Staff Photo by Mark Kennedy
The Buick Regal TourX has a well-appointed interior.
Subaru sells more than 150,000 of its all-wheel-drive Outback wagons each year - enough to attract the attention of competing car-makers who don't see why the Japanese brand should hog the whole segment.
Volkswagen recently tried to claim a piece of the pie with its Alltrack wagon, which has struggled to get traction in a market dominated by small SUVs. Now, comes GM with an Outback-beater from its Buick division called the Regal TourX.
The word that leaped to mind when I first saw the TourX in the newspaper's parking lot was "German." Maybe it was the European-looking metallic gray color or the cleanly-styled interior. More likely it was simply a reflection of the fact that the Regal TourX is assembled in Ruesselsheim, Germany, and embodies German auto design sensibilities.
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It takes the eyes awhile to adjust to the dimensions of the TourX. We are all used to the boxy shape of modern SUVs, and so a vehicle that is shoulder-high and more than 16 feet long seems unorthodox.
Still, the Regal TourX is unmistakably sleek, and its low profile contributes to a respectable 29 miles-per-gallon highway fuel economy.
Our tester from Buick is in top-of-the-line Essence trim, and lists fully-loaded for $41,550. A base version starts at $29,995, so there is about a $12,000 spread between the cheapest and priciest TourX models. There are a lot of near-luxury compact SUVs in the $40K range, so Buick is hoping to attract the small sliver of customers who want a low-slung vehicle with lots of cargo capacity.
Time will tell if the small wagon market is sustainable. In a week in which Ford announced it will stop production of the mid-size Fusion and the full-size Taurus sedans, anything seems possible in the ever-changing auto world.
STYLING AND FEATURES
An observation from my notebook: "The rear view of the TourX looks like a smile emoji wearing a baseball cap." Maybe this is a subliminal message to millennials. More likely it just means that if you stare at something long enough - like I did with the Regal TourX - you might see anything.
The faux exhaust is another quirk of the TourX. The integrated exhaust tips look upscale until you bend down and realize they aren't connected to the tailpipes. This design cue is showing up more and more on modern automobiles, which seems like an odd thing to do for such a small visual pay-off.
If the rear of the TourX is a bit whimsical, the front end of the Regal wagon is, well, regal. Buick is making a statement with its iconic tri-color emblem these days and the TourX grille is the perfect place to plant one. The glossy black grille, with vertical bars, is tied together by chrome wings that converge into a Buick shield. It's a handsome look.
Sleek roof rails and a chrome highlight that runs across all three pillars of the vehicle help tie together this extra-long Buick. Remember, two of these wagons parked nose to tail would represent a first down in football.
The plastic-clad wheel arches on the TourX are a nod to the Outback, but its low-to-the-ground profile is a big departure from the raised Subaru.
Our tester had Smoked Pearl Metallic exterior paint and an Ebony interior, marked by subtle leather seat surfaces with contrasting stitching. The steering wheel, a focal point for the interior, needs a little work. The leather wrap is a bit uneven and the raised emblem in the center is a dust-catcher.
Otherwise, the interior is smartly tailored. Dash panels are taut and the analog gauges are simple and easy to read. Standard features on the TourX included a 2.0-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder engine and (like the Outback) standard all-wheel-drive.
Our tester includes more than $6,000 in options including the Sights and Sounds Package ($1,095) a bundle that includes navigation, and an upgraded Bose sound system. The Driver Confidence Packages ($2,915) adds a bevy of safety-tech features and a long (but narrow) panoramic sunroof adds $1,200 to the tab.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
Nimble handling and maneuverability make the Regal TourX a joy to drive. For anyone tired of trying to park a full-size SUV in a tight mall parking space, the TourX is a breath of fresh air.
The 250-horsepower, four-cylinder engine has plenty of pulling power, and the all-wheel-drive system claws at the road. On Highway 27 commutes during our one-week test drive, the TourX happily darted in and out of traffic.
If you require a commanding seating height, the TourX may not be your bag. But if quick reflexes and a tight turning radius sound good to you, it might be just the ticket.
BOTTOM LINE
It may not have happened yet, but eventually SUV fatigue will set in. There's only so much conformity a person can take. For those willing to step outside the box, a small wagon with up to 74 cubic feet of storage space (with the rear seats folded flat) makes a lot of sense.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.