Buick announced the new Regal Avenir that
it wouldn’t be cheap. But now we know just how expensive it will be. The luxed-up mid-size sedan will carry a
starting MSRP or US$ 36,195 (including the US$ 925 destination fee).
That places it a substantial US$ 10,200 higher than the US$ 25,995 price of admission for the Regal Sportback on which it’s based, or
about US$ 4k more than the current Essence trim at the top of the range. Part of
that difference is taken up by the Driver Confidence Package that comes
standard on the Avenir but costs US$ 1,580 on the Essence model.
The package includes wireless charging, lane-change
alert, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist,
self-leveling LED headlights, and heated exterior mirrors. But there’s more to
the Regal Avenir than just that package. Like the Avenir trims already offered
on the Enclave and LaCrosse (and making its way across the Buick lineup), the
Regal Avenir includes a choice of Ebony or Whisper Beige leather,
diamond-quilted front seats, a unique front grille, 19-inch Pearl Nickel
wheels, and special badging inside and out – all of which promises to deliver a
more upscale look and feel to a vehicle that was hardly spartan in the first
place.
Motivation comes courtesy of a 2.0-liter turbo four
kicking out 250 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque through a nine-speed
automatic transmission to either the front wheels or all four. A more potent
3.6-liter V6 with 310 hp and 282 lb-ft can also be had, but only on the Regal
GS, which comes standard with all-wheel drive and, at nearly US$ 40k, remains the
only version more expensive than the Avenir.
