The 2014 Buick Regal Turbo AWD combines the elegance of a luxury car with the power of a sports car in one beautiful package. This is not the Buick your Father drove. It’s much better.
The Buick Regal gets a nice update for the 2014 model year that includes subtle design changes inside and out. The most noticeable exterior changes are LED accents in the headlights and taillights, a slightly modified but still sporty front grille and reshaped exhaust tips.
Watch the 2014 Buick Regal Turbo AWD come up fast in your rear view mirror and you’ll be looking to get the heck out of its way. That big front grille just screams power and it’s not at all off the mark in that impression.
Inside, it’s the plush and very elegant look you’d expect from Buick. It manages to be luxurious with just enough wood and metal trim to avoid stepping into gaudy Kardashian territory.
The design is simplified with things like LED lit gauges on the instrument panel and a center stack console that isn’t all buttons and knobs. It’s smooth and refined right down to the touch controls for the heated seats.
The infotainment system sits nicely in the dash with a minimal amount of fuss, clear controls, and an 8″ LCD touchscreen with an available improved IntelliLink system. It’s brighter, cleaner and easier to use without all the old-fashioned knobs it had last year.
The front seats are wonderfully comfortable and will adjust to exactly the position that you favor. You’ll have just as much stiffness and support, or lack of it, as you like, but the folks in back won’t be quite as happy.
Although comfortable, with the front seats pushed back, even smaller rear passengers will be short on leg room, especially if there are three adults. My eleven-year-old even complained that her Dad was squishing her to death. Her words, not mine.
The 2014 Buick Regal Turbo AWD comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that puts out 259 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. It’s also got a six-speed automatic transmission. You’re getting about 39 horsepower more than in last year’s turbo and it handles beautifully.
That handling comes in part from GM’s improved electric power steering and in part from the AWD system. It can split up to 90% of available torque to the rear wheels, or shift torque between the rear wheels with an electronic limited-slip differential. You’ll feel it in the car’s cornering which is tight and incredibly controlled even at higher speeds.
You’ll find road noise at a bare minimum too, and feedback in the steering matches with only significant change in the road surface coming through to the driver. It’s one of the smoothest, quietest rides you’ll experience.
If you’re looking for a 0-60 that knocks your socks off, this isn’t quite going to do the trick. The 2014 Buick Regal Turbo AWD is not purely a sports car and doesn’t drive like one. It’s a luxury sedan that simply refuses to be sedate.
This is a mid-size car and it looks and drives at the top end of its class, but falls some when you look at MPG ratings. The turbo gets just 19 city/27 highway for a combined 22 MPG rating. Gas prices are coming down, but that could hurt if they turn back in the other direction.
What you lose at the pump, you’re getting back when you look at the sticker. The 2014 Buick Regal Turbo AWD as tested is $40,445. Not a bargain, but compared to the vehicles it competes with like the Audi A4 or the Acura TSX, you’re getting a more well-equipped car for a good deal less.
On the TFLcar scale of:
Buy it!
Lease it!
Rent it!
… or Forget it!
I give the 2014 Buick Regal Turbo AWD a Buy It!
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.
What is the Nissan BladeGlider Concept? Simply put, it is an all-electric sports car that pushes the notion of what personal electric transport can be. In other words, it’s a cool electric car.
Taking a page from the Nissan Leaf (components) and the Nissan ZEOD RC (Zero Emission On Demand Racing Car), the Nissan BladeGlider Concept incorporates a three-seat layout, much like the McLaren F1.
“Free Soaring” Experience to be Shared with Friends: This efficient, aerodynamic, simple, and lightweight vehicle provides a “gliding” feel that combines the feeling of gravity-defying freedom and near-360 degree view of a glider with the pulse-quickening exhilaration of a race car.
“I think that the excitement of the racing car should be mirrored in the excitement of driving the road car,” said Ben Bowlby, director of Nissan Motorsport Innovation, who has supported the BladeGlider’s development. “I think there are elements we can bring from the race track to make these future road cars more exciting, more fulfilling and give greater driving pleasure.”
The is no word on output or wattage, Nissan does mention that the motors will be design inside/within the rear wheels. So, this is a rear drive vehicle. The width of the front end is only one meter wide. Nissan has proven with their ZEOD RC that the skinny nose, along with the wide rear flanks, works in high-G cornering and is very aerodynamic. Despite the aerodynamics, down-force is still part of the design.
