That's the question GM has been asking itself for the past several months, and now we have what they think is the answer. Starting in the spring, the 2011 Buick Regal CXL will go on sale with a base price of $27,745.
The CXL is the only trim level that will be offered out of the gate and it will only come with the standard 182-horsepower, 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder. Later this summer, a turbocharged CXL with 220-horsepower will go on sale for $30,245. Next year, Buick will add a base CX model to the lineup, but no pricing has been determined yet.
vvk says:
09:41 AM, 01/21/10
I would pay about $12k for a slightly used one a year from now :-)
notabigdeal says:
10:22 AM, 01/21/10
Sounds reasonable for the specs. But as it is a Buick, in america it will fail.
xprojected says:
10:48 AM, 01/21/10
With a '10 LaCrosse CXL with 255 hp V6 starting at $30k, the Regal will be a tough sell..
1487 says:
11:09 AM, 01/21/10
Regal has more features, less mass and better mileage for $27k- not sure how that is a tough sell.
"But as it is a Buick, in america it will fail. "
Right, because the Enclave just had its best month ever and Lacrosse is selling well too.
mazdamike17 says:
11:14 AM, 01/21/10
I have been a reader for years, yet never post, but I am a NEW GM fan, have always loved GM and my dad has owned one since i was born untill he got a 09 corolla, but GM has never made anything that appeals to me.... I am 22 years old and drive a Mazda 3, And the New Regal, and even Lacrosse, definitly would be cars I would buy.... While 25k starting seems a bit better, I understand the car has leather and everything, so it seems reasonable, and this car looks great. Definitly want to check out a turbo CXL, looks like a great car.... Great Job Buick, everything is starting to look really good !! Can't wait for the GS!
1487 says:
11:35 AM, 01/21/10
i think people saying its too high havent seen the standard kit- this isn't some stripped down camry and its not priced like one. Its priced like a camry XLE or Accord EX-L. GM doesn't need this car to battle the Malibu in the $20k-$25k range.
minibro77 says:
12:09 PM, 01/21/10
Well said 1487.
ptcdawg says:
12:15 PM, 01/21/10
VVK hit the nail on the head....7K in 2 years might be closer to my top price.
1487 says:
12:19 PM, 01/21/10
you and VVK are hilarious! Keep it up. not sure why you dont like the car- its from Germany. Just pretend the badge on the front is an Audi and then look at it a second time. You might like it better.
flicmod says:
12:32 PM, 01/21/10
Name three reasons why I should buy a Buick Regal CXL instead of a Chevy Malibu LTZ 3.6 V6.
brn says:
12:51 PM, 01/21/10
I haven't had a chance to really look into this car, so I can't comment as to how much I'd be willing to pay for it.
This is a car designed for regular consumers. I'm willing to bet GM did some market research before pricing it. If it's priced high, it's not absurdly high like some would suggest.
stovt001 says:
01:57 PM, 01/21/10
"Regal has more features, less mass and better mileage for $27k- not sure how that is a tough sell."
I understand that and agree, but I'm not entirely convinced that the American car buyer has dropped the pricing by the square foot mentality yet. It doesn't help that they're launching only the top trim level first, artificially inflating perceptions of base price.
naimmecheng says:
02:00 PM, 01/21/10
This car should only be a little bit more expensive than a Malibu. There are many cars that can deliver better value, quality, performance handling, and resale value. For example you can buy a 2010 for fusion V6 AWD loaded for 28K. Case closed.
zoomzoomn says:
02:41 PM, 01/21/10
"...base price of $27,745." What? That's Lacrosse territory...which begs the question "What's the point?" The Regal should base at no more than $22,000 and top out full tilt at $28,000. Oh, well.
stovt001 says:
06:35 PM, 01/21/10
"Name three reasons why I should buy a Buick Regal CXL instead of a Chevy Malibu LTZ 3.6 V6."
1. Style
2. Interior quality
3. Feature content
Style is subjective, and since we haven't seen a production model yet interior quality isn't certain (but all signs point to goo) but those are the three reasons that come immediately to mind. The CXL is the top luxury level so the fact that it prices out at or below the top luxury level of other mainstream midsize sedans sounds about right.
