Let’s start with the Regal eAssist. Buick has paired its 2.4-liter four with a small electric motor/generator and a lithium-ion battery to deliver an EPA-rated 25 city mpg and 36 mpg on the highway. Regenerative braking along with driver-selectable fuel economy modes for the HVAC system help deliver the best fuel economy possible, and an ECO gauge enables drivers with the ability to monitor how efficiently the Regal eAssist is being driven. How much will the extra 6 mpg in both city and highway cost you? That’ll be $29,530 including $860 in destination fees.
But say you’re more interested in hp than mpg. Buick has you covered there too. With some considerable tuning, the ‘normal’ 2.0-liter turbo engine has been boosted from 220 hp to a full 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque — that’s more torque, Buick will have you know, than a Acura TSX V-6, Audi A4 Sport, or Lexus IS 250. Purists will appreciate the standard six-speed manual gearbox (also available with the standard 2.0-liter engine), push-button start, and flat-bottomed steering wheel. Those who appreciate more luxury will similarly admire standard 12-way-adjustable, heated sport seats and a 336-watt, nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo system. Plenty of other standard sport and luxury touches are found on the Regal GS, including Buick’s Interactive Drive Control System which adjusts the active dampers to varying road conditions and driving habits, front and rear ultrasonic parking assist, 19-inch alloy wheels, and Bi-Xenon headlamps. The price starts at $35,310 including destination fees.
Buick is trying to show it has a winning sports sedan in the new Regal, but which of the two new models would you chose? The fuel-sipping hybrid Regal eAssist or the fire-breathing turbocharged Regal GS? Let us know in the comments section below.
