GM was one of the early adopters of CarPlay, with the feature debuting on a few 2016 Chevrolet models and rapidly spreading across the company's various brands including Buick, GMC, and Cadillac.

As part of a 2018 model year redesign intended to breathe some more life into its Regal sedan, Buick introduced the Regal TourX, an all-wheel drive wagon version that offers more cargo space to compete against some of the top models in the class including the Subaru Outback and Volvo V60.

buick regal
I've spent some time testing out a 2019 Buick Regal TourX to get a sense of GM's latest infotainment system (which GM is calling next-generation Buick Infotainment) and how it integrates with CarPlay.

buick regal cockpit
My test vehicle was the high-end Essence trim, nearly maxed out with most of the available upgrades including built-in navigation, panoramic moonroof, automatic cruise control, park assist, automatic emergency braking, and more.

Buick Infotainment

GM has been working on unifying its infotainment offerings, starting with the 2017 Cadillac CTS that launched with the "next-generation CUE" infotainment system. The same general system with some slight tweaks has been starting to expand across the Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC brands since that time, with the Buick Regal receiving the new Buick Infotainment version of the system on some 2018 vehicles.

The Essence trim of the Regal TourX comes with a generous 8-inch touchscreen display integrated nicely into the dashboard, while the mid-level Preferred and base TourX trims come with a slightly smaller 7-inch display as standard. The Buick Infotainment system operates identically on both screen sizes, although you'll need the 8-inch screen if you want features like built-in navigation and a marketplace for third-party apps. All trims support ‌CarPlay‌ and Android Auto.

buick regal center stack

Main app screen with hardware controls below

While it doesn't float above the dashboard like on some other vehicles where the driver's line of sight is of utmost priority, the Regal TourX's display is still highly visible, with prominent placement tilted slightly toward the driver. A matte finish and a bit of brim from the dashboard help cut down on visible fingerprints and glare, and the whole thing comes across as a very cohesive design rather than a screen awkwardly stuck onto the dashboard.

Below the screen, there's a strip of hardware controls including a centered volume/power knob, forward and back buttons on either side to change tracks or station presets, and home and back buttons on the outside edges of the row. It's a fairly limited selection of physical controls, but it's largely sufficient for the most common quick adjustments that are more easily made by feel.

buick regal audio

Audio controls

The Buick Infotainment system offers an extremely clean design that's very simple to navigate. It has a modern look that's reminiscent of a smartphone or tablet operating system. Icons are simple and easy to recognize at a quick glance, with a little bit of color to differentiate the major functions.

buick regal nav

Built-in navigation

The system is controlled strictly by touch, with no trackpad or scroll wheel input provided. That's a good thing in my view, as direct manipulation via a touchscreen is a far more natural interaction mechanism.

buick regal home 2

Multi-view home screen with audio, map, and phone sections

The system offers a couple of different home screen views, with the ability to swipe between them. One view divides the screen into three sections, with one showing a map of your general area, another showing your current audio information and track controls, and then a small strip showing any connected phones to give you quick access to their functions.

buick regal home

Third-party app management screen

The other main home screen view is a customizable 4x2 grid of app icons that spans multiple pages if necessary. Aside from the default apps included on the system, you can also download a number of third-party apps including The Weather Channel, Spotify, and more.

buick regal app library

Second page of home screen apps

Any of the app icons on these home screen pages can be rearranged by tapping and holding, then dragging the icon to the desired location, with other icons adjusting their positions to make room, just like on iOS.

buick regal more apps
When you're within the Buick Infotainment system, there's a persistent shortcut tray or bar along the bottom that offers icons for quickly getting back to the home screen or to music, phone, navigation, or climate. The bar also shows the current time, exterior temperature, and cellular signal strength.

buick regal climate screen

Onscreen climate controls

Most climate controls can be managed through a set of buttons and knobs located lower on the center stack, but you can also make adjustments through the infotainment system.

