Skip to main content

Buick turns up the heat on its 2018 Regal lineup with new GS model

The 2018 Buick Regal GS aims to provide something that normally isn’t associated with General Motors’ mid-tier brand: fun. Like the previous-generation GS, the 2018 model offers more power and sportier driving dynamics, in an effort to erase Buick’s stereotypical boringness.

The GS is based on the redesigned 2018 Regal, which itself is basically a Buick-badged version of the European-market Opel Insignia. The Regal was developed before GM sold Opel to French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen, and GM will go on selling it despite the sale.

Recommended Videos

The Regal is only available as a station wagon or a hatchback, and the GS model is only offered in the latter body style. Its headline feature is a 3.6-liter V6, which produces a healthy 310 horsepower and 282 pound-feet of torque. It’s a big step up from the base Regal Sportback, which uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder good for 250 hp and 260 lb-ft. A nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are mandatory on the GS.

On the chassis side, the GS gets upgraded brakes from Brembo, and Continuous Damping Control active suspension, which can adjust the firmness of the shocks up to 500 times a second, according to Buick. Like many other modern cars, the suspension and other settings can be adjusted with programmable drive modes. Buick’s Interactive Drive Control system uses three modes: Standard, Sport, and GS.

Visually, the GS is distinguished by sportier front and rear fascias, model-specific 19-inch wheels, and a rear spoiler. Buick clearly went for subtlety here, but the GS may be a bit too visually similar to its less-sporty siblings.

On the inside, the GS gets a flat-bottomed steering wheel and model-specific seats that, this being a Buick, are heated, ventilated, and have a massage function. Tech features include an 8.0-incg touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital instrument cluster display, and optional head-up display. That’s a lot of displays.

The 2018 Buick Regal GS starts at $39,990, compared to $25,915 for the Regal Sportback base model. But the GS’ extra power and higher level of feature content may make it worthwhile to buyers who have their hearts set on a new Buick.

But will anyone else care? Buick made a bold choice by offering the Regal only as a hatchback or station wagon. American buyers tend to prefer sedans over those two body styles. But the wagon and hatch offer utility to compete with ever-popular SUVs, and help Buick stand out in a crowded market.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
I tried an e-bike for the first time and now I’m hooked
It’s not about being a 'bike person', it’s about finding small upgrades to everyday life
A woman sitting on the Aventon Pace 4

Before this year, I’d never even touched an e-bike before, and the thought of riding one was never on my radar. With life already in constant motion thanks to two toddlers, biking wasn’t something I ever considered adding to the mix.

I’d always assumed e-bikes were for hardcore commuters or serious cyclists, not someone like me. I wasn’t looking for a big lifestyle change. I just wanted a quicker way to get to the park so we’d have more time to play before dinner.

Read more
This week in EV tech: Audi exemplifies auto industry’s EV holding pattern
Close-up of 2025 Audi SQ5 grille, headlight, and badge.

The road to the future runs through the present, and it’s not a straight line. This week, we’re focusing on how Audi is negotiating the twists and turns on the way to an electrified future. EVs are here to stay at Audi, but a gasoline crossover SUV is still the automaker’s bestselling model, and it’s not ready to risk those sales just yet. That’s why the 2025 Audi Q5 received a top-to-bottom overhaul for this model year, bringing its tech features and styling up to date without altering the what has proven to be a very popular package. By maintaining parallel lineups of electric and internal-combustion cars, Audi hopes to give customers more choices. But that doesn’t completely level the playing field. The new Q5 may have yesterday’s powertrain, but Audi isn’t holding back on tech. It features the same electrical architecture, operating system, and three-screen dashboard display as the latest Audi EVs, like the Q6 e-tron. So aside from a little engine noise, there’s little difference in what you can see and interact with from the driver’s seat. It’s not just the infotainment systems. The Q5 and Q6 e-tron are close in size, with similar space for passengers across their two rows of seats. The Q6 e-tron has a bit more cargo space, but not as much as you’d think given the lack of a bulky engine, transmission, and driveshafts. The two SUVs also have similar styling but, having now driven both, we can say that the Q5 is the more pleasant of the two.

More than a difference of powertrain tech

Read more
Take a peek inside the factory making tomorrow’s ride
A Zoox robotaxi.

Amazon-owned Zoox has opened its first facility producing fully autonomous robotaxis. 

A video (above) released by the California-based company offers a peek inside the factory, which, when it reaches full capacity, could roll out as many as 10,000 autonomous vehicles per year.

Read more