The used-car market is full of odd contradictions, but few are as striking as this one: you can buy a well-equipped, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive American luxury sedan for less money than a brand-new economy car. Not a base model. Not a stripped fleet special. A proper performance-leaning sedan with absolute comfort and real pace.
That car is the Buick Regal GS — and for reasons that say more about shifting buyer tastes than the car itself, it has slipped almost entirely out of the spotlight. Today, while buyers queue up for compact sedans with modest power and rising price tags, the Regal GS quietly sits in the background, offering more space, more performance, and more substance for less money. It didn’t fail. It was left behind.
How The Buick Regal GS Slipped Under The Radar
Why American Buyers Moved On Too Quickly
The Regal GS arrived at the worst possible time for sedans. American buyers were abandoning the segment in favor of crossovers, and Buick was in the midst of redefining its identity. Once known for soft, floaty cruisers, the brand struggled to communicate that it could still build something sharp and engaging. The Regal GS didn’t help itself with conservative styling and low-key marketing.
It wasn’t loud, it wasn’t aggressive, and it didn’t chase headlines. Instead, it tried to blend European-inspired driving manners with American comfort. This combination appealed to enthusiasts but struggled to cut through in a market obsessed with SUVs and badge prestige. As a result, many buyers overlooked it. That oversight is precisely why it has become such a compelling buy today.
The Biggest Advantage Of The Regal GS, As A Buyer, Is The Depreciation
This is where the Regal becomes something worth considering. If you browse the used car market, you can spot clean examples regularly listed below $20,000, with many hovering in the mid-to-high teens, depending on mileage and condition. And if you check Kelly Blue Book and J.D. Power, these figures are consistent with the valuations of these highly respected mainstream pricing guides.
Now, comparing the new Toyota Corolla to the Regal GS is where we shift gears. Once destination fees and basic options are factored in, current Corolla MSRPs comfortably push into the mid-$20,000 range. That means buyers can choose between a brand-new compact sedan with modest power and front-wheel drive, or a used midsize luxury sedan with V6 performance, all-wheel drive, and a far higher level of comfort. For value-focused buyers, that’s a difficult comparison to ignore.
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Performance Hiding In Plain Sight
Lively Performance And All-Wheel Drive
Under the hood, the Regal GS offered far more than most people expected. Power came from a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V-6 producing 310 horsepower and 282 pound-feet of torque, which means it’s a sprightly and lively performer. It has strong pulling power, and, in Car And Driver’s testing, its 0–60 mph time hovered in the mid-five-second range, placing it firmly in entry-level luxury territory.
To put that into perspective, a current 2025 Toyota Corolla produces under 170 horsepower, requires significantly more effort to accelerate, and delivers power only to the front wheels. The Regal stands out to me for its power; it does indeed stick out with its dashing looks and operates in a completely different class. More importantly, all-wheel drive was standard on the GS.
That alone set it apart from many rivals, including front-wheel-drive sedans like the Honda Accord and even some rear-drive luxury competitors in base form. Compared to cars such as the Audi A4 or BMW 330i of the same era, the Regal GS traded outright sharpness for composure, prioritizing grip, stability, and all-wheel drive, which gives you an added layer of confidence.
A Confident Daily Driver With Comfort In Spades
The Regal GS is described as planted and predictable, even when pushed. Reviewers often note that the steering feels direct and not twitchy, power is smooth, and the chassis is well-balanced between comfort and control. I suppose the GS isn’t trying to be a sports sedan; it was just geared to be quick and secure, and aimed at being a daily drive with comfort and ease.
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Looks That Aged Like Fine Wine
Clean Lines Over Flashy Trends
The Regal GS never leaned into exaggerated styling, and that restraint has worked in the long run. Its lines are clean, tidy, and not over-the-top; they’re well-proportioned in an understated way. I am a fan of cars that don’t need to shout for attention but instead offer a more mature, quiet confidence. And in terms of aging well, the GS has come a long way, and in its latest iteration, it looks marvelous.
One has sporty styling galore, with wheels, sport Brembo brakes, a more aggressive stance, and detailing that hints at its performance focus without blatantly showing it off. And forget about copying German sedans or trends that come and go; the GS does not do that. Instead, it keeps a simple, sexy silhouette that holds up and ages well. In today’s market, where many compact sedans rely on sharp creases and oversized grilles to stand out, the Regal GS feels refreshingly mature.
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Interior Quality And Real-world Comfort
Inside is where the Regal GS really makes its case. One can see that Buick puts effort into comfort, and everything appears to be functional and usable; there are no gimmicks, which I suppose the purists would appreciate. You can see that the layout actually prioritizes the driver without feeling cramped. Compared to many modern compact sedans, the Regal GS appears to offer a relaxed vibe. You sit lower, the cabin feels wider, and everything about the experience suggests it was designed to cover serious mileage without wearing you down.
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How It Stacks Up Against Rivals
In its day, the Regal GS competed with cars like the Acura TLX and BMW 3 Series. While it didn’t have the same badge cachet, it often matched — and sometimes exceeded — them in everyday comfort and all-weather usability. Against modern rivals on the used market, it continues to hold its own.
Compared to entry-level luxury sedans, it offers similar space and performance for significantly less money. Against mainstream midsize sedans, it feels more refined and better equipped. Even today, few sedans offer the Regal GS’s combination of power, traction, comfort, and value in the same price range.
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Where The Regal GS Fits In Today’s Used-Car Market
A Compelling Alternative To Modern Compact Sedans
The Regal GS makes sense for buyers who want more than basic transportation but don’t want to overpay for a badge or chase trends. It’s ideal for someone who values comfort, understated performance, and real-world usability over touchscreen gimmicks and aggressive styling. It may not turn heads in a parking lot, but it delivers where it counts — on the road, day after day. And in a market where new-car prices continue to climb, that matters more than ever.
The Buick Regal GS didn’t disappear because it was flawed. It vanished because buyers stopped looking for cars like this. Today, that shift has turned it into one of the used market’s most overlooked bargains. It offers more power, more space, and more refinement than many new compact sedans — for less money. And for buyers willing to look past brand perception, it delivers value that’s becoming increasingly rare. Forgotten? Maybe. But for the right buyer, the Regal GS feels like a smart move hiding in plain sight.
Sources: Buick, J.D. Power, Kelly Blue Book