2014 Buick Regal to Debut at $29,690

The 2014 Buick Regal will begin its reign with a relatively significant upgrade for the new model year, showcasing a new standard turbo engine, freshened interior and exterior design, and more available technologies, all while seeing a $675 price bump. As a result, the Regal will open at $29,690—before a $925 destination charge—and reach dealerships with refined front and rear design cues that can be crowned with Buick’s new LED daytime running lights, as well as a cabin that boasts a restyled instrument panel and center stack.

The latter helps host the next-generation IntelliLink technology that also debuts in the 2014 Buick Regal. This feature provides an enhanced connectivity and media experience, ably assisted by an eight-inch touchscreen that recognizes gestural commands, and now can be paired with a nine-speaker Bose audio setup with separate tweeters and subwoofer.

GM’s award-winning suite of camera-based safety measures also will make their first appearance on the 2014 Buick Regal. In the mix here:

• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Lane Change Alert
• Side Blind Zone Alert
• Lane Departure Warning
• Forward Collision Alert
• Collision Mitigation Braking

Naturally, the 2014 Buick Regal retains key technologies from the 2013 model, like a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, voice-controlled navigation, and eAssist powertrain tech, but that final feature has been repositioned by the Buick brand as part of an overall shuffling of the lineup—but without changing its goal.

“Regal represents a more sporty expression of Buick today,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick Marketing. “The 2014 model’s advanced technology, powertrain improvements and dynamic handling characteristics deliver the attributes consumers seek in today’s premium sport sedans.”

2014 Buick Regal: Resetting the Roster

Now, as mentioned, the price of admission to the 2014 Buick Regal family has risen by a not insignificant amount, but just looking at the MSRPs doesn’t tell the whole story. The Regal that leads off the lineup for 2014 is powered by a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine and actually is $645 less than the least-expensive turbo model from last year. Yet at the same time, the new, more refined engine provides noticeably more power and better fuel economy as compared to the previous powerplant, topping out with 259 horses, 295 lb.-ft. of torque and an EPA line of 21/30/24.

The 2014 Buick Regal with eAssist then gets re-stickered at $31,560, and it will be followed in the ol’ pricing hierarchy by the 2014 Buick Regal AWD, at $31,865 when equipped with a Haldex setup and an electronic limited-slip differential.

At the top of the range is the 2014 Buick Regal GS, offered at $36,905 in its front-wheel-drive configuration or $39,270 with all-wheel drive. Enthusiasts will want to note that the 2014 GS also gets the new turbo engine, which does mean 11 fewer horsepower than in the 2013 model, albeit with the same amount of twist. Further, the newer GS will be distinguished from other 2014 Regal turbo models because its 295 lb.-ft. of torque is available at 2500 rpm, allowing drivers access to that power 500 rpm earlier.

Of course, the real difference-makers in the 2014 Buick Regal GS are located in its suspension and braking components, with the former including Buick’s HiPer Strut front setup, Interactive Drive Control and computer-controlled dampers, and the latter leveraging hardware from Brembo. Oh, and the GS also offers a little something you won’t find on some Porsches or Ferraris, either: a six-speed manual transmission that’s a no-cost alternative to the car’s six-speed sport-tuned automatic.

Drivers can expect the 2014 Buick Regal to reach dealerships later this year.