The Buick LaCrosse is one sedan we wouldn’t mind seeing stateside, but few will likely say the same about the facelifted Regal that was recently introduced in China.
Looking like a fish out of water, the 2024 Regal has one foot in the past and another in the future. This isn’t doing the car any favors as the wide grille and “double-wing” headlights succeed in visually widening the vehicle, but they also make it look awful.
The rest of the design is far more pleasing, but that isn’t surprising as the model hasn’t changed much since 2017. While the Opel, Vauxhall, and Holden variants are dead, the Regal is still chugging along and it even sports Buick’s new tri-shield logo.
More: All-New 2024 Buick LaCrosse Debuts In China, Will Sadly Be Forbidden Fruit
The cabin is also a blast from the past as it features an old school design and lackluster components. On the bright side, the entry-level Regal 25T Super Premium Edition comes nicely equipped with black leather seats that feature heating and six-way power adjustment up front. They’re joined by a 4.2-inch cluster display and an 8-inch infotainment system with a Baidu voice assistant. Other highlights include “moonlight white” ambient lighting, a six-speaker audio system, and a wireless smartphone charger.
Buyers looking for more luxury and performance can upgrade to the Regal 28T Indulgence Edition, which has mocha brown upholstery and a larger 8-inch display in the instrument cluster. The range-topping variant also sports larger 18-inch wheels, a dual exhaust system, and a power trunk.
Under the hood, there’s a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 166 hp (124 kW / 169 PS) and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque. It’s connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission, which allows for a glacial 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 9.1 seconds. If drivers have a strong tailwind and plenty of time to kill, they’ll eventually top out at 127 mph (205 km/h).
The Regal 28T Indulgence Edition vastly improves things with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder pumping out 233 hp (174 kW / 237 PS) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque. Thanks to the extra oomph, the dash to 62 mph (100 km/h) falls to 7.1 seconds while the top speed climbs to 149 mph (240 km/h).
The 2024 Buick Regal will arrive at Chinese dealerships shortly and pricing starts at ¥159,800 ($22,274 / £17,407 / €20,290). However, customers will likely want to shell out ¥175,800 ($24,504 / £19,151 / €22,320) for the range-topping variant.
