2014 Buick Regal GS AWD: Conquering Winter's Worst

I piloted the Buick Regal GS AWD on a journey through the back roads and ice bridges of north-western Quebec, ending up at the punishing ICAR winter driving facility in Mirabel.

Buick is long past playing catch-up, at least dynamically, with its premium rivals, and the Regal GS AWD demonstrates that it's near the front of the pack when dealing with the worst parts of winter driving.

We put it all together on a timed autocross course that involved a long, sweeping hairpin corner that fed into a slalom.

From there it was on to a one-mile road course outlined by snowbanks.

The inky-black water stared up at me through its wind-polished depths with a disapproving eye.

Credit the Buick's electronically-controlled torque distribution, which has no nominal preferred split but instead constantly adjusts the amount of power flowing front and rear, and side-to-side.

. The Regal GS was a reluctant partner in four-wheel drift, preferring instead to remain responsibly pointed straight ahead.

Enter the 2014 Buick Regal GS, redesigned for the current model year and looking to make its mark with sporty mid-size sedan customers.

The perfect opportunity for open-throttle hoonage with the stability control system switched off and the wheel cranked in full opposite lock.

It was at this point that the car's traction control system - which had served as the 'no fun police' throughout much of the day's other activities - became an asset.

The ICAR winter driving facility located just outside of Montreal in the suburb of Mirabel proved to be a more revealing test of the 2014 Buick Regal GS AWD's abilities.

The 2014 Buick Regal GS is a fun car at an affordable price, especially consider its premium rivals from Audi, BMW, and Lexus.

The Regal GS also features Sport and GS driving modes, which tighten up throttle response, steering speed, and suspension stiffness.

The Regal GS AWD displayed some of the understeer one would expect from a front-wheel drive platform.