Drive the Buick Regal. Simple statement, but that’s the best way to grasp this midsize sedan’s prowess. Regal knows how to leave a driver wanting more seat time. The 107.8-inch wheelbase car’s ride and handling provides a well-balanced feel. That’s a tribute to the car’s all wheel drive system, which for 2014 incorporates a new H-arm rear suspension design. (Regal front wheel drive cars have a four-link rear suspension.) The driver confidence package #1 (an $890 equipment option) includes forward collision alert, rear cross traffic alert, and side blind zone alert with lane change alert. Those helpful safety features rely on radar and camera-based technology.

The Regal GS is fitted with a new standard 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 259 horsepower at 5300 rpm and 295 pounds-feet of torque between 2500-4000 rpm. A 6-speed manual transmission is offered as an option on Regal GS at no additional cost. For 2014, the revisions to the 2.0-liter turbo engine mated to the 6-speed manual transmission mean 31 mpg on the highway, a 15% uptick from 2013. A one-week test drive of the Regal GS allowed time to soak up the car’s many standard equipment features, including the next-generation IntelliLink infotainment system. Regal GS with 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic transmission carries a base MSRP of $39,270 and collects mpg of 19 city and 27 highway.