Begin with a protracted five-door car, pop on a small elevate equipment, add some plastic cladding and, Bob’s your uncle, you have discovered a strategy to make the station wagon interesting to the American SUV purchaser. It is not a brand new components, but it surely’s the one adopted by Buick when introducing the brand new Regal TourX.

The Regal TourX blends the purposeful cargo capability and simply reachable roof rails of a sport wagon with a little bit of the ruggedness and off-road functionality of a small SUV. Nonetheless, with only a one-inch elevate over the Regal Sportback, this crossover nonetheless feels significantly better suited to on-road efficiency.

Nonetheless, I actually take pleasure in driving the TourX. It is not making an attempt to be sporty, so I simply respect the relaxed journey and concentrate on consolation. Plus, I like it; wagons are more and more uncommon on US roads nowadays and, as longroofs go, that is actually a good-looking one.

Design

Often the addition of suspension stilts and “rugged” cladding ruins a wonderfully good wagon, however I am alright with the TourX’s exterior design. The slight one-inch elevate does not throw off the TourX’s silhouette or proportions and the grey plastic cladding really works properly with the Buick’s good-looking exterior design, particularly in sharp distinction with my instance’s White Frost Tricoat paint.

The TourX’s exterior design builds on the slick strains of the Regal Sportback and GS, easily transitioning the roofline into the prolonged hump of the wagon tail. I particularly just like the little bit of chrome trim that stretches all the best way from the wing mirrors, over the facet home windows and into the taillight housings.

The elongated roofline bumps the TourX’s whole cupboard space as much as 73.5 cubic toes with the rear seats folded, practically 13 extra cubic toes than the Regal Sportback. Behind the rear seats, nevertheless, the 33 cubic toes of “trunk” area is simply about 1.5 cubic toes greater than the Sportback. This proportioning signifies that the TourX actually solely has a major cargo hauling benefit for individuals who must haul very cumbersome gadgets.

In fact, the TourX additionally has the benefit of simpler loading with its conventional vertical hatchback. My top-trim Essence mannequin even includes a hands-free energy opening system that enables the boot to robotically open with the kick of a foot. There’s a simple management knob for setting the opening top of the the hatch, which is useful when parking in low-ceiling garages or when lengthy gadgets like kayaks are loaded onto the roof rails.

A quiet cabin

Wanting inside, the TourX’s inside may be very properly designed, however the supplies themselves really feel fairly low cost. There are exhausting plastics throughout, which type of diminishes the enchantment of this automotive’s elective leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel.

Behind the scenes, Buick makes use of its QuietTuning magic to make the TourX extra cozy than these low cost supplies would indicate. By including sound insulation to the ground, door panels and even the wheels and tires, in addition to a sensible use of energetic noise cancellation with the audio system, Buick is utilizing each trick within the guide to cut back wind and street noise within the cabin. The result’s a extra stress-free, premium driving expertise, to not point out a quieter platform for the Bose audio system to work from, which makes listening to music extra pleasant.

Creature comforts should not briefly provide right here. My tester options energy entrance seats with elective energy lumbar adjustment, heated seating surfaces, a heated steering wheel, twin zone local weather controls and extra; the TourX not less than checks the entire proper “premium automotive” containers on the Essence trim stage.

You’ll be able to have the TourX with an obtainable panoramic moonroof that provides $1,200 to the underside line. Mine was not so geared up and I am unable to say I missed it, however this feature can let extra gentle onto the second row, making the wagon really feel a bit extra spacious.

Dealing with and suspension

The Regal TourX makes use of Buick’s new five-link rear suspension — identical to each all-wheel-drive Regal variant. The entrance finish rides atop a MacPherson strut suspension. Regardless of its added inch of floor clearance, the TourX nonetheless sits decrease to the bottom than Subaru’s Outback, its most fierce competitor.

The taller journey signifies that the TourX provides a softer, smoother journey than Regal Sportback and GS fashions. The TourX simply soaks up street imperfections and feels very comfy over bumps. The trade-off, nevertheless, is much less responsive steering. On turn-in, the additional physique roll creates simply sufficient of a lag between the wheels and the chassis that the wagon feels sloppy regardless of fairly good dealing with and grip as soon as it is settled right into a nook. The dearth of steering wheel and seat-of-the-pants really feel does not assist.

Then once more, not everybody’s searching for a bolted-down, sport-tuned drive. For the extra relaxed driver, the Regal TourX’s consolation and laid-back character greater than make up for its lower than razor-sharp responsiveness.

Energy and financial system

Talking of responsiveness, the usual (and solely) powertrain for the TourX is Buick’s 2.Zero-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, producing 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. On paper, that seems like a good quantity of energy for a automotive of this measurement, and on the street it type of is. Nonetheless, the usual eight-speed computerized transmission is a little bit of a killjoy.

