, Premium 1, Premium 2, Premium 1 Turbo, Premium 2 Turbo, Premium 3 Turbo, and GS.

In keeping with its upscale status, even the entry-level Buick Regal is well equipped with items such as leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, an audio system with a USB port and iPod compatibility, satellite radio, six months of OnStar’s Turn-by-Turn navigation service, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The 2012 Regal also includes heated front seats, heated mirrors, a leather-wrapped tilt and telescoping steering wheel, and a split-folding rear seat that extends cargo-carrying capacity. Later in the model year, Buick will outfit every Regal with IntelliLink. This technology allows drivers to operate their smartphone’s applications and stream music from sources such as Pandora and Stitcher through the car’s voice-activated and touch-screen controls.

A move up to the Regal Premium 1 or Premium 1 Turbo opens the door to a push-button ignition system, rear parking sensors, a power-adjustable seat for the front passenger, a universal garage door opener, and a remote start feature. The Regal Premium 2 and Premium 2 Turbo add automatic HID headlights with a new blue accent ring for 2012, side airbags for rear outboard passengers, and a 336-watt Harman/Kardon surround sound system. Opt for the Premium 3 Turbo trim level and you’ll enjoy a bump up to 19-inch alloy wheels and access to Buick’s Interactive Drive Control system, featuring a standard setting for the daily commute, a more aggressive Sport mode and a Tour setting serving to dial in maximum comfort.

That technology is also found on the 2012 Buick Regal GS, though it swaps out the Tour setting for a GS mode that truly befits this sporty sedan. Aiding in the performance effort is a unique set of 19-inch alloys. Better yet, consider spending a few extra bucks on the optional 20-inchers wrapped in summer-rated treads.

Of course, the Regal can be decked out with options like a navigation system or a power moonroof, but the most notable upgrade is the eAssist feature. Paired with the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, eAssist uses a lithium-ion battery and regenerative brakes to deliver a burst of extra grunt, while also improving overall fuel economy.

If the 2012 Buick Regal is on your shopping list, prepare to make some choices about what you want under the hood.

Starting things off is a 2.4-liter, flex-fuel four-cylinder that powers the base Regal as well as Premium 1 and Premium 2 variants. Output for this direct-injection engine measures 182 horses and 172 pound-feet of torque, all of which reaches the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual mode. Fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway are somewhat disappointing.

Offering greater efficiency – and power – is the combination of that engine with Buick’s new eAssist system. Included here are a lithium-ion battery, an electric motor/generator, and regenerative brakes. The eAssist technology doesn’t allow the Regal to be motivated solely by electric power, though a start/stop feature cuts fuel to the engine when at a full stop in an effort to save gas. Coupled with other tweaks, such as underbody panels added to improve aerodynamics, the eAssist system boosts fuel economy to 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, all while delivering a 15-horsepower burst under full throttle.

If performance trumps miles-per-gallon on your list of priorities, perhaps the 2012 Regal’s available turbocharged 2.0-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder engine is more appropriate. When paired with the Premium 1 Turbo, Premium 2 Turbo or Premium 3 Turbo trim, buyers are treated to 220 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque and the choice between a six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmission. The stick-shift gearbox proves to be more efficient with EPA ratings of 20 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, whereas the automatic kicks those numbers down to 18 and 29, respectively.

At the top of the 2012 Regal food chain is the GS. Peek under the hood and you’ll find that same turbocharged 2.0-liter, albeit with more boost and, as a result, output measuring 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The six-speed automatic transmission will be available later in the model year, but the first GSs will arrive with the manual gearbox. Drivers can expect 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

Every 2012 Buick Regal is fitted with a host of safety-related items, including six airbags, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, electronic stability control, and OnStar. Parking sensors are standard on the GS and optional on other variants. This focus on protection of people in and outside of the Regal led to it being named one of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Picks in 2011. As of this writing, crash test scores for the 2012 Regal hadn’t been released by the IIHS or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Likewise, reliability data have yet to be published by the two leading providers of such information, Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates, though the latter firm gave the Regal a favorable prediction in its freshman year. Every 2012 Regal is backed by a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The hybrid components included with the eAssist option are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

It’s almost cliché – no, it actually is cliché – to say, “[Car company with a dated image] isn’t your grandfather’s [car company with a dated image].” We won’t use that line here. But, if we did, it certainly would apply to Buick, and in particular, the all-new Regal that debuted last year. With distinctively modern styling, a European-engineered chassis, and a comfortable and reasonably spacious interior, the brand’s entry-level model (until the Buick Verano arrives in late 2011) has a lot to offer prospective buyers.

Though it serves its purpose, you won’t hear us singing the praises of the Regal’s lackluster 2.4-liter four-cylinder, and the 220-horse 2.0-liter, while impressive, doesn’t catapult this sedan into sport-sedan territory. It’s just as well, as that spot is now occupied by the 2012 Regal GS.

With 270 horses on tap, the GS promises to quickly deliver the kind of response that puts smiles on the faces of enthusiasts saddled with a daily commute. After some initial lag, the engine just pulls…and pulls, with the speedometer quickly registering excessive speeds.

Thankfully, the sport-tuned chassis makes the car feel composed, even when the needle climbs into triple digits. Aiding in the effort are high-performance front struts designed to limit torque steer, and the Interactive Drive Control system, which offers three different chassis settings. The most aggressive setting, GS mode, improves steering feel and response, and stiffens the suspension. One could reasonably assume that the ride would suffer as a consequence, but, in fact, we spent much of the day traveling in GS mode and found it to be plenty comfortable.

Factor in the capable stopping power of Brembo front brakes and the light-effort clutch mated to a short-throw six-speed manual transmission, and you have all the ingredients for a fun and capable five-passenger sedan.

While it’s technically a hybrid, a Regal equipped with eAssist drives much like other versions fitted with the 2.4-liter engine, though the system’s components do provide a 15-horsepower advantage. A stop/start feature allows the engine to turn off when the car isn’t moving, and fuel delivery to the engine is halted during deceleration, all in the name of improved fuel economy. Drivers will feel the engine click off and on, but, otherwise, there’s no effect on the operation of the car. The same six-speed automatic transmission is used, albeit with a more efficient lower final drive ratio.

During a short test-drive loop we had a hard time distinguishing our eAssist-equipped model from other non-turbocharged Regals. The extra grunt delivered courtesy of the hybrid system is only palpable at full throttle, and doesn’t make the vehicle feel any quicker or more powerful. Acceleration is satisfactory, though nothing to get excited about, especially given the unrefined raucousness that’s part of the deal. Most interesting to us was the fuel-efficiency gauge, which is a more rudimentary version of the high-tech example found on the Chevrolet Volt. The concept is nothing new, yet we were pleased to discover that keeping the needle in the “green” zone, when the eAssist system provides maximum benefit, can be accomplished even while exercising the throttle a bit.

In case you haven’t heard, change is afoot at Buick, and we dare say that it’s primarily of the positive variety. The 2012 Regal is perhaps the best example, with its good looks, inviting interior and confident handling. We’re not fans of the 2.4-liter engine’s performance or fuel economy, but it becomes a lot more attractive when serving as the basis for the Regal’s smart eAssist hybrid technology. And the GS? Well, that’s the most fun we’ve had in a Buick in a long time. More importantly, like most of the Regal lineup, it stacks up well against the competition.

By Thom Blackett