This turbocharged take on Buick's revamped Regal showcases a sportier, more youthful side of the long-running American brand best known for its luxurious yet sedate sedans. Designed and assembled in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the new Regal shares much in common with its European cousin, the Opel Insignia, and benefits greatly from the cross-cultural connection.
Wrapped in sleek sheet metal that is suggestive of its improved driving dynamics, this easy-to-drive, Autobahn-approved sedan offers a somewhat sporty ride thanks to its sure-footed feel and enhanced engine performance. With its direct-injected, turbocharged inline-4, the CXL Turbo boasts an increase of 38 horsepower over the base model, boosting its output to 220 hp. Unfortunately, the engine's ECOTEC appellation is little more than a misnomer, as the Regal achieved an unremarkable 17.4 mpg combined during our time with the vehicle.
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Although the Buick Regal CXL Turbo fails to impress at the pump, it's hard to deny the charms of its comfortable, well-equipped interior. Driver-friendly features like the OnStar Directions & Connections plan make getting around town easy, while XM satellite radio and an iPod-compatible USB port make it that much more fun. We had some trouble with our Bluetooth phone connection; however, overall we found the Regal's interior technology to be both smart and sensible.
So can this European-born sports sedan really compete with true German exports like BMW and Mercedes-Benz? We hate to say it, but Buick still has a ways to go in terms of both performance and luxury refinement. However, with a base price of only $28,745, the Regal CXL Turbo offers a reasonable alternative to the often exorbitantly priced options found in the sedan segment. 
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Watch a video of the Buick Regal
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