By Russ Heaps
Clanging Bell

(November 4, 2018) “That's not a Buick,” were the first words about the 2018 Buick Regal GS out of the mouth of one of the valets at my favorite downtown hangout as he waved the key fob at me. “I had to look around for a minute to find it. I never believed those commercials,” he continued referring to Buick's current TV campaign with people unable to identify the brand's vehicles. “But they are dead on!”

I couldn't have said it better myself. The example Buick delivered to my driveway for a week-long evaluation was Sport Red Regal GS, which is Buick speak for bright red. Also featuring standard all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, it carried a $44,115 price tag, including $4,120 in options and the $925 factory delivery fee. This may seem a little pricey for a midsize sedan that doesn't wear a luxury logo, but Buick has packed a lot of standard gear and technology into, what can only be called, a gorgeous wrapper.

Had the valet done more than pilot the Regal GS a half block from the parking area to the valet stand, he undoubtedly would have been equally enthusiastic about its driving dynamics. In terms of straight-line acceleration, the GS is somewhat quicker than the regular Regal Sportback with its 250-horsepower 2-liter turbo, it handles a bit better, too. Propelling the GS is the same 310-hp 3.6-liter found in the LaCrosse. In the LaCrosse, the V6 is tuned to deliver 268 lb ft of torque, but in the Regal GS the peak torque is 282 lb ft.

Throw a few curves and some elevation changes into the driving mix, and prepare to be impressed, particularly when the drive selector mode is switched into GS mode (Why would you choose any other mode?). With less steering assist and constant changes of suspension stiffness through the Continuous Damping Control shocks, the Regal GS powers through the corners as the AWD systems focuses on sending more torque to the rear wheels. Four-piston Brembo grabbers reel in the thrust. It is simply a hoot to drive.

Distributing engine output to all the wheels is a 9-speed automatic transmission. Government estimates place mileage at 19 miles per gallon city, 27 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.

Inside, the front seats are a real departure from the historically pillow-like seats of many Buicks. These buckets are designed to hold their occupants upright in the twisties, adjusting tighter and looser. Oh, and there's a massage feature, too. Filling your hands, the flat-bottom steering wheel houses redundant audio controls.  Beautifully styled, the cabin reflects the grand touring mission of the Regal GS. The 8-inch touchscreen is easy to see and operate. There's actually a big round volume knob for the audio system.

Connectivity features include OnStar, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, satellite radio capability, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth streaming.

Opting for the Driver Confidence Package No. 2 added $1,690 to the bottom line of my test Regal GS, but it provides adaptive cruise control, forward collision alert, forward automatic braking, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, front pedestrian detection and head-up display.

Not exactly a throwback to the Gran Sport era, the Regal GS does replant Buick's flag in the performance arena. It can go toe to toe with a variety of sporty models, such as BMW 4-Series, Lexus IS 350 and Audi A4. Difficult not to like, the Buick Regal GS looks great and drives as a grand touring car should. Add to that the wonderfully large, easily accessible rear cargo area and you've got a midsize sporty sedan that can do it all.