2019 Buick Regal Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

The Buick Regal first rolled off of assembly lines back in 1973. At that time, the Regal was a mid-sized luxury sedan. While the 2019 model is still a luxury four-door car, it's more than your average sedan. Buick has officially labeled the latest Regal as the Regal Sportback. It's now a sportier version of the Regal with hatchback-style access to the cargo area. The Sportback name is evocative of the fastback label placed on many performance cars with a hatchback design.

In an age where SUVs are kings of the road, the luxury sedan is still a popular vehicle. This latest Regal design offers much more cargo space than your average sedan. You can get up to 60.7 cubic-feet of space with the rear seats properly configured. It's easy to load and unload your cargo too. The need for more storage space has lead many to gravitate towards bigger SUVs or crossover vehicles. The 2019 Buick Regal solves this issue and gives you a vehicle with a high storage capacity, sports-car performance, luxury-car comfort and impeccable style.

The 2019 Buick Regal comes in six different trim levels. General Motors calls these levels the Base Regal, Preferred, Preferred II, Essence, Avenir and GS. The Base Regal, Preferred and Avenir are only available in front-wheel drive configurations. The GS is an all-wheel drive vehicle. The remaining trims give you a choice of either setup. Buick also makes a station wagon on this platform called the Regal TourX. This five-seat wagon has three distinct trim levels of its own.

We will take a comprehensive look at each trim level of the 2019 Buick Regal. The performance features and differences will be discussed. The available features for every trim will be compared to the previous trim package and the next level up. If you're having a hard time deciding which trim level of the Buick Regal to purchase, this guide is for you.

Compare the 2019 Buick Regal Base vs Preferred Trims. What is the difference?

Both of these two trim levels come equipped with the same engine. Buick has given them a 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine. This motor cranks out 250 horsepower and 260 pounds-feet of torque. It offers better performance and acceleration than many V-6 engines on comparable cars. The engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. Both models are only available in front-wheel drive.

The Base Regal and Preferred trim come with 4-wheel antilock disc brakes. They both share the same suspension system as well. Buick has added on StabiliTrak, a system that handles traction control and stability. The performance of both vehicles is nearly identical. Both share a combined fuel-economy rating of 26 miles-per-gallon. The main differences here lie in the included comfort and luxury features.

On the outside of the Regal, these two trims come sporting 17-inch aluminum wheels with a five-spoke design. These are equipped with all-weather tires. You get the choice of an upgrade to 18-inch wheels for the Preferred model. Buick uses solar-absorbing glass for all of the windows. These two specific trim levels offer heated, power-operated mirrors on the outside of the vehicle. They also give you LED headlights and taillights. Daytime running lamps are included as well.

The only differences left to note for the exterior are some additional options you get with the Preferred trim. You can opt for a power moon-roof for this trim level. You can also add on a tire-inflation kit and an all-weather package. This package gives you an upgraded liner for the cargo area and some weather-resistant floor mats.

On the inside of the Buick Regal, you get a 6-way manual driver seat for the Base model. The front passenger seat has 4-way manual adjustments. Moving up to the Preferred trim gets you an 8-way power-adjustable seat for the driver and a 6-way manual seat for the front passenger. These upgraded seats also have 2-way lumbar adjustments. There are adjustable head restraints on the front seats of both trim levels. All of the seats have cloth upholstery. In the rear, you get a 60/40 split, fold-down feature on the seats to give you optimum cargo space.

These two versions of the Buick Regal both offer a 4G WiFi hotspot. The infotainment system has a full-color, 7-inch touchscreen. USB ports allow you to charge your various devices. The same 7-speaker premium audio system comes standard for both trims. These two Regal models are OnStar Buick Connected Services capable.

Both of these trims share many common features. Some of these include power locks, power windows, air conditioning and cruise control. Both have keyless open and keyless start functions. Buick includes a rear-view camera for both trims so you'll always have a good view of whatever is behind you. A Teen Driver System lets you set custom parameters to encourage good driving habits.

When it comes to safety and security, the Base model and Preferred trim once again share most of the same features. A tire-pressure monitor lets you know if the air pressure drops to unsafe levels. A theft-deterrent system and alarm helps to protect your vehicle. The two trims get the same airbag system. You get front and knee airbags. Side airbags give some level of protection along the whole length of the interior. Head-curtain airbags give even further protection to the driver and front passenger.

Compare the 2019 Regal Preferred vs Preferred II Trims. What is the difference?

The Preferred II model comes with the same engine as the previous trim levels. Once again, this means that the performance stats are basically the same between the trim packages. The first major difference here is that the Preferred II model is the first trim to offer all-wheel drive. This does give the Preferred II different driving dynamics and much better traction. It makes for a great-driving vehicle in most weather conditions. An all-wheel drive Regal will have an 8-speed automatic transmission instead of the 9-speed transmission system that comes equipped on front-wheel drive models.

