2020 Buick Regal GS

We live in an era of cheap horsepower and great design, which means every Tom, Dick, and Harry is trying to build sports cars than handle better, accelerate quicker, and look nicer - except for Buick, that is. Its range of Regal sedans is about as far away as you can get from a Mercedes-AMG E53 or Lexus GS F, but with the Regal coming to the end of its life, Buick has decided to make one last effort at making this unappetizing, yet practical, sportback sedan act like a sports car. The naturally-aspirated V6 under the hood is quite strong but has no personality; the same can be said for the way it delivers its power. Dynamically, the GS isn't too far off but suffers from understeer when pushed too hard. One of the only redeeming factors of the Regal GS is its sportback design, which incorporates a hatchback-style liftgate and offers superior trunk and cargo space. The GS won't fool anyone with the slightest bit of knowledge about sports cars, but it is an interesting oddball that will find its way into the homes of some brand-loyalists across America.

The performance-minded GS is the most expensive car in the Buick Regal range. The whole lineup starts at $25,370 for the FWD 2.0T base model, and tops out with the GS, at $39,070. That makes the GS $13,700 more expensive than its cheapest Regal sibling, excluding tax, registration, and a destination fee of $925. Closing in on the $40,000 mark poses a problem for Buick, as some rival car manufacturers offer superior products for around the same price. The Dodge Charger R/T, for instance, packs a 5.7-liter, 370-hp V8 punch and just as much practicality for only $36,395, and the accomplished Honda Accord in top-spec Touring 2.0T guise goes for only $36,250 - it's arguably the more dynamically accomplished car despite being less powerful, for around $2,820 less.

The standard adaptive suspension setup on the 2020 Buick Regal GS can be adjusted for comfortable cruising in touring mode or can be stiffened up in Sport and GS modes, and it even sports a sophisticated GKN-sourced torque vectoring system similar to the one found on the old Ford Focus RS. All of these gadgets come together to deliver a sporty driving experience that can be entertaining, but doesn't match up to German rivals such as the Audi A5. The all-season tires and AWD system offer a decent amount of grip, but lose the cornering battle to understeer when pushed too hard. Steering feel isn't great, although it is weighted well enough and switching to Sport or GS modes only serves to weigh up the steering artificially, but doesn't notably improve much else. The standard Brembo front brakes are excellent at bringing the 4,270 pound GS to a halt. As a fast cruiser, the GS is pretty good, just don't expect it to sit with its German rivals when things get twisty.

The Buick Regal GS is a case of too little, much too late. It's not that it's an inherently bad car; it offers decent performance, good comfort and ride quality, capable handling, and enough modern tech to keep it relevant in 2020, but it lacks some serious attitude and soul. The 3.6-liter naturally-aspirated V6 engine has all the personality of a sewing machine, and while the nine-speed auto transmission and AWD system put the power down well, we struggled not to yawn while mashing down on the accelerator. The interior of the GS is functional, but there's no special flare involved. The front seats, however, are excellent. So, it's not exactly exciting to drive, and the looks can be described as bland by some, but the Regal GS does come with a fair number of standard features, and that hatchback trunk offers immense space and practicality. Think of the GS as a competent midsize sedan, and it makes more sense; think of it as a sporty sedan, and it falls flat on its boring face.

Since the Buick Regal model range is due to be canned, now is a good time to buy, and you're sure to bag a GS for well under sticker price. Since there is only one variant, you'll have to look at the options list to make your GS stand out from the rest. All 2020 Regal GS cars come standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine and nine-speed auto, which sends power to all four wheels, and an adaptive suspension with multiple settings for sport and comfort driving. If we had to get one, we'd go for the Sport Red paint job and match it up with the $945 Sights and Sounds Package, which adds goodies such as an eight-speaker Bose premium sound system and an eight-inch display with integrated navigation. We'd also fork out the extra $1,690 for the additional driver aids, which includes adaptive cruise control, pedestrian braking, and a head-up display. When all is said and done, our Regal GS will cost $41,705, excluding destination fees.

The Chevrolet Malibu is as close as a car is ever going to get to being a middle manager at Costco: simply put, it's just a midsize sedan with four doors, space for five adults, an engine, and a trunk. The Regal GS is in a different class to the Malibu power-wise: the Malibu can only muster 250 hp from its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot and delivers it to the front wheels, but a torque figure of 260 lb-ft available from low down makes it feel as fast at lower speeds. One benefit of being less powerful and lighter, is that the Malibu will return 22/32/26 mpg city/highway/combined. Size-wise there's nothing much in it; the Malibu loses out in the front seat legroom category but offers more space in the rear. It can't hope to measure up to the Regal GS' trunk space, though. The GS offers superior levels of standard equipment, including safety tech, and its interior feels more upmarket - but with an asking price that's almost $6,000 less, the top-spec Malibu Premier certainly has a lot to offer.

The Honda Accord is hailed as one of the best midsize and mid-priced sedans on the market right now. Not only does it offer strong performance from its small capacity turbocharged engines, but it manages to be comfortable, economical and exciting to drive all at once. The most comparable Accord in the 2020 lineup would be the $36,250 Touring 2.0T, which is powered by a Civic Type-R derived 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque much lower down in the rev range than the GS. The Accord offers superior passenger leg space front and back, but the GS offers a whole load more space in the trunk. The interior of the Accord is beautifully designed and feels like it will last a lifetime. On the road, the Accord is the more engaging car to drive, and we didn't miss the sixty-odd horsepower deficit in comparison to the GS. We would suggest the GS only if trunk and cargo space are your main concerns - for everything else, get the Accord.