Future Collectibles: Buick Regal Sportback and TourX 2020 | Daily Drive | Consumer Guide® The Daily Drive
These mid-size Regals debuted as 2018 models and like the Regals before them are near-carbon clones of the European hybrid Opel Insignia. Most of the previous-generation Regals were assembled by General Motors in Canada, but the 2018-20 models are made by Opel in Germany. Do you remember Opel: the foundation of GM’s German-based European operations until the sale of the car to France’s PSA in late 2017, the makers of Peugeot and Citroën.
This regal lineup is quite complicated. The Sportback is a sleek four-door hatchback. For 2020, it comes in base, Preferred, Essence and luxury Avenir versions. There’s also a Regal Sportback GS that has a taste of performance that includes a refined exterior, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, front sport seats, adaptive sport suspension and Brembo brakes.
Most Regal Sportbacks are front-wheel drive, and the standard powertrain combines four powerful 250hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engines with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Essence is the only trim level offered with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. The GS exclusively runs a 310-horsepower 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine, a nine-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive. The base price of the Sportback starts at $26,295 and tops out at $39,995 for the GS.
The TourX is an off-road flavored four-door scooter sold in base, Preferred and Essence models. Compared to the Sportback, the TourX is taller and adds some SUV-inspired trim around the lower body. The TourX Regals comes standard with all-wheel drive, along with the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and eight-speed automatic. Sticker prices range from $30,295 to $35,995.
Both Regals have a wheelbase of 111.4 inches. The ball-molded Sportback is 192.9 inches long, while the TourX stretches to 196.3 inches. The Sportback’s hatchback opened up to a wagon-like 31.5 cubic foot cargo compartment behind the rear seats. The rear seats are offered in 60/40 and 40/20/40 split versions, and when either setup is folded flat, cargo space expands to 60.7 cubic feet. For comparison, the trunk of the previous-generation Regal sedan offers 14.2 cubic feet of space. As you’d expect from a wagon, the TourX is even more spacious, with capacities of 32.7 and 73.5 cubic feet, respectively.
Depending on who you read, 2020 sales of all Regals are 2484 (Automotive News) or 2493 (goodcarbadcar.net). Figures of some other details for the overall model year.
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Advantages:
- Trivia enthusiasts will appreciate that the TourX is Buick’s first station wagon since the 1996 Roadmaster Estate Wagon, and the Sportback is the brand’s first hatchback since the ’87 Skyhawk Sport.
- Both body styles offer much more flexible cargo handling than traditional sedans.
Defect:
- Regal Sportback in luxurious Avenir trim is not offered with all-wheel drive.
- Considering these Regals are largely invisible during production, future collectability is not guaranteed. We think it’s likely that collectors tomorrow will find these Buicks more like a 1987 Skyhawk Sport than an ’87 Grand National or GNX.
Last drive:
The regal styling is surprisingly handsome, and these are nicely equipped cars, for the most part well finished. But these Buicks simply didn’t sell, and your eagle-eyed scribe could count on his fingers how many he spotted in suburban Chicago traffic. The enthusiast’s choice will almost certainly be the Sportback GS, but the all-wheel-drive TourX wagon is a stylish alternative to the very popular Subaru Outback.
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Buick Regal Sportback
Buick Regal Sportback
Buick Regal Sportback
