Regal Return? A Rear-Drive Buick Sedan Could Be Exactly What It Needs
Buick hasn’t offered a rear-drive sedan since 1996. That may finally be about to change.
What It Is
Buick’s lineup has been many things over the past 40 years, but exciting hasn’t really been one of them. That could be about to change thanks to the launch of the first rear-drive Buick sedan in America since the 1996 Roadmaster. If done right, it could do wonders for the brand’s image. (There was a rear-drive China-only Park Avenue after that, for all you Buick trivia buffs out there.) What it’ll be called is another matter. We’re going to go with Regal, as Buick would be foolish not to dust off a name that still holds much cultural cachet, one it briefly brought back well over a decade ago for a rebadged Opel Insignia.
0:00 / 0:00
Why It Matters
Traditionally, Buick has been seen as a brand that appeals to drivers of a certain age, but it’s had a resurgence of late with younger buyers, thanks in part to its affordable, stylish Envista and Encore GX models. With Gen Z buyers showing renewed interest in sedans, Buick is looking to plug a sizable hole in its all-SUV lineup between its $25K subcompacts and the larger $40K-plus compact Envision and full-size Enclave.
The new Regal (we expect it to arrive in 2028 as a 2029 model) will share much with the reborn Chevrolet Camaro and next Cadillac CT5. With a price tag that we believe will be somewhere in the mid to high $30,000 range, it’s a number that should allow General Motors to bridge the gap between the Chevy and Cadillac, plug the hole in Buick’s portfolio, and effectively replace the discontinued Cadillac CT4 in one fell swoop.
Platform and Powertrain
GM has always taken economies of scale seriously. The company is updating its rear-drive Alpha platform (now dubbed Alpha 2-2) for the 2028 CT5 and Camaro and is looking at this new Buick sedan to help keep the line humming at the company’s Lansing, Michigan, plant. The Regal should also provide some needed variety. We expect the CT5 and Camaro to skew into the sport-luxury and high-performance sports car markets, respectively, which will leave space for Buick to carve out a niche as a more comfortable and refined premium model.
We suspect the Regal will be powered by one or more of GM’s turbocharged I-4 engines. The base model will likely get an updated version of the LSY 2.0-liter turbo-four with about 250 horsepower, a 10-speed automatic, and optional all-wheel drive, though the 310-plus-hp 2.7-liter turbo-four is possible, as well. It could also be a prime candidate to get a hybrid powertrain, which GM CEO Mary Barra promised for 2027 two years ago. We’ll be playing the wait-and-see game for the next year or two to find out if we’re indeed right about the Regal name and how the new Buick sedan will ultimately shake out.
Estimated Price $35,000–$45,000
Expected On-Sale Date Late 2028
Stay Ahead of the Curve.
Get the newest car reviews, hottest auto news, and expert analysis of the latest trends delivered straight to your inbox!
I generally like writing—especially when it’s about cars—but I hate writing about myself. So instead of blathering on about where I was born (New York City, in case you were wondering) or what type of cars I like (all of ’em, as long as it has a certain sense of soul or purpose), I’ll answer the one question I probably get most, right after what’s your favorite car (see above): How’d you get that job? Luck. Well, mostly. Hard work, too. Lots of it. I sort of fell into my major of journalism/mass communication at St. Bonaventure University and generally liked it a lot. In order to complete my degree senior year, we had to spend our last two semesters on some sort of project. Seeing as I loved cars and already spent a good portion of my time reading about cars on sites such as Motor Trend, I opted to create a car blog. I started a Tumblr, came up with a car-related name (The Stig’s American Cousin), signed up for media access on a bunch of manufacturer’s websites, and started writing. I did everything from cover new trim levels to reviewing my friends’ cars. I even wrote a really bad April Fool’s Day post about the next Subaru Impreza WRX being Toyota-Corolla-based. It was fun, and because it was fun, it never felt like work. Sometime after my blog had gotten off the ground, I noticed that Motor Trend was hiring for what’s now our Daily News Team. I sent in my résumé and a link to my blog. I got the job, and two weeks after graduation I made the move from New York to California. I’ve been happily plugging away at a keyboard—and driving some seriously awesome hardware—ever since.
Read More
