2017 Buick Regal Review
2017 Buick Regal Review





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Edmunds' Expert Review

byJonathan Elfalan
Director, Vehicle Testing
Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at Edmunds, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.
Pros
- Generous list of standard features
- cabin stays quiet at highway speeds
- optional turbocharged engine delivers strong acceleration
- available with all-wheel drive for extra wet-weather traction
Cons
- Lackluster acceleration from base engine
- mediocre fuel economy with either engine
- interior quality falls short of what you get from rival luxury sedans
- back seat isn't very accommodating
What’s new
The Buick Regal heads into 2017 without any significant changes. It's expected to undergo a full redesign for the 2018 model year.
Vehicle overview
The 2017 Buick Regal occupies a unique space in the midsize sedan segment. It's a small notch above run-of-the-mill sedans but doesn't quite make the leap to entry-level luxury, as the Cadillac ATS does. The Regal will appeal to buyers who prioritize value, with its solid foundation of standard features and approachable cost of entry.
2017 Regal Highlights
1SV
- Combined MPG
- 23 MPG
- Cost to Drive
- $173/month
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- front wheel drive
- Engine Type
- Flex-fuel (ffv)
- Warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
The 2017 model year marks the end of the current Regal generation, so few changes beyond a couple paint colors and new wheel designs separate the 2017s from last year's models. The base front-drive model comes with a 2.4-liter engine that returns slightly underwhelming acceleration and fuel economy. All models above the base 1SV trim receive a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a much livelier output of 259 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and that's the engine we recommend getting. Buick's ambitions to present the Regal as a more premium model aren't as effective as when it first came out, though, mostly due to the rising quality of its competition. Also, its lack of rear passenger space, namely in the head- and legroom departments, is something to consider if you plan to carry a full load of taller adults regularly.
Some other models that you should compare to the Regal include the Acura TLX, which starts a bit higher in price but provides better rear seat accommodations, excellent cargo space and a generous list of standard features. And while you're checking out the TLX, its close cousin, the 2017 Honda Accord, is definitely worth a look as well. Straddling a similar line between standard and luxury cars is the Toyota Avalon. It sports a clean, comfortable cabin design with generous rear passenger accommodations and is powered by a strong yet fuel-efficient V6 engine. And finally, there's the 2017 Lincoln MKZ, another feature-rich entry-level luxury sedan that makes a bold styling statement.
The 2017 Buick Regal comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability control, front seat side-impact airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Rear-seat side airbags are standard on the Premium II and GS. The standard OnStar system includes automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, an emergency button, a stolen vehicle locator and remote door unlock.
The optional Driver Confidence 1 package includes blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert and a frontal collision warning system. The Driver Confidence 2 package adds adaptive cruise control and a more sophisticated frontal collision mitigation system that initiates automatic braking in potential crash situations.
In Edmunds brake testing, a turbocharged Regal came to a stop from 60 mph in 118 feet, which is shorter than average for a car in this class. A GS with the optional 20-inch summer tires managed to stop in an even shorter 113 feet, although most other sport sedans with summer tires fare even better.
In government crash tests, the Regal received the top five-star rating overall, including four stars for total frontal-impact safety and five stars for total side-impact safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Regal its highest score of "Good" in the moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength crash tests. The Regal's seat and head restraint design was also rated "Good" for whiplash protection in rear impacts.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
The 2017 Buick Regal is an interesting sedan if you're shopping for something that has qualities from both the midsize family sedan and entry-level luxury sedan categories. You're going to like its slightly elevated degree of comfort, style and elegance.
Driving
When equipped with the optional turbocharged engine, the 2017 Buick Regal provides enough dynamic motivation that you'll likely be satisfied. It might not be the most refined or efficient four-cylinder in this price range, but real-world acceleration is more than ample in most situations. The base model engine doesn't provide any advantages other than small cost savings, so making the upgrade is a good idea.
