For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Fusion have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Buick Regal Sportback doesn't offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The Fusion's driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Regal Sportback doesn't offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Fusion and the Regal Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Fusion the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 157 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Regal Sportback has not been tested, yet.

There are over 48 percent more Ford dealers than there are Buick dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Fusion's warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Fusion first among midsize cars in their 2019 Initial Quality Study. The Regal Sportback isn't in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2019 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked 11th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' December 2018 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 1 place higher in reliability than Buick.

On the EPA test cycle the Fusion gets better fuel mileage than the Regal Sportback:

The Fusion AWD's standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Regal Sportback (18 vs. 16.3 gallons).

The Fusion stops shorter than the Regal Sportback:

The Fusion's drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Regal Sportback doesn't offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Fusion's turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Regal Sportback's (37.5 feet vs. 39 feet). The Fusion's turning circle is 3.5 feet tighter than the Regal Sportback's (37.5 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Ford Fusion may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 450 pounds less than the Buick Regal Sportback.

The front grille of the Fusion uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Regal Sportback doesn't offer active grille shutters.

The Fusion has 4.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Regal Sportback (102.8 vs. 98).

The Fusion has .4 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Regal Sportback.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Fusion. The Regal Sportback doesn't offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Fusion has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Regal Sportback has no towing capacity.

The Fusion's front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Regal Sportback's rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Fusion the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Regal Sportback can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don't have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Fusion SE/SEL/Titanium's exterior PIN entry system. The Regal Sportback doesn't offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can't unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn't have cell phone reception or the driver can't contact the service.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don't have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Fusion SE/SEL/Titanium's exterior PIN entry system. The Regal Sportback doesn't offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can't unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn't have cell phone reception or the driver can't contact the service.

The Fusion's rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Regal Sportback's manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Fusion's headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Regal Sportback's headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Fusion detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Regal Sportback doesn't offer automatic dimming high beams.

To shield the driver and front passenger's vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Fusion has standard extendable sun visors. The Regal Sportback doesn't offer extendable visors.

The Fusion (except S) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Regal Sportback doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Fusion owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Fusion with a number “1” insurance rate while the Regal Sportback is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

The Fusion will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Fusion will retain 39.28% to 42.37% of its original price after five years, while the Regal Sportback only retains 28.76% to 36.45%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Fusion is less expensive to operate than the Regal Sportback because it costs $573 less to do the manufacturer's suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Fusion than the Regal Sportback, including $625 less for a water pump, $567 less for a muffler, $49 less for front brake pads, $380 less for a starter, $21 less for fuel injection, $147 less for a fuel pump, $166 less for front struts and $129 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Fusion will be $4477 to $5470 less than for the Buick Regal Sportback.

The Ford Fusion outsold the Buick Regal by over 12 to one during 2018.