The station wagon has had a hard time in America. First, the minivan shoved it out of most suburban driveways. Then the SUV boom almost buried it for good. This has left the last few remaining survivors occupying expensive luxury niches, and they may not last long either. Even longtime wagon champions like Subaru and Volvo are shifting their focus elsewhere.
2018 Buick Regal TourX exteriorBuick
American brands have had their own fair share of wagons. Detroit gave us icons like the Chevy Nomad, the Chrysler Town & Country (long before it became a minivan), and Buick’s Roadmaster Estate. After a two-decade hiatus, Buick gave the wagon segment one last go with the Regal TourX. It was roomy, handsome, and genuinely rewarding to drive, yet buyers ignored it. Today, that mistake is your opportunity.
Pricing and market details were accurate at the time of writing but subject to change.
European DNA, Detroit Nameplate
Base Trim Engine
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
Base Trim Transmission
8-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
250 hp
Base Trim Torque
295 @ 3000 – 4000
Fuel Economy
21/29 MPG
Infotainment & Features
7 /10
The Regal TourX debuted at the 2017 New York Auto Show as part of Buick’s sixth-generation Regal lineup. It arrived for the 2018 model year and disappeared after 2020, giving buyers just three years to notice the last American wagon on the market. Most didn’t. Combined Regal sales in the US totaled just 14,118 units in 2018 and declined from there, with most of these being the Regal Sportback liftback model (there was no traditional sedan).
Key Facts To Know
- Designed and built by Opel
- Came standard with AWD and positioned as a soft-roader
- Powered exclusively by a turbocharged four-cylinder
The Regal TourX was always on borrowed time anyway. The fifth- and sixth-generation Regals weren’t really Buicks at all, but rebadged versions of the Opel Insignia, a midsize car engineered and built in Germany (among other places) by Opel while it was still part of General Motors. When GM sold Opel to France’s PSA Group in 2017, the Regal’s fate was effectively sealed. Without its German twin, Buick had no successor waiting in the wings. The same decision also doomed Australia’s final Holden Commodore, another Insignia underneath the sheetmetal.
2018 Buick Regal TourX Black interior view of the steering wheelBuick
Rather than chasing crossover buyers head-on, Buick pitched the Regal TourX as a soft-roader in the mold of the Audi A4 Allroad, Volvo V60 Cross Country, and Subaru Outback. It split the difference on price, significantly undercutting the Audi and Volvo with a starting MSRP of just $29,370, although Subaru’s Outback still came in a couple thousand dollars cheaper. Even so, the base TourX hardly felt stripped. Standard equipment included 18-inch aluminum wheels, 5.8 inches of ground clearance, all-wheel drive, roof rails, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.
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The mid-level Preferred trim, priced from $33,575, added power-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a wider choice of exterior colors. The range-topping Essence started at $35,945 and brought full leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, an upgraded 8.0-inch touchscreen in place of the standard 7.0-inch display, and a premium eight-speaker Bose audio system.
!!!MODEL TAG!!! Listing Carousel 2020 Buick Regal TourX
https://carbuzz.com/cars/buick/regal-tourx/2020/
Buick Regal TourX: Performance And Capability
2018 Buick Regal TourX Rear 3/4 ViewBuick
The Regal TourX packs a punchy turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends power to all four wheels via a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. Its twin-clutch rear differential can actively shuffle torque not only between the front and rear axles, but also side-to-side across the rear wheels, improving grip when roads turn slick. Performance is adequate for regular driving, with the sprint to 60 mph dispatched comfortably in the mid-six-second range. It feels eager enough around town and cruises effortlessly at highway speeds, and the fuel economy is better than what you get with even some smaller non-hybrid SUVs.
Engine
Turbocharged 2.0L I4
Output
250 hp | 295 lb-ft
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Drivetrain
AWD
Towing Capacity
1,000 lbs
Fuel Economy
21 mpg city/29 highway/24 combined
Despite its rugged cladding and roof rails, the TourX is more soft-roader than trail rig. With just 5.8 inches of ground clearance and road-biased tires, you’re not going to be doing anything near Jeep Wrangler stuff. Think tackling gravel roads and snow-covered highways at best. Towing capacity is also woefully low at just 1,000 pounds, or less than half that of key rivals, limiting it to light-duty jobs. The payoff comes inside, where the wagon swallows 32.7 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seats and a generous 73.5 cubic feet with them folded flat.
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The TourX’s greatest strength, however, is the way it drives. Its low center of gravity and German engineering give it a composure that crossovers simply can’t match. It feels planted and composed, with tidy body control, accurate steering, and a ride that strikes an impressive balance between comfort and composure. It’s no sports wagon, but it delivers the kind of effortless long-distance refinement that makes crossovers feel clumsy by comparison.
Today’s Used Price Is Still A Bargain
2018 Buick Regal TourX front angle in white while drivingBuick
Browse the CarBuzz Marketplace or other popular classifieds and you’ll find Regal TourX prices starting at around $12,000. At that end of the market, however, expect odometer readings well into six figures. A budget of at least $16,000 opens the door to examples under the 100,000-mile mark, while stretching to around $20,000 should secure a wagon with fewer than 70,000 miles and plenty of life left to give.
Even at the higher end of that price range, the TourX remains a genuine bargain. Most used examples are the better-equipped Preferred or Essence trims, meaning buyers get plenty of features for the money. Current asking prices represent roughly 50 to 60% of the original MSRP, while our price trend data points to a bullish market outlook. Unless mileage and wear increase significantly, don’t expect used values to fall much further.
!!!TRIM TAG!!! Price Chart 2020 Buick Regal TourX
What To Watch Out For
2018 Buick Regal TourX Top ViewBuick
Reliability is another of the Regal TourX’s stronger suits. While model-specific data is limited, the mechanically similar Regal Sportback has proven dependable, earning an above-average four out of five reliability rating from RepairPal, with relatively infrequent and inexpensive repairs. CarComplaints also records remarkably few owner reports for the TourX, suggesting no widespread mechanical flaws have emerged.
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Used buyers should still do their homework. Based on the most reported owner complaints, potential buyers should check for a leaking AWD pinion seal, test every infotainment function, and confirm the air conditioning can cool the vehicle adequately. A complete service history is worth prioritizing, particularly evidence of regular transmission servicing and engine oil changes. Beyond that, the TourX appears to be a refreshingly low-drama used wagon, provided routine maintenance hasn’t been neglected.
A Future Classic You Can Still Afford
2018 Buick Regal TourX Rear 3/4 ViewBuick
The Buick Regal TourX may have been overlooked when it was new, but that only makes it more compelling today. For the price of an ordinary used crossover, buyers get European road manners, impressive cargo space, standard all-wheel drive, and solid reliability wrapped in a distinctive package. It isn’t perfect, but if practicality, comfort, and value top your priority list, few used wagons deliver more for the money.
Despite all those pluses, the Regal TourX probably still isn’t going to tempt many buyers away from the crossover aisle. Wagons were once America’s default family car, but decades of shifting tastes steadily eroded demand. Since the pandemic, sales have also softened in Europe, the segment’s last true stronghold, as efficient hybrid and electric SUVs have removed one of the wagon’s biggest advantages over taller alternatives. Ultimately, it all comes down to demand. Without enough buyers, it’s hard to imagine another American brand selling a station wagon any time soon. And if the European market continues heading in the same direction, the long-roof could become a rarity almost everywhere.
Sources: Buick, CarComplaints, RepairPal