Engines aside, the Regal delivers with a smooth ride and a remarkably quiet cabin. Models that are equipped with the sport suspension conduct themselves surprisingly well in the corners without much sacrifice in ride comfort — we'd actually call it borderline fun. What perhaps is holding the Regal back most from being engaging is a lack of steering feel. However, it's light and reasonably precise, so most will find it agreeable in casual driving.
With an image portrayed as "sporty luxury," the Regal doesn't excel in either area. But it has a little of both, if you get the right trim.
Interior
Inside, the 2017 Buick Regal features a sleek dashboard with minimal button clutter. Although the quality of the materials is satisfactory, the appearance is upscale, if not fully luxury-grade. The standard 8-inch touchscreen powers the IntelliLink infotainment system, which features large icons and Pandora radio compatibility as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. The IntelliLink interface graphics are colorful and sharp, and it uses smartphone-style swipe commands and voice recognition functionality. Buick includes the same screen on every model, as opposed to making you pay more for a premium display as many competitors do.
The Regal's front seats sport firm cushioning but lack a little lateral support. Rear seat passengers might find the back seat relatively cramped, which is surprising given the exterior dimensions. The Regal's elegant sloping roof line is partially to blame, as it cuts into available rear headroom.
Out back, the Regal offers a decent 14.2 cubic feet of trunk space, which is marginally better than some competitors.
2017 Buick Regal models
The 2017 Buick Regal is a midsize sedan that comes in 1SV, Sport Touring, Premium II and GS trim levels.
The base 1SV Regal starts with 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic xenon headlights, foglights, remote keyless entry, heated power mirrors, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, an eight-way power driver seat (with two-way power lumbar), a power, height-adjustable passenger seat (with manual adjustments), split-folding rear seats, a tilt-and-telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Also standard are Buick's IntelliLink infotainment system (with an 8-inch touchscreen), a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, Siri Eyes Free (giving iPhone users voice control over a range of functions via the Bluetooth microphone), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for enhanced smartphone functionality, a Wi-Fi hot spot with 4G LTE data, OnStar emergency communications, and a seven-speaker audio system with a CD player, satellite radio and two USB ports.
The Sport Touring trim adds a more powerful turbocharged engine and dual exhaust outlets as well as unique 18-inch wheels with black-painted pockets and a rear spoiler.
The Premium II adds front LED signature lighting, rear parking sensors, rear-seat side airbags, keyless entry and push-button ignition, remote start, a heated steering wheel, an eight-way power passenger seat (with two-way power lumbar), a 110-volt power outlet, a navigation system and a nine-speaker Bose audio system.
The range topping Regal GS comes with 19-inch wheels (20-inch wheels with summer tires are optional), unique front and rear fascias, front and rear parking sensors, a sport-tuned suspension with adaptive dampers, two selectable drive modes (influencing suspension, steering and shift calibration), Brembo front brakes, body-color sport rocker panels, an enlarged and configurable gauge-cluster information display, unique pedals, sport front seats and a three-spoke sport steering wheel.
Most of these GS features are exclusive, but the sport-tuned suspension (minus the adaptive dampers) is also specified on non-GS Regals with AWD. Optional on the Premium II and GS are two Driver Confidence packages. The first adds numerous safety technologies (including a blind-spot monitor, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert and forward collision alert) as well as driver memory settings, while the second — which requires the first — adds adaptive cruise control and a forward collision mitigation system with automatic emergency braking.
Stand-alone options, depending on trim, include some of the higher trims' standard features plus a sunroof and 18-inch chrome-clad wheels.
The base 2017 Buick Regal 1SV employs a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. EPA fuel economy ratings, 23 mpg combined (19 city/30 highway), are disappointingly low given the modest output and comparison to the competition.
In Edmunds testing of a Regal with the 2.4-liter powertrain, we recorded a substandard 0-60-mph time of 9.8 seconds. That's by far the slowest time we've recorded for a midsize sedan, let alone a sedan like the Regal with premium pretensions.
