{"id":8893,"date":"2014-08-15T08:00:17","date_gmt":"2014-08-15T13:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/?p=8893"},"modified":"2014-08-15T03:42:12","modified_gmt":"2014-08-15T08:42:12","slug":"consumer-reports-finds-updated-buick-regal-challenges-european-class-leaders-for-less-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/2014\/08\/15\/consumer-reports-finds-updated-buick-regal-challenges-european-class-leaders-for-less-money\/","title":{"rendered":"Consumer Reports finds updated Buick Regal challenges European class leaders for Less Money"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tests finds Volvo S60 is a solid, practical competitor<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"ConsumerYonkers, NY<\/strong> – The recently freshened Buick Regal and Volvo S60 are giving their sportier and more prestigious competitors from BMW and Mercedes-Benz serious competition, in Consumer Reports latest tests.<\/p>\n

Consumer Reports engineers found the Regal\u2019s performance, handling and easy infotainment system appealing. That helped the Regal beat the Volvo S60 in a head-to-head road test.<\/p>\n

\"2014<\/a>

2014 Buick Regal<\/p><\/div>\n

Ultimately, the Regal wound up finishing just one point shy of the class-leading BMW 328i and tied the Mercedes-Benz C250 for second place in the organization\u2019s overall ratings of upscale sport sedans\u2014while costing thousands less.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Regal is a thoroughly developed and satisfying mid-sized sports sedan that\u2019s more reminiscent of a German sports car than the softly sprung luxo-barges that Buick was once known for,\u201d said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports\u2019 director of automotive testing.<\/p>\n

Consumer Reports engineers found the Regal\u2019s revised 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes the car quicker and more fuel-efficient than when it first came out. The turbo engine accelerates effortlessly, posting a 0-to-60-mph time of 7.4 seconds. The smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission is quick and responsive.<\/p>\n

Ratings and road test reports for the Buick Regal and Volvo S60 are available at www.ConsumerReports.org<\/a>. The reports, along with evaluations of the new Mercedes-Benz S550 (\u201cExcellent\u201d overall score), Audi A3 (\u201cVery Good\u201d), and Maserati Ghibli (\u201cVery Good\u201d), appear in the September issue of Consumer Reports, which goes on sale Thursday, July 31st.<\/p>\n

Consumer Reports measured the Regal\u2019s fuel economy at 24 mpg overall, which is mid-pack for the category. But unlike many turbocharged engines, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Regal doesn\u2019t require premium fuel. The Regal rides very well, with a trace of firmness at lower speeds. Handling is agile and tied down. On the track, the Regal was quite capable, snaking through Consumer Reports\u2019 avoidance maneuver at a commendable speed of 53.5 mph with plenty of grip.<\/p>\n

Consumer Reports found the Volvo S60\u2019s new, 240-hp, 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission, is a marked improvement in drivability, fuel economy, and refinement over the previous five-cylinder engine. Power is generous and smooth, with a well-integrated turbo that makes the car very responsive and provides effortless power. Fuel economy is decent, at 25 mpg overall.<\/p>\n

[320left]Testers found the S60\u2019s handling is fairly nimble and secure. The ride was so firm that it borders on being stiff. The S60\u2019s interior is well-finished, and reasonably quiet with a simple and a clean design. Front seats are roomy and very comfortable, but the rear seat is snug, with tight leg and head room. The coupe-like styling limits rear visibility and contributes to a cramped rear seat. Trunk room is good.<\/p>\n

While the Regal is currently Consumer Reports Recommended, the organization doesn\u2019t yet have reliability data on the S60\u2019s new powertrain. Previous generations of the S60 have had average reliability.<\/p>\n

Consumer Reports\u2019 testing procedures are the most comprehensive of any U.S. publication or Web site. More than 50 individual tests are performed on every vehicle, including evaluations of braking, handling, comfort, convenience, safety, and fuel economy. Roughly 6,000 miles of general driving and evaluations are racked up on each test car during the testing process. CR buys all its test cars anonymously from dealers. Other reviewers base their evaluations on press cars that are hand-picked by the automakers.<\/p>\n

About Consumer Reports<\/h3>\n

Consumer Reports is the world\u2019s largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website and other publications.<\/p>\n

Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tests finds Volvo S60 is a solid, practical competitor Yonkers, NY – The recently freshened Buick Regal and Volvo S60 are giving their sportier and more prestigious competitors from BMW and Mercedes-Benz serious competition, in Consumer Reports latest tests. Consumer Reports engineers found the Regal\u2019s performance, handling and easy infotainment system appealing. That helped the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[9479,5340,9476,9475,678,5339,9477,9478,4001,3365],"class_list":["post-8893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community","tag-audi-a3","tag-bmw","tag-bmw-328i","tag-buick-regal","tag-consumer-reports","tag-mercedes-benz","tag-mercedes-benz-c250","tag-mercedes-benz-s550","tag-volvo-s60","tag-yonkers-ny"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8893"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8893\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8894,"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8893\/revisions\/8894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}