1487 says:
05:57 AM, 01/22/10
"Name three reasons why I should buy a Buick Regal CXL instead of a Chevy Malibu LTZ 3.6 V6."
Dual zone AC
Better interior
Rear armrests and grab handles
Electric parking brake
12 way heated passenger seat
Better mileage
How's that?
flicmod says:
09:06 AM, 01/22/10
I seriously doubt that an electronic parking brake and rear armrests are deal breakers, nor would they convince people to come to a Buick dealership instead of a Chevy. Better mileage can be negated by selecting the 2.4L in the Malibu LTZ and saving yourself $1500. Better interior is yet to be determined. As stovt001 said, the car hasn't made its debut yet, so we can't judge on that.
So we're left with dual zone AC and the uber luxurious passenger seat. Personally, I'd still go for the Malibu over the Regal CXL based on content and price.
I'm not totally sure how the options will work for the Regal CXL, but I'm sure that people will most likely price them out over or at $30K. At that point, they're definitely going to be stepping on the toes of Cadillac, especially when the rumored ATS debuts. So how is Buick justified?
1487 says:
11:43 AM, 01/22/10
flic:
The Insignia/Regal definitely have a better interior than the Malibu based on the pics and based on the fact that Opels generally have better materials than GM's lower American offerings. Have you ever been in an Astra? The interior was on a different level than the Cobalt or HHR or even corolla.
The ATS is going to be a compact RWD sports sedan, not a FWD midsize entry level luxury sedan. There wont be much overlap. You act like Toyota/Lexus or Acura/Honda don't have models that overlap in price. HAve you ever noticed the Accord overlaps the TSX in price and content?
The point about the features is that the regal has more upscale features than the Malibu and thats one reason the car costs more. Everything from the leather to the LED backlighting to the grab handles to the projector headlamps makes the car more sophsticate and more deserving of a higher MSRP.
thegraduate says:
11:46 AM, 01/22/10
Dual zone AC - The Malibu should offer this anyway; they're behind the times by not doing so.
Better interior - Remains to be seen, but I have high hopes after being in a LaCrosse.
Rear armrests and grab handles - Shameful that the Chevy doesn't have these. My dad's little Civic even has a rear armrest and damped grab-handles.
Electric parking brake - Sorry, not a deal maker/breaker here
12 way heated passenger seat
Better mileage - There's a 4-cyl LTZ Malibu for mileage. The V6 Malibu's mileage is bottom-of-the-class considering it doesn't have class leading power.
roar02ram says:
12:11 PM, 01/22/10
I still think this would've made a better Caddy: 220-horse trim for $30k and 280-horse trim for $36k.
Anyway, I'm curious to see what cars end up in Buick's "competitive comparisons" schemes...
flicmod says:
12:58 PM, 01/22/10
Sorry, 1487, but I never once mentioned anything about Toyota/Lexus or Honda/Acura being exceptional in this regard. So I fail to see how it seems like I'm "acting" like they aren't perpetrators of this pricing/model overlap. Every manufacturer does this. And, frankly, I think this contributes to their poor business model. GM happens to be in a special case here because it has three brands overlapping instead of just two like most manufacturers. Ford is another one with Ford/Mercury/Lincoln. In my opinion, the American market isn't big enough to have a mid-level, near-luxury line-up. Both Buick and Mercury could be phased out and the mainstream and true luxury brands could better accommodate consumers' wants and needs.
Also, I actually have been inside of an Astra; the year it debuted. Honestly, I wasn't impressed with the interior anymore than the new Malibu's. Yeah, it looks different, but to say that it's "better" is either based solely on layout/style (which is subjective) or is being way more nit-picky than most consumers are. I'll reserve my judgment on the Regal interior when I see one in person.
mazda609 says:
11:47 AM, 01/23/10
I would buy it if It were a Vauxhall or the Opel, but as a Buick...no. Even though its just re badged it still doesnt look as good, the grill does not match as well.
jederino says:
10:25 AM, 01/25/10
I like this Buick, and I have a favorable impression of the brand, based upon initial qaulity reports. Buikck always offers interesting aesthetic design, but never any performance intentions for the last two decades. This is a leap in the right direction. Could it be a bargain substitute for a turbo A4? My immediate impression is that it would be far more reliable, but the performance cred is a big question mark.