The gearbox appears well-tuned for effectivity and smoothness; it is actually well-matched for the Regal TourX’s relaxed dealing with. Nonetheless, the transmission can be very gradual to downshift for acceleration. This hurts responsiveness and makes the TourX really feel sluggish and gradual when it is time to move, merge or in any other case haul ass.

All-wheel drive is customary and pretty subtle. On the rear axle, the system makes use of two electronically managed clutches which supplies the TourX the flexibility to ship torque to a single rear wheel, conserving the wagon transferring ahead even when the opposite three wheels haven’t any traction. With its one-inch elevate, the TourX will get a little bit little bit of off-road cred, however its capabilities are much less “trailblazer” and extra “get you residence in a snowstorm.”

The EPA reckons the Regal TourX will return 21 miles per gallon within the metropolis, 29 mpg on the freeway and 24 mpg mixed. That is on par with the likes of the rather more costly Audi Allroad and the smaller Volkswagen Golf Alltrack. Nonetheless, the Subaru Outback once more proves to be the TourX’s foil with a superior 28-mpg mixed estimate.

IntelliLink Tech

Again within the cabin, you may discover a regular seven-inch model of Buick’s IntelliLink infotainment system entrance and heart within the dashboard. My instance options the elective eight-inch navigation setup that comes as a part of a Sights and Sounds improve package deal for $1,Zero95.

Both approach, IntelliLink options fairly rudimentary graphics and, on this case, maps. The entire system actually feels dated. Nonetheless, the bones are nonetheless good, with strong menu group and some new options added to maintain up with the occasions.

The house display is an icon-based affair that is straightforward to learn and faucet. Digging into the assorted capabilities, IntelliLink includes a shortcut bar alongside the highest of the display with shortcuts to the 5 mostly accessed options. This bit feels properly thought-out and makes navigating the software program a simple, intuitive course of.

Audio sources embrace USB, Bluetooth and HD and satellite tv for pc radio. There are even a number of onboard audio streaming apps — Fox Sports activities, Pandora Radio and extra — that make the most of IntelliLink’s 4G LTE information connection. A subscription is required to keep up that information connection, however a number of months’ trial is included out of the field. Information may also be shared with passengers’ cellular gadgets through the Buick’s Wi-Fi hotspot.

If, in spite of everything of that, you are still not impressed, there’s additionally customary Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. I are inclined to default to plugging in my smartphone as a result of that is the place all of my apps, locations and information stay. Nonetheless, right here I extremely suggest it as a result of increased decision graphics provided by your smartphone higher spotlight the massive show and simply look higher than the low-resolution OEM software program.

Past IntelliLink, the Buick’s cabin is residence to a plethora of USB ports (together with two charging ports on the second row). My instance additionally options an elective wi-fi charging slot that comes as a part of a Driver Confidence package deal. That mentioned, I would favor a charging pad to the slot, as bigger telephones or cumbersome instances might show a decent match.

Driver help methods

A rear digital camera is customary on the Regal TourX — as it’s on all new vehicles in 2018 — which aids in parking security. There are additionally a bunch of options aimed toward monitoring teen drivers.

To get extra superior applied sciences, you may first have to contemplate the aforementioned Driver Confidence Bundle ($1,725), which provides the ultrasonic rear sensors that energy the rear proximity detectors when parking, rear cross site visitors alert when reversing and blind spot monitoring system on the freeway. This package deal additionally provides a number of unrelated consolation options just like the aforementioned wi-fi telephone charging, reminiscence for the facility seats and mirrors, energy lumbar adjustment and extra.

Subsequent is the Driver Confidence Bundle II ($1,190). My instance isn’t so-equipped, however this package deal provides adaptive cruise management, ahead collision alert with computerized braking and pedestrian detection, lane conserving help and extra.

Pricing and competitors

The 2018 Buick Regal TourX begins at $30,990 for the bottom 1SV mannequin, together with a $995 vacation spot cost. Nonetheless, if you need entry to one of the best driver help tech, you may should step as much as the $36,015 Essence mannequin to achieve entry to each Driver Confidence packages. Add these and the Sights and Sounds package deal to succeed in a advisable worth of $40,005.

If you happen to’re feeling fancy, add $995 for the White Frost Tricoat paint. It seems to be good, however probably not definitely worth the cash, to my eyes.

However as soon as once more, I take into account the Subaru Outback. The Outback Touring is best suited to off-road driving, it is extra gasoline environment friendly on tarmac and provides driver help and cabin tech corresponding to what you get in a loaded TourX Essence for about $2,000 much less.

For $40,000, the Regal TourX feels a bit dear for a automotive with an inside that feels so low hire. The TourX checks numerous the precise containers and has numerous options, however the execution feels simply in need of the premium worth. Smarter packaging, or making the motive force help options obtainable on the decrease Most popular trim stage, would go a great distance towards bettering the worth of this journey.