2019 Buick Regal TourX: Luxury Wagon Exhibits Drive Dynamics of a Car and Versatility of an SUV
If you are used to seeing the Buick Regal as an upscale, quiet sedan … get ready for an expanded experience. As variants on the 6th-generation Regal, Buick has trebled down with a four-door Sportback, the GS sedan and the TourX wagon.
What began in 1973 as a classy sedan with a Buick-silent interior, the Regal ended its initial production run in 2004 and was relaunched to North America in 2011 (production and sales have been ongoing in China since 1999). Following a sporty mid-generation tweaking in 2014, Buick went all-new with Regal in 2018, with a sleek, sporty design increased horsepower, an upgraded cabin and advanced infotainment … and went on a quest to appeal to all tastes with a separate five-door sportback (hatch) design and the vehicle I tested – the TourX station wagon/crossover, which Buick touts as “a crossover with the drive dynamics of a car and the versatility of an SUV; a contemporary design and attainable luxury credentials … combined with passion and youthful energy.”
While the GS sedan offers a 310-hp 3.6-liter direct injection V- 6 engine, and the Sportback gives buyers an option of the 3.6 or a 250-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four, the TourX only goes with I-4 turbo. But the TourX doesn’t skimp on much else. Available in three trim levels — TourX, Preferred and Essence — the TourX line is designed to introduce a new generation and a new segment of buyers to the Buick brand, while showcasing more of a lifestyle vehicle than the rep of the traditional Buick. The base Regal TourX is not outfitted with all the frills of the two upgraded trims -- power seats, leather upholstery, automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped wheel, driver aids and upgraded infotainment features, etc., but it presents plenty as standard including an all-wheel-drive system, a flat-folding rear seat to increase cargo space to 74 cu.ft., keyless push-button start/entry, air conditioning/dehumidifier, hands-free power liftgate, eight-speed automatic transmission, Hill Start Assist, 10 air bags, universal home remote, heated side mirrors, and a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. And for 2019, the Base TourX offers an optional air ionizer for climate control system.
TourX employs unibody construction and Euro-sculpting, with a raked windshield, forward leaning dynamics and purposeful side creases. Coming at you is Buick’s winged heptagonal grille, flanked by LED daytime running lights and headlights that enhance the low, wide appearance of the front end. The luxury wagon weighs in at 3708 lbs (curb weight) and measures 196.3 inches long, 73.3 inches wide and 5.4 inches high on a 11.4-inch wheelbase, to provide confidence, stability and generous interior cargo room, though it doesn’t translate exactly into occupant room.
The Regal TourX seats five and is tighter inside than one would expect, with 38.8 inches of front headroom and 39.6 inches in row two; legroom is 42.1 inches up front and 36.9 inches in the rear seats, and shoulder room is 56.9 and 55.4. Its long, low appearance suggests roominess, and the intuitive layout and controls make it a luxurious passenger’s environment with a driver-centric approach that features sophisticated fit and finish, premium materials and host of modern technologies. The cabin demeanor is upscale, clean and uncluttered, though the Buick legacy of quietness is slightly intruded upon by noticeable wind noise.
TourX power is predictable and solid for the niche, delivered by a direct fuel injection 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 250hp and 295 lb-ft of torque lags a beat until the turbo kicks in, but I still managed a 6.8-second zero-to-60mph sprint during a 15.2-second quarter-mile.
Fuel economy is EPA rated at 21 mpg/city and 29 mpg/highway and my week of tests yielded an average of 24.9 mpg.
TourX’s low center of gravity and rack-mounted electric power steering make for precise cornering, and the Macpherson strut front suspension and a 5-link rear level pavement irregularities with the expectation of a luxury vehicle.
TourX safety measures include standard frontal airbags, knee airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags and head-curtain airbag; StabiliTrak, electronic stability control system with traction control and daytime Running Lamps; and available active safety features including Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Park Assist.
There is a Buick Regal for nearly every taste. The 2019 Buick Regal Sportback starts at $24,990, and runs through five trims, topping at nearly $40,000. The Regal GS Sedan bases at $39,070 and the Buick Regal TourX is available in three trims, starting at $29,070 for the TourX; basing at $32,670 for the Preferred trim that adds Eight-Way Power Driver Seat With Two-Way Power Lumbar, Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
and other items; and upscaling to $35,070 for the Essence trim with Heated, Leather-Appointed Driver and Front-Passenger Seats, Heated, Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel and Hands-Free Power Liftgate with LED Logo Projection.
