2000 Buick Regal Nice ride, good performance and comfortable seating for five. By T.J. Cobb, New Car Test Drive .com

The Buick Regal embodies the virtues that go with Buick's marketing slogan: Premium American Motorcars. Those virtues include roominess, a smooth ride quality and a long list of features. Regal goes beyond this, however, treading remarkably close to Pontiac's Excitement territory.

This excitement is particularly true of the supercharged Regal GS, which can match Pontiac's nifty Grand Prix GTP stride for stride, sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds. That's quick acceleration by any measure and particularly for a conservative-looking mid-size family sedan. But we're not complaining. And we don't think you will, either.

Two models are available. Regal LS starts at $22,340. GS retails for $25,185.

Trim and feature differences notwithstanding, the major distinction between the LS and GS lies beneath the hood. The LS is powered by a normally aspirated version of GM's ubiquitous 3800 Series II V6, rated at 195 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque. The GS is motivated by the supercharged edition, with 240 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.

Both engines drive the front wheels through four-speed automatic transmissions, though the GS has a heavy-duty version to handle the extra torque of the supercharged engine. The GS also has 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels with slightly more aggressive tires and firmer suspension tuning. However, the 16-inch wheel/tire package can be added to the LS, as can the handling upgrade, with the Y56 Gran Touring Package ($600).