CarPlay

‌CarPlay‌ on the Buick Regal TourX requires a wired connection using one of the two USB-A ports inside the center console compartment. While connected, you can store your phone either inside the compartment or in a nearby cupholder with the cable routed through one of the gaps in the front of the console compartment lid.

buick regal carplay

‌CarPlay‌ home screen

‌CarPlay‌ does take over the entire infotainment screen when it's active, so you won't be able to see information such as audio or navigation from the Buick system. If you've opted for the digital driver's display that's standard on the Essence trim and an option on the Preferred trim, that helps overcome the visibility issue as you can select from several different views to get the information you need right in front of you.

buick regal driver display

Driver's display showing current audio information

There's no Buick app icon on the ‌CarPlay‌ home screen, but the hardware home button makes it easy to get in and out of ‌CarPlay‌ at any time. Pressing the home button while in ‌CarPlay‌ takes you back to the Buick system, while pressing and holding the button takes you into ‌CarPlay‌. That makes this system one of the relatively few with an always-available hardware method for accessing ‌CarPlay‌ regardless of what you're doing in the infotainment system.

buick regal carplay now playing

‌CarPlay‌'s "Now Playing" screen

Colors on the ‌CarPlay‌ screens look a little washed out, and there don't appear to be any settings to adjust the color. I'm not sure the reason for this issue with the colors, as they seem fine on the native infotainment system. I got used to the ‌CarPlay‌ colors after a while, and it's not a major problem, but it was definitely noticeable at first after coming from other vehicles with more vivid colors.

buick regal carplay maps

Apple Maps in ‌CarPlay‌

Voice control is managed through a dedicated button on the steering wheel, with a short press bringing up the Buick voice assistant and long press accessing Siri.

buick regal steering wheel

Voice assistant/‌Siri‌ button is at top right of left cluster

Ports and Wireless Charging

Aside from the two USB-A ports inside the center console that can be used for connecting for ‌CarPlay‌ purposes, my tester also came equipped with a pair of charge-only USB-A ports on the rear of the center console. There's also a 12V power port up front and another in the rear cargo area.

buick regal rear usb

Charge-only USB ports on rear of center console

A vertical wireless charging pocket is available on the Regal TourX, but only on the Essence trim and only as part of a $1,725 package that also includes LED auto-leveling and cornering headlights, heated side mirrors, rear park assist, lane change/blind zone alert system, rear cross traffic alert system, and upgraded power lumbar seat controls.

buick regal console

Center console with vertical charging slot and two USB ports inside the compartment

Unfortunately, the charger has a few design issues. First, it's located inside the center console compartment, which makes things a bit more difficult than just tossing your phone on the charger when you hop in the car and grabbing it as you exit. Second, it doesn't fit Plus/Max-sized iPhones. A naked iPhone XS Max can be forced down into the charger, but even then it's not deep enough to allow the phone to charge.

buick regal qi charging

‌iPhone‌ XS Max squeezed into the charger but not charging

In fact, GM's wireless charging system is generally a bit of a mess for ‌iPhone‌ owners, as you can see in device compatibility matrix. Prior to the 2019 model year, some of GM's models used wireless chargers that didn't fully implement the Qi standard, and so they were incompatible with iPhones unless the vehicles are retrofitted with newer hardware. But even now that GM has rolled out full Qi support in 2019 models, the company acknowledges that Plus/Max iPhones may not fit in their chargers.

OnStar and Wi-Fi Hotspot

As a GM vehicle, the Buick Regal TourX comes with the company's powerful OnStar suite of connected services. Basic access such as vehicle diagnostics, maintenance reminders, and the third-party app marketplace is included for ten years, while buyers receive a one-month trial of OnStar's Safety and Security Plan that offers automatic crash response, roadside assistance, stolen vehicle assistance, and turn-by-turn navigation assistance from a live advisor.

buick regal onstar

Onscreen options for OnStar services

Once your trial runs out, you can choose from a variety of paid plans with different combinations of features.

The Regal TourX also has available 4G LTE hotspot service through AT&T. Service can be purchased separately or as part of the Unlimited Access Plan bundle that also includes OnStar services.

Wrap-up

I really liked the Regal TourX's infotainment system with a clean and modern user interface that makes it easy to find exactly what you need without garish colors. The minimal hardware controls are enough to get things done by feel without making it overly complicated, and they look nice too. The overall hardware design of the center stack is great, with the screen fitting in extremely well rather than looking like an iPad mini stuck onto the dashboard as an afterthought.

