When the final generation of the Regal debuted in the spring of 2017, sedan sales were already in decline, especially for Buick. Even back then, it had been a long time since the heyday when Buicks littered the bestseller lists, and Buick sedans were stuck with low sales figures. For the final two generations of the Regal, Buick took it sportier (and saved money), by essentially re-badging the European Opel/Vauxhall Insignia. For enthusiasts, this was good news, with sharper handling and leaner styling that aggressively shook off the old stereotypes, and likely turned off buyers of the previous generation at the same time.But Buick had to do something different to try to break out of the rut. They tried these sportier Regals for a dozen years before finally calling it quits in 2020. It didn't help that the whole segment was struggling, and Buick certainly wasn't alone. For the final generation from 2018-2020, though, Buick gave it their all, making all regular Regals a more versatile Sportback body style, bringing back the sporty GS and even having a go at the premium wagon segment with the TourX. Unfortunately, none of this moved the needle, and three years was all that Buick gave it before pulling the plug in the States. It continues on to this day in China, where people still buy Buick sedans in good numbers, but for the rest of the world, this was the end of Regal. Let's go through what this final generation offered. A Closer Look At The Buick Regal BuickWhen it debuted for the 2018 model year, the Regal was the smallest of the two remaining sedans in the Buick lineup, with the smaller Verano getting killed off the year before, and the larger LaCrosse in its second-to-last model year. Buick was quite proud of their new sportback bodystyle in 2018, boasting more cargo space than an Audi A5 Sportback or a BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. But it wasn't their decision really, since only China got a regular sedan, everyone else got the liftback design. The car was based on the Opel Insignia, and its identical Vauxhall brethren, and it even spawned the final generation of the Holden Commodore.Buick It was certainly sportier than before, with a claimed 200 lb weight loss compared to the last generation, while also being stiffer, stronger and having a three-inch longer wheelbase. All these things helped the GS version the most, and made it more legitimate than ever. The cherry on top was that these Regals were actually built in Germany, which meant that it could claim the same country of origin as all those more expensive liftbacks it was aspiring to compete with.It was pretty comparable to those competitors when it came to specs as well, using a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine like they did, offering very similar horsepower and torque, and running through similarly advanced eight- and nine-speed automatic transmissions. The only thing that gave away its cheaper underpinnings was its standard front-wheel drive, versus the rear-wheel drive of the base 4 Series Gran Coupe and the all-wheel drive system offered on the A5. More Than Just A Sedan Buick The regular Regal was good on its own, but for the final generation, Buick really did give it an impressive swansong. The most impressive was the return of the GS version. But unlike the last generation that gave you the choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, this generation put its extra horsepower to the ground through a standard all-wheel drive system. And it wasn't just any all-wheel drive system, but a twin-clutch torque-vectoring system that combined with an adaptive suspension and bigger brakes to greatly improve handling. The powertrain got a big improvement at the end too, running a 3.6-liter naturally-aspirated V6 that did 310 horsepower, officially having more power than even the legendary GNX. You even got heated, ventilated and massaging sport seats, a flat bottom steering wheel, and sportier styling. I spent a week with one back in 2019 and always thought the car deserved more praise than it got.Buick The bigger departure for the Regal's last years was that it also offered a wagon version, called the TourX, making a Buick wagon again for the first time since 1996. It was a really solid competitor to the Subaru Outback and the upmarket competitors from Volvo and Audi on paper. It matched the cargo space of the Outback exactly, and received that twin-clutch all-wheel drive system and the same turbo punch as the regular Regal. Plus, it had a tasteful amount of cladding and a slightly higher ride height to make it convincing as a crossover.Another personal anecdote: my father-in-law bought his TourX new in 2018, still loves it to this day, and still get compliments on it frequently. It's surprisingly capable and versatile and has held up well for the nearly 70,000 he's accumulated so far. It's another Regal that never got the credit it deserved, and kudos to Buick for having the bravery to challenge the mainstays in a very niche segment. Sadly, it didn't move the needle enough to save the Regal. The End Of Buick Sedans In America BuickAt the end of 2019, Buick announced the huge news that they would quit importing the Regal after the 2020 model year had finished, thereby ending their rich, 113-year history of selling cars and transitioning to an all-SUV lineup. This was probably partly due to poor sales, which were roughly half of what they were for the previous generation, unfortunately, despite being ahead of the curve on liftbacks, which now are becoming more common as a way to lure buyers from SUVs and back into sedans. But there was a much bigger issue that couldn't be resolved.In 2017, Opel and Vauxhall were sold to the PSA group (which included the brands of Peugeot, Citroen and DS at the time), which didn't bother Buick since PSA wasn't doing business in America. But in 2019, Fiat Chrysler merged with PSA and created Stellantis, which meant that the Regal's underpinnings were now owned by Mopar. Mercifully, they didn't re-badge the Regal as a Chrysler, but it meant that Buick wasn't able to sell a Stellantis product in the States. In addition to losing the one thing Buick offered throughout its entire history up to that point, it left all of General Motors with just three sedans for the 2021 model year, the Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac CT4 and CT5.These days, regular Regals continue to be valued like any other Buick for the most part, depreciating as quickly as the others, although the GS and TourX versions have held up slightly better. A Sportback with average miles and a clean history will run you between $12,000-$15,000. TourXs with the same criteria go for between $15,000-$18,500, and the GS is so rare that only a few are for sale currently, ranging from about $19,000-$25,000. The Regal May Return Yet Buick Now that it seems clear that sedans have some staying power, General Motors might be contemplating the return of a Buick sedan. A recent GM Authority report claims that GM is working on two new, gas-powered sedans, one being the next-generation of the Cadillac CT5, with the other potentially being a Buick. Whether or not it would bring back the Regal name is anybody's guess at this point, but with the new GM sedans getting an updated "Alpha 2-2" platform, it's likely that whatever it is will have good handling, based on how well the current CT5 handles on its Alpha 2 platform.Reviving the Regal name could be fitting if there is a handling focus and could bring the excellent driving characteristics of the CT5 down to a more affordable price point at the same time. Could that platform be put to better use by bringing back the Camaro as a four-door or making a new Chevelle or Impala? Maybe. But recent history has shown that the folks at General Motors still carry a torch for performance Buicks even after a couple of unsuccessful attempts to bring back their former glory. Here's hoping a next generation happens and finally accomplishes that goal.