“Revolutionary Breakthrough in High-Performance Design: BladeGlider embodies a fearless vision of the EV future. Its tightly streamlined deltoid body comprises a tough and structurally optimized chassis wrapped in ultra-lightweight, yet strong and stiff, carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) finished in a pearlescent white color that evokes the pristine freedom of a glider. The racing-inspired exterior features a sculpted contour that is both functional and breathtakingly beautiful. Starting from the low, flat and narrow nose, the body line rises gracefully to the cockpit canopy and then curves forcefully back over the large rear wheels, evoking a sense of dynamic movement even when the vehicle is standing still.” – – Nissan Media
The Nissan BladeGlider Concept was built to measure public reaction. It probably wont go into production, but Nissan has a tendency to produce things people don’t expect. It’s possible that a lot of what the Nissan BladGlider Concept represents finds its way to (near) future product.
Speaking of new Nissan products, check out this 2014 Nissan Rogue video!
Easily amused by anything with four wheels, Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. Wrecking yards, dealer lots, garages, racetracks, professional automotive testing and automotive journalism – Nathan has experienced a wide range of the automotive spectrum. His words, good humor and videos are enjoyed worldwide.
The 2014 Honda CR-Z HPD promises to turn the Honda CR-Z into the performance vehicle Honda fans wanted from the beginning. HPD stands for Honda Performance Development and Honda is reportedly going to use HPD along-side developing products. Consumers will soon have more performance components for their Honda via HPD. Hopefully, this means Honda is finally listening to its fan-base.
So, why is the 2014 Honda CR-Z HPD a big deal?
How does 187 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque grab you? The HPD kit provides a supercharger for the 1.5-liter, four cylinder engine. Other additions include a beefed-up clutch, 18-inch alloy wheels, 215/40R-18 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, 11.8-inch (front) high-performance-grooved brakes w/ four-piston calipers, limited-slip differential, exterior upgrades and a beefy sport suspension.
The 132 horsepower engine in the regular CR-Z was anything but exciting. The whole car was a major letdown for fans and driving enthusiasts alike. Honda pitched the original CR-Z as a spiritual successor to the Honda CR-X… it was not. Sales for the Honda CR-Z have never been particularly good; in Europe, the CR-Z was withdrawn from the European Honda fleet.
Things looked bleak for the Honda CR-Z.
Now, with the 2014 Honda CR-Z HPD kit available, things are truly looking up. Not only can you get a new CR-Z with the kit installed and warrantied, you can fit it to your current CR-Z and still get a 3-year/60,000 mile warranty. Prices have not been officially released, but expect the kit to run about 6K.
The suspension components are now available. The supercharger kit will be available in the spring of 2014.
I’m glad the 2014 Honda CR-Z HPD is giving the little guy a second chance. It’s was always a platform in search of excitement. Maybe its day has come.
Check out this video of the old-school Honda Pilot!
Easily amused by anything with four wheels, Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. Wrecking yards, dealer lots, garages, racetracks, professional automotive testing and automotive journalism – Nathan has experienced a wide range of the automotive spectrum. His words, good humor and videos are enjoyed worldwide.
The Sexy Ferrari F12berlinetta revealed at the Miami International Auto Show
The new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is true super car with a V12 engine that is also shared with the Ferrari FF and that produces over 700 HP.
However unlike the FF, the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta has only two seats and comes in rear-wheel-drive.
The car also is one of the most interesting aerodynamic shapes ever produced by Ferrari with a sculpted body and slowing lines that help keep the car grounded at over 200 MPH.
In another accurate, fun and informative TFLcar video we take a look at this sexy Ferrari at the 2013 Miami International Auto Show.
The three row crossover segment is hotly contested. The 2013 Toyota Highlander is in the fray for the second spot on the sales chart in United States. This second generation CUV has been around for six years with a minor facelift. What makes this crossover stay relevant after all these years? Read on to find out.
STATS
Starting Retail Price
As Tested Price
HP / Lb-Ft
2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 4WD
$39,400
$42,514
270 / 248
EPA Rating MPG
As Tested MPG
Rating: BUY IT!
17 / 22 Combined 19
Combined 20.8
First Impressions
The 2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 4WD is a luxurious machine. The interior is nice enough to adorn some of the recent Lexus crossovers. The leather is nice to the touch and the dashboard is still functional and fresh. The front-end (face lifted in 2011) adds a bit of aggressive personality.
Styling/Design:
The exterior design of the 2013 Toyota Highlander is on a conservative side. There is nothing wrong with it, but it also does not jump out of the crowd. Highlander’s rear hatch has a feature, which is nearly extinct, a separately opening rear glass.
The Highlander has a functional and family friendly interior. It can be configured for seven or six people. The third row is meant to be more easily accessed from the passenger side, where the middle-row seat slides further forward. With all seats in place, the middle-row slides fore-and-aft to allow decent leg room for third row. I am a little over 6’2” and was able to fit in the way-back, although my head was hitting the ceiling. I could spend a short trip back there. Unfortunately, the cargo space is very minimal with the third row deployed.
