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2011 Buick Regal CXL Review

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Mathieu St-Pierre
Proof positive that the Europeans have it
I've been test driving cars for nearly 12 years now, have been a car-tard all my life and something has always been fairly obvious to myself and many others that are called upon to evaluate the auto business in North America: the Europeans know what they are doing.

One quick glance in the Regal's direction and there is an immediate sense that this car does not come from the thinking of old from GM. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)

Please do not think this is a bashing of the North American car industry. Let's be honest and take a step back for a moment and think about Ford, GM and Chrysler no further than to the mid-nineties, and neither of these makes knew what to make of themselves. Sales were strong in many cases, but the Big 3 were no fools, looking ahead at the increased competition here and elsewhere in the world.

Without touching on market protectionism, the continued influx of Japanese, Korean and, inevitably, Chinese cars, was going to do nothing else than chomp away at market shares. As well, looking across the street at the increasing traffic in German-brand showrooms could only spell doom for those that were not ready to make the necessary adjustments in their product portfolio.

Ford was the first to act upon the realization that their European cars were the best way to maintain and hopefully grow the number of visitors in their showrooms. It has worked. General Motors is next and soon, Chrysler, with the help of Fiat, will do the same.

A regal
The new 2011 Buick Regal is the first significant foray, Saab notwithstanding, in this direction for the General. The Saturn Astra was a valiant attempt; however its price point was simply out of touch with the reality of its compact segment.

One quick glance in the Regal's direction and there is an immediate sense that this car does not come from the thinking of old from GM. It sports sleek, dynamic, purposeful lines that would be very at home on an Infiniti product. The sheer number of creases on its body panels indicate that no previously existing Buick designer in Detroit had much or anything to do with this car's styling. That's because the Regal is actually a rebadged Opel Insignia, a numerous award-winning car from one of GM's many in-house brands.

The same observations apply upon glancing at the car's cabin; a smooth, sombre atmosphere reigns as does an aura of quality that differs vastly from what Century and Park Avenue owners ever experienced. The seats are real buckets, not quad-XL church benches, as they hold you comfortably in place.

The dashboard has a modern "I know what I'm doing" style and is completed in soft-tone plastics that are almost velvety to the touch (an increasingly popular choice among manufacturers). Able to carry four adults in impressive comfort, the Regal is officially a common upscale family-car alternative for those that want to move away from an Impala or a Camry for that matter.

The dashboard has a modern "I know what I'm doing" style and is completed in soft-tone plastics that are almost velvety to the touch. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)
Mathieu St-Pierre
Mathieu St-Pierre
Automotive expert
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