Thread of the Day: Should Buick Offer the Regal Turbo and Regal GS?

The Buick Regal’s 2014-model-year refresh brings its styling up to date with the rest of the tri-shield lineup, but the model also benefits from mechanical upgrades like a revised turbo engine and available all-wheel drive. Scroll through the comments of our 2012 Buick Regal GS first test, and you’ll find at least a dozen readers disappointed that the car’s turbocharged powerplant didn’t drive all four wheels. Now, Buick has granted their wishes, delivering not one, but two turbocharged sedans available with all-wheel drive.

The 2014 Regal GS’ 2.0-liter turbo I-4 is rated at 259 hp, down 11 hp from last year’s rating of 270 hp. Torque remains the same at 295 lb-ft, though GM now claims 90 percent of it is available between 1700 rpm and 5500 rpm. While power decreases slightly in the GS model, power rises significantly for the Regal Turbo, which gets the same power rating as its high-performance stablemate. Both models, when equipped with the available all-wheel-drive system, get GM’s HiPer Strut front suspension as standard. That brings us to today’s Thread of the Day topic inspired by forum member Frisky Dingo: Apart from the Regal GS’ unique bodywork and two selectable driving modes, why should customers choose that model over the improved Turbo trim?

In our eight-way luxury sport sedan comparison, the automatic-equipped 2012 Regal GS finished dead last. Of its comparatively lackluster performance, we said, “…over our curvy test loop, we were unimpressed with the Regal’s nervous handling dynamics, frustrating transmission (“Shift Denied!”), and noticeable turbo lag.”

It’s possible the new model could address some of those issues, with the turbo engine now improved and the available all-wheel-drive system capable of sending up to 90 percent engine torque to the rear wheels. However, is Buick shooting itself in the foot by offering many of the GS’ features on the lower-trim model? Furthermore, is the addition of all-wheel drive worth the drop in power? Share your thoughts in the comments below