2011 Buick Regal CXL (photos)
The entry-level Regal CXL is a handsome sedan with a youthful take on Buick's aesthetic, but it's not without its flaws.
European import
It's no secret that the new Buick Regal is a rebadged Insignia from GM's European Opel division.
The youthful Buick
Badge engineering aside, the entry-level Regal is a handsome sedan with a youthful take on Buick's corporate aesthetic.
Mundane power train
Our Regal featured a direct-injected 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine that outputs merely an adequate amount of power.
Euro-tuned handling
We were quite surprised with the Buick's chassis. The four-wheel independent suspension created a planted feel on our favorite backroads, but understeer was still an issue.
Six-speed transmission
Our 2.4-liter engine was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode. We use the term "mated" loosely, as the engine and gearbox were rarely in concert.
Sweeping profile
The Regal's flanks feature attractive character lines that flows from just below the wing mirrors down to the door sills and around to the rear end.
Rear end
Out back the sedan features attractive tail lights and a tasteful application of chrome garnishment.
Safety systems
A rearview camera is not an option on the Regal CXL, but if you look at the bumper, you'll see the ultrasonic sensors for the proximity detection system.
Dual exhaust
Buick's engineers saw fit to give the four-cylinder Regal a dual exhaust, but the understated design hides the tips beneath the bumper.
Economy-grade interior
Inside, a sea of cheap black plastic greets the driver, making the Regal feel less, well, regal.
Instrument cluster
The Regal's instrument cluster also screams economy with simple gauges, and chrome plastic surrounds backed with flat black plastic.
Optional navigation
The hard-drive-based navigation system featured crisply rendered maps and snappy response times when routing or browsing.
Multifunction controller
The Regal's LCD screen is not touch sensitive, so the sedan features this multifunction controller, which is surrounded by shortcut buttons to the most commonly accessed menus and features.
Character entry
Address entry utilizes an autocomplete system that grays out invalid letters as you input a street or POI name.
Destination selection
Though we found it easy to input destinations, actually confirming our inputs was difficult because of a quirk in the control scheme.
Bottom bar
The multifunction controller's cursor never highlights the bottom bar of virtual buttons, making it difficult to confirm a route once a destination has been chosen. Users have to take their eyes off of the road to find the corresponding number in a bank of keys on the lower dashboard.
Audio sources
The Regal's infotainment system features standard iPod and USB connectivity and XM Satellite Radio.
Audio search
USB and iPod sources can be browsed by artist, genre, or other metadata categories.
Hands-free calling
The Regal also features standard hands-free calling (both Bluetooth- and OnStar-based), but the systems is fairly basic.
Premium audio
An optional nine-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system also brings with it DVD video playback and Dolby 5.1 surround. Sadly, none of those nine-speakers is a subwoofer.
AC power
Our option package also included this 120-volt AC power port in the rear seat.
Full review
Check out the full review of the 2011 Buick Regal CXL for more details.
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