Day-by-Day Review: 2012 Buick Verano

Photo Gallery:
2012 Buick Verano

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

Click Image to Enlarge

Built on the same chassis as the Chevrolet Cruze comes the new 2012 Buick Verano — not to be confused with the much older Daewoo-designed Suzuki Verona, which was a sister car to another Chevrolet, the Epica.

The new Verano gives Buick a compact luxury car, and with a starting price of just $22,595 it competes with everything from a standard compact like the Honda Civic to luxury models like the BMW 1 or 3 series.

Click Image to Enlarge

My tester, of course, is not a base Verano, which is unfortunate as I would like to know what the basic model looks like. Rather, this one is fully loaded with the leather package, which makes this car eerily similar to the Regal I test drove a few weeks back.

Powered by the same 2.4-litre engine used in the Regal, I expect the Verano to feel more lively, achieve better fuel consumption and, overall, feel more balanced than that larger model. One does have to remember that this is a compact sedan, though, and as a result, the back seats do seem rather tight at first glance.

But, for less than $30,000, my tester has all the goodies, including leather, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated seats, sunroof, cruise, automatic climate control, automatic headlights, a six-speed automatic transmission and push-button start.

2012 Buick Verano
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $28,720

For more information on Buick and the Verano visit GM Canada

For even more on this car FOLLOW James on Twitter

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

Click Image to Enlarge

It seems that some people thought I was off my rocker when I mentioned the BMW 3 Series as a competitor to this Buick, but I stand by my statement for the following reasons. The BMW 320i has nearly identical power output, is similar in size and is more expensive than the Verano, so why can’t it compete? It is true that BMW shoppers may not be cross-shopping the Verano, but they are only doing themselves a disservice.

Sure, this is a front-wheel drive vehicle and not the rear-wheel drive holy grail that the BMW is, but for most drivers? They either don’t know, don’t care or may even prefer front-wheel drive for the better winter traction. I’ve only spent a few days with the Verano so far, and I’m beginning to realize that this is one solid machine.

Click Image to Enlarge

On the inside the only complaint I have is the rear seat legroom. It’s cramped back there, but so it is in the competition, and there’s not much you can do with a chassis of this size. The rest of the interior is fan-freakin’-tastic. How often do you get a loaded car with heated seats, cruise, heated steering wheel, auto climate control, LCD centre stack, wood trim with aluminium accents, sunroof and 18-inch wheels for well under $30,000? (The Hyundai Elantra comes close. -Ed)

Everything on the inside of the Verano is top notch: the sliding armrest makes getting comfortable on long drives a snap, the button layout and lighting are just right and all the gauges and switches are easy to read, use and reach. If I had to quibble, the seats are very flat and non-supportive, but unless you plan on taking this car to the race track you will not care.

The driver’s seat offers power fore-aft and height adjustment, while the bucket adjustment is manual, and the passenger seat is full manual. Am I falling for a Buick? Let me tell you this — this is not your grandfather’s Buick.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

Click Image to Enlarge

When any car manufacturer takes a compact car from their volume line-up, puts a fancy badge on it and calls it a luxury car, there is always some scepticism about how this new car performs under the luxury brand.

But General Motors seems to have figured this out with the Verano. To be honest I would have to drive a Cruze back-to-back with a Verano to be certain how much better the Verano is, but from memory, this Verano seems quieter and smoother on the road.

GM has applied numerous sound deadening techniques to the Verano and they have paid off. although not silent out on the highway the Verano is quieter than you may expect from a vehicle of this size. But it doesn’t really stop there — the Verano feels as solid as its larger sibling, the Regal.

So it has that feeling of luxury and it has the quietness, but does it have the luxury ride? Well, I guess that depends how you define it. If you do so based on Buicks of past, with a marshmallow ride and steering so light a baby could turn it… then no.

But the Verano exhibits what I would call European luxury: a tuned suspension that is firm enough to feel the road, yet absorbs the harshness of potholes and really rough tarmac like the road leading to my home.

The 2.4L engine suits the Verano much more so than the 1.4L turbo in the Cruze would suit this car, and it feels less strained than the same engine in the Regal. In the Verano the 2.4L four-cylinder powerplant offers just the right amount of refinement and power thatbuyers expect. This really is not just a badge engineering exercise; Buick has tuned the Verano just right.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

Day 4

Click Image to Enlarge

For comparison’s sake, when I drove the Buick Regal eAssist about a month ago I averaged 8.9L/100km. At the time, I didn’t think that was the greatest considering I averaged 8.5L/100km with a Toyota Camry, without any complex hybrid system.

Fast forward to the Verano: same engine as the Regal, no hybrid bits, but a smaller and lighter car. This week, I averaged 8.4L/100km — again somewhat disappointing considering my driving route, which is mostly highway. Then, I went back to see what I averaged with the Chevrolet Cruze. I drove the Cruze ECO and averaged 6.8L/100km, and previous to that I drove an LT Turbo Cruze back in 2011 and averaged 8.4L/100km.

So, I’m not really sure what my conclusion is, after all that. The 2.4L engine achieved similar results to the 1.4L turbo. I guess it’s the turbo that is not as efficient as the 2.4, but the 2.4 could be even more efficient, it seems. Either way, the Verano offers some efficiency in a luxury car that handles well, rides comfortably and has an image some buyers will desire — and after a week, I like it!

*Rating out of 5: