The all-new 2011 Buick Regal goes on sale in late spring/early summer, and GM has just announced a starting price for the CXL trim. This midlevel trim will be the only one available at launch. A turbocharged CXL will go on sale in late summer, with the rest of the lineup arriving as 2012 model year Regals in early 2011.
The starting price for the CXL will be $26,245 not including $750 in destination charges. The CXL turbo will start at $28,745. Both come standard with six-speed automatic transmissions, heated leather seats, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port and 18-inch wheels. The base engine is a 182-horsepower four-cylinder, with the turbo producing 220 hp. They get 30 mpg and 29 mpg highway, respectively. Full EPA figures weren’t announced. A six-speed manual transmission will be offered on the turbo, but not until after launch. No specific date was given.
The pricing is surprisingly good, even for the turbo model, as Acura’s TSX with a 201-hp four-cylinder and five-speed automatic starts at $29,310 and the Lexus IS250 with a 204-hp V-6 starts at $32,145. The slightly larger Buick LaCrosse CXL, which was redesigned for 2010, comes standard with a V-6 engine and starts at $29,645. While they may offer distinctly different driving experiences, we think many shoppers might look at the slightly less expensive Regal CXL turbo and be smitten.
