2015 Buick Regal GS

The 2015 Buick Regal GS AWD proved anything, it's that driving a car from General Motors' not-quite-luxury brand means you'll have to explain your purchase more than you would from an import-labeled rival. And if you're not one to answer questions willingly, this could get frustrating. But it also confirmed the Regal is still one of the best cars you're not buying, an extremely likable premium sedan that hits its target competitors well and really makes you wonder what life would be like if you decided to be different and drove a Buick.

The GS trim's silver accents, exhaust pipes integrated into the rear bumper and ambitious 19-inch wheels go some way to make it more aggressive. It's all subtly attractive, without being trendy.

Now that Buick is digging deeper into the Opel product range, the Regal comes off as far more than a posh Chevy Malibu, despite shared components. Doors feel solid and confident from the pull of the handle to the clunk of the way it shuts. Nothing from the transformation to make it a sportier GS version looks like a last-minute addition.

Aside from the fake Buick portholes on the top of the hood that really do look tacked-on, the Regal doesn't look like it's been badge-engineered, either. And that's an accomplishment given that this is largely an Opel with different badges. Even with the deeper front fascia and bigger wheels, there's nothing overwrought about this design, unlike the Lexus IS or Infiniti Q50.

With the Buick grille up front, it takes an old label and puts a modern and stylish spin on it. That sounds like a hipster thing to do, but don't hold that against it. If a Buick is still a doctor's car, this is for the doctor who wears slim-but-not-skinny pants to work.

For right around $43,000, the Regal GS AWD isn't notably cheaper than a Volvo S60 T5 or Acura TLX SH-AWD to balance out the, "That's a Buick?" questions you'll constantly have to field. A no-explanation-needed BMW 320i xDrive equipped almost like the Regal i drove is well-past $45,000, although aggressive BMW leasing will likely make a monthly payment very similar. I'd immediately skip the all-wheel drive option and save more than $2,000, but it's still hard to get a GS for much less than $40,000.

You still need to want a Regal to a certain degree. Admittedly, part of what I liked about driving the Regal, as a young and sometimes-professional person, was the feeling of being different from the premium sedan firmament. And as a Saab driver, this emotion and i are well-acquainted.

I understand the Regal GS' problem in life because people think it's for a certain kind of person. What they may not realize is that they are that kind of person. Most of what people ask of a 3-series, the Buick does just as well and does for at least a little less money.

But those who like to fly under the radar will like the Regal for this reason. You can enjoy that smug feeling of buying a well-kept secret without having to trade much in the way of comfort, quality or performance.

There will always be cars that do their thing well, do it quietly and therefore go under-appreciated. It just doesn't occur to many that would be called the Buick Regal GS.