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2012 Buick Regal

In the upscale, midsize car category, the 2012 Buick Regal is a great value. The Regal offers performance and comfort at a reasonable price, that other competitors do not. The Regal is offered in two variants, the Regal eAssist, and the Buick Regal GS, and all have received good safety ratings overall.

The Regal has a very comfortable, high-quality interior which is roomy and loaded with standard features. With its European-style exterior that is sleekly sculpted, it is anything but a boring-looking sedan.

Specifications

General Info
Vehicle Type: Sedan Base Price: $27,055.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 18 gallons (68L) MPG: 19 city / 31 hwy
Dimensions
Length: 190.2 in. (483.1 cm) Wheel Base: 107.8 in. (273.8 cm)
Height: 58.4 in. (148.3 cm) Width: 73.1 in. (185.6 cm)
Curb Weight: 3600 lbs (1633 kg) Ground Clearance: NA
Luggage Capacity: 14.2 cu ft Maximum Seating: 5 people
Performance
Engine: ECOTEC® 4-cylinder Displacement: 2.4 Liter
Horsepower: 182 HP Max RPM: 6700 RPM
Torque: 172 lb-ft @ 4900 rpm Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
Available Trims & Engine
Option:Premium 1 MSRP: $28,490; MPG: 19 city / 31 hwy
Option:Premium 2 MSRP: $29,900; MPG: 19 city / 31 hwy
Option:Premium 1 Turbo 2.0L MSRP: $30,260; MPG: 18 city / 29 hwy
Option:Premium 2 Turbo 2.0L MSRP: $31,670; MPG: 18 city / 29 hwy
Option:Premium 3 Turbo 2.0L MSRP: $32,920; MPG: 18 city / 29 hwy
Option:GS 2.0L M/T MSRP: $34,835; MPG: 19 city / 27 hwy

Engine Performance

The 2012 Regal base model offers a 2.4 liter, ECOTEC, 4-cylinder, gas engine. The engine has 182 horsepower at 6700 rpm, and while it is not a speed machine, it provides 20 mpg in the city, and 32 mpg on the highway.

It has a four-link independent rear suspension, and 6-speed, electronically-controlled automatic transmission featuring Driver Shift Control. The Regal is front-wheel drive, and a 4-wheel, anti-lock disc brake system. These features in combination provide precise and agile handling, and retain the Buick motto of building to perform.

Exterior

The exterior has beautiful, sweeping lines, with the signature Buick waterfall grill in front. Ample window room is available, so vision is enhanced. It has complimentary halogen composite headlights, and 18-inch alloy wheels. It has a very sleek, European look, and is available in various colors.

The standard colors to choose from are Quicksilver, Gold Mist, Blue, Summit White, Black Onyx, and Smokey Gray. Color upgrades are being added such as Crystal Red, Carbon Black, and White Diamond.

Interior

Buick’s IntelliLink infotainment system is standard in all Regal models. It includes a 7-speaker audio system, USB port, Bluetooth capability, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, OnStar, heated driver and front-passenger seats, eight-way power driver-seat adjuster, four-way lumbar support driver-seat adjuster, and steering-wheel mounted controls.

The Regal seats five comfortably and the cabin is quiet and cool, with the air-conditioning provided.

The Regal has a low instrument panel, with its gauges highlighted by easy to read LED lights. The center stack of controls is framed by high-quality trim, and the interior trim colors are satin metallic, piano-black, plastic, or dark wood. The interior color choices of classy cashmere and ebony are provided for the seating and door panels.

Safety

The Regal is equipped with StabiliTrak, providing optimal directional control which helps the car to hug the road. The four-wheel anti-lock brake system and patented pedal-release system are also featured on the Regal. The 2012 Regal was a top safety choice for 2012, by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) because of these features, and the side-impact protection beams, double pre-tensioned front safety belts, and six air bags, offering the latest in technology, with two-stage inflation.

Reliability

The Regal offers a four-year or 50,000-mile basic warranty, or a five-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Roadside assistance and courtesy transportation are offered for the duration of the warranty. Buick is certain of the car’s reliability, due to its high engineering standards. They count on the Regal being as reliable as the owner does.

Competition

Other vehicles that the Regal may be compared to include the Acura TL (MSRP $35,705; 20 city / 29 hwy), the Infiniti G25 (MSRP $33,100; 20 city / 29 hwy), and the Volkswagen CC (MSRP $28,515; 21 city / 31 hwy). The lower price, for premium features is a great selling point for the Regal.

The Hyundai Sonata manual model (MSRP $19,795; 24 city / 35 hwy) and the Acura TSX (MSRP $30,010; 22 city / 31 hwy) may provide equal standard features and fuel economy, but for the elegant look, the American-made Regal is still superior.

The 2012 Regal is a midsize, upscale car for those depending on performance, better fuel economy, interior comfort and quiet, and a new, sleeker look.

Overall Rating
75 out of 100

What others say:

“The 2012 Buick Regal has a little less interior space than plainer family sedans, but it’s on par with its premium competition.”Car Connection

“Nimble and balanced in quick direction changes. The steering is direct but smooth, with good feedback. The brakes provide good stopping control. Interactive Drive Control System’s Sport mode delivers quicker moves.”Consumer Guide

“The Regal is a well-honed sports sedan with a taut and steady ride, sporty handling, and quick, direct steering. Wind noise is well suppressed.”MSN Auto-ConsumerReports

“If you’ve grown tired of the generic-looking mid-size “one size fits all” crowd, and you think it might be time to give a domestic manufacturer another chance, the 2012 Buick Regal will definitely help convince you that just because a car has four doors doesn’t mean it has to be boring.”KBB

“After a somewhat disappointing debut last year, the 2012 Buick Regal receives some much-needed improvements. But unless you spring for the GS version, it’s still quite a ways off from its lofty sport sedan positioning.”Edmunds

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