There is a ton of cup holders (the driver has access to five), and plenty of little cubby holes and storage spaces for smaller items. There is also a feature, where you can remove the center seat in the middle row and stow in underneath the center console. The Limited model can be ordered with a DVD player that folds down from the ceiling.
Powertrain:
The 3.5-liter V6 in the Highlander needs no introduction. You can find it in many Toyota or Lexus vehicles in various tunes. In this case, it’s making 270 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. These numbers do not look very high on paper, but this motor likes to rev and is willing to accelerate at moments notice. It’s able to propel all 4,500 lbs of Highlander’s curb weight with authority (see video at the end to find out the 0-60 MPH time). The engine is hooked up to a 5-speed automatic transmission. That’s correct – a five speed. It appears old-fashioned in the current world of 8 and 9-speeds, but once again – this transmission is very good at what it does. It shifts quickly and feels well matched to the V6.
You might think that this combination is awfully wasteful on fuel, but the Highlander has this covered as well. After 230 miles of mixed city and highway driving, I averaged 20.8 MPG (according to the computer). This is still a very respectable number. The efficiency goes down to around 17 MPG is slow city traffic, but it makes up for it on the highway with efficient and smooth cruising.
The Highlander V6 is rated at 5,000 lbs of maximum towing, but I would not recommend getting close to that limit. If you need to tow something that heavy, you should consider an SUV with a higher limit.
Handling/Ride:
Highlander’s ride is compliant and comfortable, but it is not meant to carve corners. There is more body roll than some of the newer competitors in the class. The front seats do not have adequate side bolstering for spirited driving, with the driver and passengers sliding around too much. The steering feel and weighting reminds a lot of a Camry, which is pretty good. However, it does feel over-boosted at times, where the steering wheel is too light and easy to turn. This crossover is not meant to be sporty, but it would make for an excellent long distance highway cruiser.
Competitors:
Starting Retail Price
City/Hwy MPG
HP / Lb-Ft
Towing Lbs
Cargo Cu-Ft, Ground Clear. In
2013 Toyota Highlander SE
$35,860
17/22
270/248
5,000
95.4, 8
2013 Chevrolet Traverse 1LT
$35,725
16/23
281/266
5,200
116, 7.2
2013 Dodge Durango
$38,745
13/20
290/260
7,200
84.5, 8.1
2013 Ford Explorer
$40,780
16/22
290/255
5,000
80.7, 7.6
2013 GMC Acadia SLT1
$41,780
16/23
288/270
5,200
116.1, 7.6
2013 Honda Pilot EX-L
$36,620
17/24
250/253
4,500
87, 8
2013 Hyundai SantaFe GLS
$30,100
18/24
290/252
5,000
80, ?
2013 Mazda CX-9 Touring
$33,820
16/22
273/270
3,500
100.7, 8
2013 Nissan Pathfinder SL
$36,450
19/25
260/240
5,000
79.8, 6.5
The Highlander is locked in tight battle with the Honda Pilot for the second sport in the segment in terms of sales. The Ford Explorer has a significant lead. The Toyota is getting a full redesign for the 2014 year, and the Highlander is coming for sale early next year. This 2013 model shows that a comfortable ride and clever interior design can go a long way and keep it popular through the years.
On the TFLcar scale of:
Buy it!
Lease it!
Rent it!
… or Forget it!
I give the 2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 4WD a Buy It!
The test crossover stickered at $42,514 and included the DVD entertainment system along with a long list of Limited feature (including a sunroof). Considering all the features that are included, this is a competitive price. I give this crossover a Buy It! if you are looking for family hauler and do not care as much about sporty characteristics. If you are looking for sport, you should look elsewhere.
Andre Smirnov
Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, writer, reporter, and software engineer. He has been a contributor at TFL since 2011. When not working or spending time with the family – you can find him tinkering in the garage or simply ‘going for a drive’.
The new Maserati Ghibli debuts at the Miami International Auto Show
The brand new 2014 Maserati Ghibli is the most affordable Maserati on the market.
For just over $60,000 USD you too can own a brand new Maserati that competes with cars like the BMW 5 series.
And just like the German competition the newest and most affordable Maserati can be had in rear or all-wheel-drive.
In another accurate, fun and informative TFLcar video you can watch the new 2014 Maserati Ghibli debut in North America at the 2013 Miami International Auto Show.
The 2026 Kia K4 hatchback gives interested buyers another option in a time where hatches have been losing ground to crossovers. Here are all the details!
