Buick Regal Gets An Update In China, Adds Sporty GS
Despite being discontinued in North America since 2020, the midsize sedan remains alive and well in China
March 3, 2025 at 06:40
- The flagship version of the Buick sedan has a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.
- Chinese buyers can choose between 169-hp and 237-hp versions of the same engine.
- The GS features a unique front fascia, a rear lip spoiler, and GS badging throughout.
Buick may have pulled the plug on the Regal in the United States back in 2020, but over in China, the nameplate is alive and well, and it just got an update, complete with a new GS variant. Given the rapid shift toward EVs in the Chinese market over the past five years, it’s almost surprising that Buick is still investing in a sedan that traces its roots back to 2018, originally conceived as a regional version of the Opel Insignia before the German brand was sold to Stellantis.
Much like its North American counterpart, the new Regal GS is a mildly sportier take on the standard four-door sedan. Buick has been selling the GS in China through its SAIC-GM partnership for years, but this refreshed version gets a few design tweaks to set it apart. It’s not a radical departure, but it does give the car a bit more presence.
Read: 2024 Buick Regal Debuts In China With Turbo Power And Questionable Looks
Whereas the standard Regal was facelifted in 2024 with a dramatic new grille, the GS has a design more closely resembling the pre-facelift version. As such, it has a smaller grille not dissimilar in design to what was offered in the US. This grille has been blacked out and is accompanied by new gloss black air intakes.
Some subtle changes have been made to the rear, too. They include special GS badging and a black lip spoiler. According to local media, the Regal’s suspension setup has also been reworked and a new set of Brembo brakes come as standard.
The new Regal GS is sold in China exclusively with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine offered in 169 hp and 237 hp configurations. No changes have been made to the interior, meaning it rocks the same basic setup of the standard model.
Given that the car dates back to 2018, it comes as no surprise the cabin lacks many of the features that have since become commonplace across the industry. For example, there’s no digital instrument cluster, and the infotainment screen is relatively small and features an outdated operating system.
Pricing and Availability
Buick has yet to announce pricing for the Regal GS, but for reference, the standard model starts at ¥106,900 ($14,700) and tops out at ¥123,900 ($17,000). Given the GS’s added features, expect it to sit slightly above that range.
For a car that’s been around in one form or another for nearly six years, the updated Regal GS isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but in a market that’s rapidly shifting away from sedans and ICE vehicles, the fact that it still exists at all is noteworthy.
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