‌CarPlay‌ integrates quite well with the Buick Infotainment system, and the available driver's display helps compensate for the lack of a split-view widescreen infotainment display. The 8-inch screen in particular provides plenty of real estate for both ‌CarPlay‌ and the Buick Infotainment system, and the screen and hardware controls are within easy reach of the driver. The dual-duty hardware home button makes it simple to jump back and forth between the systems as needed.

Beyond the infotainment system itself, the Regal TourX could use some refinements. The only available USB ports for plugging into the system are inside the center console compartment, which is fine for those who prefer to keep their phones tucked away, but I prefer having some options with at least one USB somewhere on the center stack and another inside the console.

Wireless charging is another area that really needs improvement here. While GM is moving past its early issues with ‌iPhone‌ incompatibility on the technology side, it's mindboggling that Apple's larger phones won't even physically fit in the charger. Apple's Plus/Max phones have been essentially the same size since the ‌iPhone‌ 6 Plus launched in 2014, so there's no excuse for not making the charger large enough to accommodate them.

That said, the wireless charging issue may not affect that many users, as many will have smaller phones that fit fine or won't want to use wireless charging since they have to plug in for ‌CarPlay‌ anyway. It's also an expensive add-on considering it requires the top-end trim plus an additional pricey package to even get it, so I imagine many owners won't even opt to have their vehicles equipped with it.

The 2019 Buick Regal TourX starts at $29,995 for the base model, which does include ‌CarPlay‌ on the 7-inch touchscreen. The mid-level Preferred trim starts at $33,595, and if you want to upgrade that to the larger 8-inch screen with built-in navigation, you'll have to do it as part of a package that includes other features like Bose premium audio, the digital driver's display, and remote start, which pushes the price to around $35,500.

Alternatively, you can go straight to the high-end Essence trim starting at $35,995 and get the 8-inch screen standard. A package adding navigation and Bose premium audio bumps the price to just over $37,000, and if you go all-in on the advanced safety features and other options, you can push the price tag up to over $43,000.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Tags: Buick, GM

Top Rated Comments

Steve.P.JobsFan Avatar
83 months ago
It's still a station wagon.
...and it’s still a practical vehicle while being a zillion times better than all these freaking CUVs and SUVs on the road. Barf.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnipgnop Avatar
83 months ago
The wagon form factor makes more functional sense than the sedan. Always has. I think that's one of the reasons the sedan form is going away in the United States. Most of the "crossovers" etc. that are popular are just slightly taller wagons that aren't marketed as wagons.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H3LL5P4WN Avatar
83 months ago
If this is "clean and modern" what's in the Tesla Model 3?!
Non-Union junk.
[doublepost=1550606850][/doublepost]
It's still a station wagon.
And wagons have always been awesome.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
saulinpa Avatar
83 months ago
This is a good German built auto but GM/Buick wouldn't know how to sell water in the desert. It's like they are embarrassed to sell any car or wagon.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
redneckitengineer Avatar
83 months ago
Part of my career in the field allows me to rent a new car every week from somewhere, and honestly....the Buick LaCrosse (discontinued) and the Regal are hidden gems. Everybody overlooks them at the airports. I find them to be fantastic cars with some serious sound dampening technology.
[doublepost=1550604905][/doublepost]
I think it's a nice looking wagon at that. It's funny how car companies in the US try to avoid the station wagon nomenclature. Europe was lucky they called them that.

I think my next car is going to be an Audi Avant.;):D
I like how Europeans call them estate cars, I think it sounds sexier to call it an estate vs station wagon. I've always referred to my Volvo's as estate and saloon.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
83 months ago
I’d love a Mazda6 estate myself, but I can’t buy one because the majority of people think they [estates/wagons] are as terrible today as they were in the 1970s when bumper laws were in their infancy and we were in the midst of a fuel crisis (read: terrible).

Because of that, Mazda (and virtually every other automaker) won’t sell an estate/wagon in the US.... unless they jack it up and cover it in hideous plastic body-cladding to portray it as “off-road tough!!!” because the majority of Americans just eat that crap up, even if their $52,000 Wrangler Moab is a pavement princess and the closest thing to off-roading it sees is some dirt and stones on the road while driving through a construction zone. :rolleyes:
Station wagon just has a terrible connotation. For those of a certain generation, if you say station wagon this immediately comes to mind:

Not this:
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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