2019 Buick Regal Sportback

Overview

The 2019 Buick Regal Sportback is a car that defies expectations: it looks like a stylish sedan, but it's actually a hatchback with an SUV-rivaling amount of cargo space. It wears the all-American Buick badge, yet it's based on the European-market Opel Insignia. Not all the surprises are good, however—it doesn't offer quite the athleticism we expect considering its European roots, for instance—but this value-packed Buick nonetheless occupies an interesting middle ground between mainstream family sedans and European luxury hatchbacks. Its price and interior appointments are more like the former, but its looks and performance imitate the latter.

What's New for 2019?

The Regal Sportback family gained a member for 2019 in the form of the top-spec Avenir model. This most luxurious Regal comes standard with quilted leather seats, a unique grille, and nickel-finished 19-inch aluminum wheels. Buick also includes the contents of the Driver Confidence I package (blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and LED headlamps) as standard.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Buick wants new-car shoppers to consider the Regal Sportback alongside entry-luxury cars from the likes of BMW and Audi, but its base price falls in line with mainstream sedans such as the Honda Accord. It's not very well equipped at that price, however, so we'd step up to the Essence trim level to get equipment such as heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and leather upholstery. We'd also suggest the aforementioned Driver Confidence I package.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Likes: Comfortable ride, great braking, strong turbo four-cylinder.
Dislikes: Vague steering, lacks sporty character, recalcitrant optional eight-speed transmission.

The Regal is quick and responsive thanks to its 250-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Front-wheel drive and a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission are standard. All-wheel-drive models get an eight-speed automatic, which is considerably more sluggish and reluctant to downshift. At our test track, our front-wheel-drive test vehicle zipped from zero to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds, which is competitive with rivals such as the Alfa Romeo Giulia. It's even almost neck-in-neck with the 60-hp stronger Buick Regal GS, which managed to shave off only 0.2 second from the Sportback's time.

The standard Regal Sportback is competent in the twisties and provides a fair amount of grip, but it's considerably softer and slower to react to steering commands than its sportier hatchback competitors. It rides quite comfortably, but vague, overly light steering keeps it from being involving to drive. The Regal's brake pedal is firm and inspires confidence, and both Regals we tested provided best-in-class stopping distances.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

With its standard front-wheel drive, the Regal Sportback hits perfectly average mpg numbers in its segment; adding all-wheel drive drops the ratings by a few mpg all around. In our real-world highway fuel-economy testing, it fell 1 mpg short of its government rating at 31 mpg. The Audi A5 Sportback and the BMW 430i Gran Coupe both handily beat the Buick with 34 mpg and 37 mpg results, respectively.

Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo

Likes: Plenty of passenger space, lots of standard connectivity, large trunk.
Dislikes: Low-class interior materials, lack of equipment on lower trims, 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat isn't standard.

The Regal's cabin is much more family sedan than luxury car, with tons of space for all passengers but a decidedly plebeian environment that's let down by cheap materials. This assessment is even more egregious considering that we tested the more expensive Essence model; less expensive models look even more dour with their cloth upholstery, and they also lack equipment, such as heated seats, that we expect at this price. On the plus side, the Buick's interior is laid out in a simple and easy to use manner, with logical button placement and intuitive infotainment and climate controls. Both front- and rear-seat passengers enjoy comfortable seats and plenty of space. The rear seat is a bit smaller than the Honda Accord sedan's but offers considerably more room than its sportier hatchback competitors.

The Regal comes standard with most of the connectivity features you'd want, and its touchscreen is easy to use and quick to respond. The standard 7.0-inch screen is plenty functional, with standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and in-car Wi-Fi. You have to step up to the larger 8.0-inch screen to get SiriusXM satellite radio and navigation; it's offered as part of a package on the Preferred trim and is standard on Preferred II and Essence models. A premium Bose audio system is offered on higher trim levels as part of a Sights and Sounds package.

The hatchback body style is an ace up the Regal's sleeve, providing tons of cargo space and a surprising amount of configurability. Interior storage cubbies are plentiful, too. The rear seats fold flat, offering an uninterrupted cargo floor that can easily accommodate big items such as a bicycle. Lower trim levels have conventional 60/40-split rear seats, while upper trims feature a 40/20/40-split seat that allows for even more customizability. We also appreciate the levers in the cargo area that make folding the seats a cinch. We fit seven of our carry-on suitcases in the trunk and with the rear seats flat, the Regal managed to swallow 19 cases. Looking for more space for cargo? Check out the Regal TourX station wagon.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Regal Sportback hasn't yet been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Crucial driver-assistance features such as forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking require stepping all the way up to at least the Essence model and then paying for two separate Driver Confidence packages. That's nigh on unacceptable when a base-model Accord offers many of these features. Key safety features include:

• Available automated emergency braking
• Available lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Buick's warranty coverage is longer than most of its competitors, save for Kia's. It includes the longest roadside-assistance coverage, and the first maintenance visit is complimentary.

• Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 6 years or 70,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first year