Buick Transforms The Regal Lineup

Instead of just blending in with all the other near-luxury sedans, the Buick Regal is about to go where no other American sedan has gone for a while. That’s right, starting with the 2018 model year, Buick will be offering hatch and wagon versions of the Regal. It’s like GM heard the supplication of enthusiasts who crave something other than an Allroad that will leave them stranded on a road trip in the middle of western Kansas, or something like that.

The wagon version of the car will be called the Buick Regal TourX. Buick hopes to capitalize on the crossover craze with this wagon. Before you write it off, know that it serves up tons of cargo space, plus handling that’s truly car-like. Most crossovers handle like garbage. All-wheel drive with an active twin-clutch assembly will be standard, along with sleek, good looks, roof rails and minimal side cladding. Folding down the rear seats gives you 73.5 cubic feet of cargo space, topping the Subaru Outback. A spitfire 2.0-liter turbo engine should produce almost 300 lb.-ft. of torque.

As for the hatchback version of the car, it’s called the Buick Regal Sportback. At first glance, and in low light conditions with rain pouring down, you might mistake it for a coupe. While not as spacious as the TourX, it does have 31.5 cubic feet of cargo, which is still impressive. You can get all-wheel drive, hands-free operation for the liftgate, and a variable roof rack.

Let’s hope consumers take to these, instead of them sitting on lots and being labeled niche.