The remaining Regal trims rely on a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 259 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive optional. A six-speed automatic transmission is also standard across the board.
The EPA rates the turbocharged Regal at 24 mpg combined (21 city/29 highway) with front-wheel drive and the automatic, and 22 mpg combined (19 city/27 highway) with AWD.
In Edmunds testing, an all-wheel-drive Regal with the 2.0-liter turbo accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, which is slower than many choices in this price range. It's also one of the slowest among midsize sedans with an upgraded engine.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2017 Buick Regal.
5 star(67%)
4 star(24%)
3 star(5%)
2 star(2%)
1 star(2%)
42 reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
First Buick after five Cadillacs
Daniel Wal, 10/25/2015
2015 Buick Regal Premium I 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
UPDATE: 10/26/2016 - it's been 18 months, my Regal is still going strong. Lifetime (40K miles) MPG is up 30 - amazing for a sporty car that loves being revved. I didn't mention previously, but one of my favorite features is OnStar Remote Link - being able to track where my car is, start it, check vitals, etc. from my phone is such a convenience - you'll wonder how you live without it. …
Lately, we've noticed some squeaking coming from the dash - it's not too bad yet, and we have put a LOT of miles on this car. Next time she goes in for an oil change, I'll ask dealer to take a look/listen.
Dealer service department is A+ - Premier Autoplex in Livingston - couldn't be friendly or provide better service. I don't take my vehicles anyplace but the GM dealer for servicing. The price is in line with competition and they know their vehicles better (I've know people who've tried to 'cheap out' and ended up ruining their cars because their "Average Joe" mechanic didn't know enough about their vehicle to maintain/fix it properly).
Like all GM vehicles, the Regal suffers from being 'unknown' and American. So many people are devoted to Honda or Toyota that they won't even test drive other vehicles - and they lose out. I am pleased every time I see, get in, or drive my Regal - it's just about the perfect car... Great gas mileage, excellent road manners, fast, comfortable (if you'll notice, we put on about 150 miles every day... we're in the car well over two hours every day, so comfort is important), very well equipped for a $30K vehicle, and reliable.
Update: 4/2016
Well, it's been a year with my Regal and my first impression hasn't changed much. It's still an awesome car. As luxurious as my previous Cadillacs, but with a much easier to use instrument panel (real buttons!!!). MPG is up to 28.5 - and I don't have a feather foot in any way, although we do a majority of our driving on the highway (about 150 miles, round trip daily).
The only quibbles: 1.) The computer that senses the remote had to be replaced (under warranty) - it wasn't recognizing the fobs - worrisome in a car that was less than a year old; 2.) The interior has a few squeaks - not surprising with a sunroof, I guess, but there are some annoying buzzes that we can't locate.
We still love the car's power, handling, braking, and of course, the outstanding fuel economy. We routinely see over 30 MPG, average. It's too bad this car doesn't sell better - it's one of the best vehicles GM sells, for that matter, any manufacturer. It's a great buy, in my opinion.
Original Review:
So, after five Cadillacs (3 STSs, and 2 CTSs), I decided to try the Buick Regal. I liked the size and fuel economy (we commute 150 miles daily). I couldn't stand the CUE interface in the Cadillac and was a little dismayed that the same basic system is used in the Buick. I have to say, though, that it works much better in the Buick - there are hard buttons for the climate controls and radio - very nice. The individual temp controls and seat heater controls are a weird touch-panel that doesn't work very well - Buick should have just used hard buttons like the rest of the climate controls.
The front seats are very comfortable and there is plenty of room. The center console is a bit small, as is the glove box, but this is a fairly small vehicle so I guess that's to be expected. The back seat looks nice, but it also looks very cramped although my 5'6" mom doesn't complain at all, even when she sits behind the driver seat (I'm 6'4"). The trunk is spacious and the Premium I package includes almost everything my Caddy's had (except, alas, ventilated seats).