My base TourX in standard Summit White, with Shale cloth seats came with the Buick® Infotainment System with 7-inch diagonal color touch-screen. Floor mats added $100; Roof luggage carriers added $519; and destination and freight charges added $925 for a price-as-tested of $30,614.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
What began in 1973 as a classy sedan with a Buick-silent interior, the Regal ended its initial production run in 2004 and was relaunched to North America in 2011 (production and sales have been ongoing in China since 1999). Following a sporty mid-generation tweaking in 2014, Buick went all-new with Regal in 2018, with a sleek, sporty design increased horsepower, an upgraded cabin and advanced infotainment … and went on a quest to appeal to all tastes with a separate five-door sportback (hatch) design and the vehicle I tested – the TourX station wagon/crossover, which Buick touts as “a crossover with the drive dynamics of a car and the versatility of an SUV; a contemporary design and attainable luxury credentials … combined with passion and youthful energy.”
While the GS sedan offers a 310-hp 3.6-liter direct injection V- 6 engine, and the Sportback gives buyers an option of the 3.6 or a 250-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four, the TourX only goes with I-4 turbo. But the TourX doesn’t skimp on much else. Available in three trim levels — TourX, Preferred and Essence — the TourX line is designed to introduce a new generation and a new segment of buyers to the Buick brand, while showcasing more of a lifestyle vehicle than the rep of the traditional Buick. The base Regal TourX is not outfitted with all the frills of the two upgraded trims -- power seats, leather upholstery, automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped wheel, driver aids and upgraded infotainment features, etc., but it presents plenty as standard including an all-wheel-drive system, a flat-folding rear seat to increase cargo space to 74 cu.ft., keyless push-button start/entry, air conditioning/dehumidifier, hands-free power liftgate, eight-speed automatic transmission, Hill Start Assist, 10 air bags, universal home remote, heated side mirrors, and a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. And for 2019, the Base TourX offers an optional air ionizer for climate control system.
TourX employs unibody construction and Euro-sculpting, with a raked windshield, forward leaning dynamics and purposeful side creases. Coming at you is Buick’s winged heptagonal grille, flanked by LED daytime running lights and headlights that enhance the low, wide appearance of the front end. The luxury wagon weighs in at 3708 lbs (curb weight) and measures 196.3 inches long, 73.3 inches wide and 5.4 inches high on a 11.4-inch wheelbase, to provide confidence, stability and generous interior cargo room, though it doesn’t translate exactly into occupant room.
The Regal TourX seats five and is tighter inside than one would expect, with 38.8 inches of front headroom and 39.6 inches in row two; legroom is 42.1 inches up front and 36.9 inches in the rear seats, and shoulder room is 56.9 and 55.4. Its long, low appearance suggests roominess, and the intuitive layout and controls make it a luxurious passenger’s environment with a driver-centric approach that features sophisticated fit and finish, premium materials and host of modern technologies. The cabin demeanor is upscale, clean and uncluttered, though the Buick legacy of quietness is slightly intruded upon by noticeable wind noise.
TourX power is predictable and solid for the niche, delivered by a direct fuel injection 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 250hp and 295 lb-ft of torque lags a beat until the turbo kicks in, but I still managed a 6.8-second zero-to-60mph sprint during a 15.2-second quarter-mile.
Fuel economy is EPA rated at 21 mpg/city and 29 mpg/highway and my week of tests yielded an average of 24.9 mpg.
TourX’s low center of gravity and rack-mounted electric power steering make for precise cornering, and the Macpherson strut front suspension and a 5-link rear level pavement irregularities with the expectation of a luxury vehicle.
TourX safety measures include standard frontal airbags, knee airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags and head-curtain airbag; StabiliTrak, electronic stability control system with traction control and daytime Running Lamps; and available active safety features including Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Park Assist.
There is a Buick Regal for nearly every taste. The 2019 Buick Regal Sportback starts at $24,990, and runs through five trims, topping at nearly $40,000. The Regal GS Sedan bases at $39,070 and the Buick Regal TourX is available in three trims, starting at $29,070 for the TourX; basing at $32,670 for the Preferred trim that adds Eight-Way Power Driver Seat With Two-Way Power Lumbar, Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
and other items; and upscaling to $35,070 for the Essence trim with Heated, Leather-Appointed Driver and Front-Passenger Seats, Heated, Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel and Hands-Free Power Liftgate with LED Logo Projection.
My base TourX in standard Summit White, with Shale cloth seats came with the Buick® Infotainment System with 7-inch diagonal color touch-screen. Floor mats added $100; Roof luggage carriers added $519; and destination and freight charges added $925 for a price-as-tested of $30,614.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
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