Man, the sight of a station wagon on the driveway was polarizing to the neighbors. And they liked it! Because of the dearth of station wagons, they are cool again. Especially an American station wagon. With large wheels, a swept roofline and fender skirts, the Buick Regal TourX is going places stylistically the Roadmaster wagon could only dream of. The only thing the good-looking vehicle needs is window film. Since SUVs are allowed to have darker windows on the rear windows in all states, the TourX looks out of place with no windows darkened from the factory. Usually the rear windows are darkened from the factory. But with the right application of the correct film, the TourX will indeed look extra pimp.
Of course, the big elephant in the room is losing capability compared to an SUV. Luckily the TourX comes standard with intelligent all-wheel drive with twin clutch packs in the drivetrain that send power to the appropriate drive wheels. You can’t really brag about ground clearance in a station wagon. However, the TourX trumps the ride height over the outgoing Buick Regal Sportback. Those aforementioned fender skirt moldings can protect it from light brushes with the brush.
To power the TourX, Buick relies on a venerable 2.0-liter turbocharged mill that pumps out 250 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to an 8-speed automatic transmission, and then finally to the all-wheel-drive system.
The cabin is relatively luxurious and features a clean design of the center console and radio controls. But the real winner is the hatch. The TourX offers more cargo space than its major European competitors. With 32.7 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, the Buick beats out the Volvo V60 and Subaru Outback with cargo capacity. It is nice to know you’ll have plenty of room for your stuff. Moreover, the hatch is motorized with an integrated logo lamp that illuminates the ground beneath the sensor with the brand’s crest.
This type of vehicle might be put into service carrying around the precious cargo of your family. If you opt for the Driver Confidence package, the TourX gives you Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Spot Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Rear Park Assist. The safety systems can be stepped up even more with the addition of Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, and finally Adaptive Cruise Control. Short of the adaptive cruise control, most of the safety technologies are available at your mobile electronics retailer. But there is a new technology that needed to be built-in from the factory. It is the first Buick to offer a standard active hood pedestrian safety system that senses the imminent impact of a pedestrian between 16 and 30 mph. The system uses a pyrotechnic actuator to lift the back of the hood up about four inches to lessen the impact and reduce injury.
The whole vehicle can become a WiFi hotspot. In addition to allowing people to use their devices, it also acts a gateway to Buick Marketplace that will make fast food lovers rejoice. Which is cool because it allows the end user to order a Dunkin Donuts iced coffee right on the infotainment screen. Then you can go the drive-thru and pick up the beverage without having to order it through the intercom system. Although you can’t skip the line, you can skip a step ….
The TourX is offered in three trim levels: TourX, Preferred and Essence. A 7-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability is standard, with an 8-inch screen at the Essence level. The Bose premium audio system even stashes a subwoofer mounted in the spare tire well. On the other hand, with this much cargo space, why not go for two 15-inch subwoofers? The Bose noise cancellation can get funky so I left it at the lowest setting.
The TourX brings back the memories of past road trips without any of the typical Griswald Family Truckster shenanigans you remember. Additionally, it brings new technologies and overall comfort to a vehicle class that is often forgotten. It shouldn’t be.