1987 Buick Regal GNX 3.8 V6 Turbo Review and Performance Comparison

Buick Regal Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 1987 Buick Regal GNX 3.8 V6 Turbo is a powered by a Petrol V 6. This variant of the Buick Regal GNX 3.8 V6 Turbo is the 4 speed / Auto version and was first brought out around 1987. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1987 Porsche 959 Turbo and the 1987 Ferrari F40 2.9 V8.

This particular Buick Regal has a 3791cc Turbo Petrol powerplant driven by the Buick Rear Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol V 6's include the 2014 Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo

The Regal shares its Petrol V 6 engine configuration with the likes of the 2014 Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo and the 2024 Maserati GT2 Stradale.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Regal's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce or the earlier 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1576 kgs (3474 lbs) places the Buick Regal GNX 3.8 V6 Turbo in a similar weight category as the 2025 Ferrari 849 Testarossa and the excellent 2025 Maserati MCPURA Cielo 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo, give or take 50kg.

The Buick Regal shares the same bhp with the 2024 BMW 1 Series M135 xDrive (296 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 3791cc 12 valve, V 6 engine produces around 276 bhp (205 kW) @ 4400 rpm which is comparable to the 2024 BMW 1 Series M135 xDrive (296 bhp) and also the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RZ High Performance Automatic (300 bhp).

The Turbo V 6 throws out 360 lb-ft (488.0 Nm) @ 3000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Mercedes S Class 580 e 4MATIC EQ Hybrid Technology (369 lb-ft) or the 2024 Mercedes GT GT 43 (369 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 1987 Buick Regal in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 1995 Subaru Impreza WRX STI V2 - Classic JDM Wagon (200.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Buick Regal.

The Buick Regal has a power to weight ratio of 175.1 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 1987 Regal GNX 3.8 V6 Turbo means you're competing with the 1995 Subaru Impreza WRX STI V2 - Classic JDM Wagon (200.0 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 390 4 Speed (200.0 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Buick Regal GNX 3.8 V6 Turbo generates around 228.4 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 2017 Nissan Skyline GT-R R35 (253.4 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 2017 Lotus Evora GT430 Auto 3.5 V6 Supercharged (253.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Buick Regal GNX 3.8 V6 Turbo can accelerate 0–60mph in 5.30 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 5.5 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Buick Regal GNX 3.8 V6 Turbo include the 2025 BYD Han L LiDAR Premium (5.30 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2025 BYD Han L LiDAR Flagship (5.30 secs).

The V 6 engine of the Buick Regal GNX 3.8 V6 Turbo ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (5.40 secs) and the 2023 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo (5.40 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Buick Regal GNX 3.8 V6 Turbo and the Citroen DS3 Racing 200

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 1987 Buick Regal can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.70 secs with a trap speed around 92.6 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Citroen DS3 Racing 200 (14.71 seconds @ 92.6 mph) and a close race between the Vauxhall-Opel Corsa 1.6 VXR (14.71 seconds @ 92.6 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 1987 version of the Buick Regal GNX 3.8 V6 Turbo has a maximum speed of 124mph.

Top Speed of the 1987 Regal equals the Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 Convertible (123 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 1987 Buick Regal GNX 3.8 V6 Turbo then there's the slightly slower the Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 Convertible (123 mph) or how about the impressive Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 8v (123 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 1987 Regal Rivals List.
• 1987 Regal: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of Buick
• Compare the 1987 Buick Regal