Driving dynamics are great - she's fast, fluid, and agile. Passing is a piece of cake, the brakes are monsters, and the ride is well-controlled (definitely not grandma's Buick). The Navigation, like CUE and other GM products is flaky - we end up using our phones more than the car's nav. Also, the split functionality (between the nav and the instrument panel) is a very strange design - sometimes the system initially 'finds' a destination, but then the navigation system cannot... routing is also terrible... more than once GM's Navigation systems have tried taking us down non-existent roads.
Fuel economy is great for the size and performance. The 2.0 Turbo is plenty powerful and we always use premium "Top Tier" gasoline.
5 out of 5 stars
Love the AWD
David, 03/01/2017
2016 Buick Regal Premium II 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Never thought I'be be buying a Buick but i really love this car. It drives great. If you live in snowy New England, this car is a great way to have great traction without having to have an SUV. This car matches up well with the Audi A4 at almost $10,000 less. And it uses regular gas!
5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic car for the money
Ron Simpson, 08/15/2017
2017 Buick Regal Sport Touring 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
I had to give my wife the Cadillac so I wanted a nice car that was near luxury that was quiet, sporty and comfortable with good gas mileage. The Regal is a great car and I am getting an average of 27 mpg. If you want to get up and go it has the power yet is very comfortable. I had bought a used 2013 Regal and was in a 3 car wrecked. The weight and safety helped me to avoid injury. I … bought the 2017 and never looked at anything else.
5 out of 5 stars
Underrated Sedan
TD Heald, 03/09/2016
2015 Buick Regal Premium II 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
I have owned this car for 8 months and love it. It is very underrated by reviewers. My Buick Regal is a 2015, Premium II with some added features like sunroof. This car has outstanding acceleration while achieving overall 26 MPG. Driving comfort is fantastic with the most comfortable seats. Controls are well placed. I saw reviews mentioning the window button placement and heated seat … buttons, these are overstated complaints and are non-issues. This car is sporty with the patented Buick smooth ride. Great road feel but with top of the line ride comfort. The car appearance is understated and classy. I love the front end grill. This car has all the bells and whistles you can ask for. Standard bumper to bumper warranty of 4 years, 48,000 miles. Buick dealer service is outstanding. When purchasing, dealer was willing to work with me on price. Excellent value. If you are looking for a quality mid size vehicle, you cannot go wrong. Compare to the overpriced BMW, Audi, Acura, Infinity, Lexus and you will appreciate the quality and value of the Buick.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2017 Buick Regal, so we've included reviews for other years of the Regal since its last redesign.
More about the 2017 Buick Regal
Used 2017 Buick Regal Overview
The Used 2017 Buick Regal is offered in the following submodels: Regal Sedan. Available styles include Sport Touring 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A), Premium II 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A), 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A), Premium II 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A), GS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A), GS 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A), and 1SV 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A). Pre-owned Buick Regal models are available with a 2.0 L-liter gas engine, with output up to 259 hp, depending on engine type. The Used 2017 Buick Regal comes with front wheel drive, and all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 6-speed shiftable automatic.
What's a good price on a Used 2017 Buick Regal?
Price comparisons for Used 2017 Buick Regal trim styles:
- The Used 2017 Buick Regal Sport Touring is priced between $16,990 and$23,990 with odometer readings between 3730 and100597 miles.
- The Used 2017 Buick Regal GS is priced between $23,590 and$25,990 with odometer readings between 16786 and56077 miles.
- The Used 2017 Buick Regal Premium II is priced between $16,590 and$24,590 with odometer readings between 25435 and83470 miles.
- The Used 2017 Buick Regal Base is priced between $19,990 and$19,990 with odometer readings between 46557 and46557 miles.
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
Which used 2017 Buick Regals are available in my area?
Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2017 Buick Regal for sale near. There are currently 16 used and CPO 2017 Regals listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $16,590 and mileage as low as 3730 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the AutoCheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2017 Buick Regal.
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Should I lease or buy a 2017 Buick Regal?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out Buick lease specials
Check out Buick Regal lease specials
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