Used Buick Regal Buying Guide (2011-2020)

Shop a used Buick Regal as two different cars: the 2011-2017 midsize sedan, then the 2018-2020 Sportback hatch, TourX wagon, and GS. I'd lean toward a 2014-2017 turbo with AWD if you want a classic sedan, or a late Sportback/TourX if you need hatch space. Two mid-October 2026 checks before you travel: salt-belt 2012-2013 Turbo and GS cars still show rear toe-link recall 26V113, and 2018-2020 cars sit in brake-assist software campaign 22V465.

The Regal sits between the roomier used Buick LaCrosse and the three-row used Buick Enclave. If you're cross-shopping a mainstream midsize sedan instead of a Buick badge, our used Chevy Malibu buying guide covers the corporate cousin. Treat engine codes, recall lists, and body styles as separate shopping trips.

Sedan years versus Sportback and TourX

Car and Driver's Regal overview for the late sedan years lists a 182-hp 2.4-liter four as the base setup, with a 259-hp 2.0-liter turbo optional and all-wheel drive available with that turbo. GS packages added sport suspension, bigger brakes, and unique trim. Consumer Guide's 2011-14 used notes add the early timeline: 2011 cars ran a 182-hp 2.4 and a 220-hp turbo, 2012 brought the eAssist mild-hybrid 2.4 and a hotter 270-hp GS turbo, and 2014 consolidated the turbos at 259 hp while adding optional AWD. For a specific VIN's engine and drive codes, use our Buick VIN decoder.

For 2018-2020, Consumer Guide's later Regal page describes the Sportback hatch (about 31.5 cu ft behind the rear seats), the raised TourX wagon with standard AWD, and a GS with a 310-hp 3.6-liter V-6, nine-speed automatic, and standard AWD. Base Sportbacks used a 250-hp 2.0-liter turbo and eight-speed automatic. Buick ended U.S. Regal sales after 2020, so every car on a lot today is used and getting older.

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Recalls to run on the VIN

I queried the NHTSA recalls API for Regal years on Friday evening, October 16, including the 2012 Regal query and the 2018 Regal query. Start with these:

26V113, 2012-2013 Turbo and GS in salt-belt states: rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners. Owner letters were mailed April 3, 2026. Dealers replace the parts free.
20V764 / 21V00F family, 2012-2013: related rear toe-link campaigns for overlapping salt-belt populations. Confirm closure on the VIN even if an older letter already arrived.
12V484, 2011-2013: front turn-signal lamps may not warn the driver when one of two bulbs fails. Dealers update body-control software.
13V173, 2012-2013 eAssist: generator control module can cause a gradual battery drain. Dealers test and replace the module as needed.
22V465, 2018-2020: electronic brake control module software may lose vacuum power-brake assist. Dealers update EBCM software.
18V230, 2018: rear outboard seat belts may have been routed around a bolster bracket. Dealers inspect and re-route.
18V576, 2018-2019: rear brake caliper pistons with thin coating may form gas pockets. Dealers bleed the brakes.
19V762, 2019-2020: front seat frames. Dealers repair under the campaign.

The API returned zero campaigns for 2015 and 2017 when I checked, which does not freeze that VIN forever. Our Buick recall check by VIN post shows how to re-check open work. A clean history report does not prove recall labor was done.

Crash scores and the test drive

IIHS ratings for the 2017 Regal sedan show Good scores in the original moderate-overlap front, side, roof-strength, and head-restraint tests for 2011-2017 cars. Match the year on the window sticker to the ratings table before you treat an early build like a late one. On the road, listen for CV joint clicks on AWD turbos, feel for soft brake pedal travel on 2018-2020 cars that might still need the EBCM update, and sit in the rear -- European packaging means a tight back seat on the sedan years.

Price, history, and the report

Watch for rental-fleet stamps, flood counties, and title brands. Check brands free on NMVTIS, and skip the PDF a seller texts you. We've seen edited files. CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller and is not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian. As of mid October 2026 a single report through us is about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 with a membership, and both brands together run near $6.75, against roughly $39.99-$44.99 bought direct. Trust the total on the checkout screen, not a screenshot from last month.