On the exterior of the Preferred II you get upgraded wheels. This time around, you get 18-inch aluminum wheels with painted pockets. All-season tires are again included. The headlights and taillights are the same, but the Preferred II also adds on fog lamps. Some previous options are now included as standard for the Preferred II such as a tire-inflator kit.

For the interior, you get a larger, 8-inch infotainment screen for the Preferred II model. You also now get a 4.2-inch driver-information screen. The sound system is upgraded for better audio quality. The upholstery and seats are all the same between the two trims. The Preferred II adds on a nice extra feature called Active Noise Cancellation. This system dampens and cancels out vibrations as well as absorbs sounds for a quieter ride.

The Preferred trim offers basic heat and air conditioning. Moving up to the Preferred II gets you dual-climate control and a heated steering wheel. Both trims have steering wheels that come wrapped in leather. With the Preferred II you also get ambient lighting on the inside of the vehicle. The safety and security features are mostly the same for the Preferred and Preferred II trims.

Compare the Regal Preferred II vs Essence Trims. What is the difference?

The Essence and the Preferred II trims come in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations. They share the same engine, suspension system and available transmission systems. On the outside, you get the same 18-inch wheels and tires for the Essence trim. In fact, all of the stock and available exterior options are the same for these two trim levels.

On the inside of the Essence model, you get some upgraded seats. The front-passenger seat now gets the same 8-way power-adjustment options as the driver's seat. The front seats are now heated as well. The dual-zone climate control and infotainment system remain the same as those included with the previous trim. you do, however, get an air ionizer added in for the Essence to provide for an even better air quality.

Many of the standard features for the interior remain the same. There are more available options for the Essence though. Some of these include Front Pedestrian Braking, Forward Automatic Braking, and Front Collision Alert. The standard alarm system and safety features are once again included for the Essence trim package.

Compare the Regal Essence vs Avenir Trims. What is the difference?

With the Avenir trim, you can no longer select all-wheel drive as an option. It's only available as a front-wheel drive vehicle. You still get the 2.0-liter turbo engine and 9-speed automatic transmission system from this package. The wheels get another upgrade. This time the Regal comes with 19-inch aluminum alloys. These wheels have a pearl-nickel finish. As usual, these are paired with all-season tires.

An automatic-leveling system is included for the headlights. You get upgraded headlight control as well. The exterior mirrors now get a dimming feature to negate glare. They also now have a heating feature for quick defrosting. An upgraded infotainment package gets you a navigation system, more connectivity options and HD radio. With this trim, you also get a premium, 8-speaker audio system by Bose.

On the inside of the Avenir, the seats get another upgrade. This time you get 4-way lumbar adjustments up front. 8-way power adjustments are still standard on both front seats. The upholstery is now leather. A memory feature lets you set and recall seat positions. Also included with the Avenir is Buick's Driver Confidence Package. This provides a number of driver assists such as Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Alert and Rear Park Assist. The remaining safety features and security systems are the same.

Compare the 2019 Regal Avenir vs GS Trims. What is the difference?

The GS trim package was designed for those who value performance. It comes equipped with a powerful V-6 engine. This 3.6-liter engine produces 310 horsepower and 282 pounds-feet of torque for amazing acceleration. You once again get a 9-speed automatic-transmission system. An upgraded suspension system and performance brakes get added on as well. Sport Mode Selectivity gives you several options for changing the steering dynamics and feel of how the vehicle handles. You get all of the perks of the previous trims in a package that is simply a blast to drive.

The GS trim gives you 19-inch aluminum wheels with gray accents. The previous headlights are replaced with halogen headlamps that have an auto-on and auto-off feature. They also have a flash-to-pass feature. Active Noise Cancellation is now standard for this trim level. You get the best audio system and infotainment offerings available for this highest-tier trim package.

All of the previous driver assists and safety features are included as standard equipment for the GS model. The real highlight of this trim package is the upgraded engine. The additional performance parts and overall upgraded driving experience make this the most unique trim available when you compare what each has to offer.

The 2019 Buick Regal TourX

While this is technically a different model of vehicle, it's worth noting as it is still branded as a Regal and built on the same basic platform. This is a five-passenger wagon version of the Buick Regal for those who need even more seats and cargo space. It's a fantastic option for large families.

The TourX comes in three different trim packages with some familiar names. These are the Base, Preferred and the Essence. Every trim comes with the same 2.0-liter I-4 engine. This power plant cranks out around 250 horsepower. It comes paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission system.

Final Thoughts

Most drivers who are looking to get a Regal will be best served to stick with one of the hatchback-sedan hybrids. The wagon is a fantastic vehicle, but only if you have an exceptionally large family to haul around. The standard Regal still offers plenty of passenger and cargo space that should accommodate most people.

The best of the bunch is the GS model. When moving up from one trim level to the next, you generally are getting more comfort and luxury features. The price is very reasonable with only a small increase each step of the way. The one aspect that makes the GS a real winner is the high-performance engine. You get all of the best convenience and luxury perks with the added benefit of the best performance.