More than a few surprises have accompanied the rebirth of General Motors. Chief among them is the resurgence of Buick, which was chosen as one of just four brands GM kept alive, even as it euthanized better-selling brands like Pontiac and Saturn, plus niche marquees like Hummer. After piloting the latest offering from the premium American brand, I can see why those in GM's ivory tower picked Buick to survive.

The Regal is a good-looking, excellent-handling midsize sedan that packs a lot of content for its price, with just a few drawbacks.

The biggest problem is the model's staggered introduction; just one trim level, the CXL, with one available engine is on sale now (that's the one reviewed here). The rest will hit the street over the next year. Even with just the moderately powered four-cylinder Regal you can buy today, Buick is clearly doing things right.

• Looks
• Performance
• Interior
• Safety
• Buick Regal in the Market