Topic: Test Drive: 2015 Buick Verano Turbo

[Autos_Editor]

Buick's small sedan is a good one, but who's it for?
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[OliverD]

A few thoughts:

1) Sunroof + nav for $795 is a steal.

2) BMW 2-series is a competitor? LOLWTFBBQ

3) Buicks strike me as being sort of expensive for what you get. This may be my own personal bias. I have no issue with the pricing of the comparably sized and equipped Jetta GLI. But I do wonder what Buick's actual transaction prices are in comparison with MSRP.

[dougjp]

Much has been made of the reach for younger customers by Buick. However what if the primary reason for the Verano was catering to their customers who, like all age groups these days, want to downsize? Empty nesters, perhaps shifting the demographic younger but not much? Another reason for the Verano is our driving world - ambient noise and bad roads. Around here the municipalities won't spend to properly fix the deteriorating roads. This is a problem which has been happening for a long time. Then there are the trucks, traffic due to inadequate road systems and the resultant noise. The Verano is excellent to combat these problems.   

I've been very happy with my turbo Verano for the past two years. Its delivered exactly what it advertised and more. The key thing about pricing comparisons is to look at what you get vs. what the other near luxury compacts offer when optioned comparably. As is my roving nature when it comes to cars, I'm always looking, and it drives my wife crazy when I say my car is always for sale..  But I'm spoiled now with this fully loaded car with its remote start, heating steering wheel and seats, rear camera, cross traffic sensors, 250 HP 260 Torque, noise insulation, excellent ride etc. Sure I go to lots of Build and Price sites but by the time I'm finished optioning up other cars I get sticker shock. Big time. And because of being spoiled by these features, cars that didn't make the cut when I shopped for this one (ILX, Jetta GLI) aren't being looked at, instead its stuff like the A3, CLA.

The only downside appears to be depreciation, based on Black Book. 

[pcsp]

Much has been made of the reach for younger customers by Buick. However what if the primary reason for the Verano was catering to their customers who, like all age groups these days, want to downsize? Empty nesters, perhaps shifting the demographic younger but not much? Another reason for the Verano is our driving world - ambient noise and bad roads. Around here the municipalities won't spend to properly fix the deteriorating roads. This is a problem which has been happening for a long time. Then there are the trucks, traffic due to inadequate road systems and the resultant noise. The Verano is excellent to combat these problems.   

I've been very happy with my turbo Verano for the past two years. Its delivered exactly what it advertised and more. The key thing about pricing comparisons is to look at what you get vs. what the other near luxury compacts offer when optioned comparably. As is my roving nature when it comes to cars, I'm always looking, and it drives my wife crazy when I say my car is always for sale..  But I'm spoiled now with this fully loaded car with its remote start, heating steering wheel and seats, rear camera, cross traffic sensors, 250 HP 260 Torque, noise insulation, excellent ride etc. Sure I go to lots of Build and Price sites but by the time I'm finished optioning up other cars I get sticker shock. Big time. And because of being spoiled by these features, cars that didn't make the cut when I shopped for this one (ILX, Jetta GLI) aren't being looked at, instead its stuff like the A3, CLA.

The only downside appears to be depreciation, based on Black Book. 

Great points - all of them; and, most importantly, made by an owner. The Verano represents a lot of what GM is doing well these days.

[Nuttygent]

  A fellow mechanic at work bought a Verano which he was very happy with...until the climate control system seized up. They had to pull the entire dash off, not good on a 1 year old car. No problems since then thankfully.

[dougjp]

  A fellow mechanic at work bought a Verano which he was very happy with...until the climate control system seized up. They had to pull the entire dash off, not good on a 1 year old car. No problems since then thankfully.

Ah! You reminded me. I had climate control go crazy/inaccurate about a year ago. They replaced the HVAC controller, 'Control N 092730'. I see no TSBs about this in a US search, so its likely rare.

[Northernridge]

Did the "who's it targeted at?" question get answered in the article? I missed it.

Sounds like it's a good car with good sales made even better with turbo-charging.

If the germans can make little entry-level lux sedans then it makes perfect sense for Buick to swim in this pool.

[nlm]

"a six-speed manual is a no-cost option with the turbo engine; having driven it, I can say it’s a nice gearbox to use, but its tall gearing takes some of the fun out of shifting for yourself. Much as it pains me to say this, the automatic is a better fit for the car’s overall demeanour."

Are you trying to kill what little life remains for manuals? While technically true, a better way to put it would have been, "more work on proper gear ratios (for the 6-spd manual) would be a better fit for the car's overall demeanour".

[hemusbull]

I'm glad GM finally succeeded with an Opel designed car here in North America. And if they soon begin with their money discounts on the hood, Verano could be a really tough competitor in this growing pseudo luxury segment.

[Solstice2006]

Have always liked the Verano.  Would consider it as a commuter vehicle for my wife.  But the non-turbo version.  Maybe GM will change to the 2.5L.  The turbo seems to get similar gas mileage to the Odyssey! 

[Blueprint]

Much has been made of the reach for younger customers by Buick. However what if the primary reason for the Verano was catering to their customers who, like all age groups these days, want to downsize? Empty nesters, perhaps shifting the demographic younger but not much? Another reason for the Verano is our driving world - ambient noise and bad roads. Around here the municipalities won't spend to properly fix the deteriorating roads. This is a problem which has been happening for a long time. Then there are the trucks, traffic due to inadequate road systems and the resultant noise. The Verano is excellent to combat these problems.   

I've been very happy with my turbo Verano for the past two years. Its delivered exactly what it advertised and more. The key thing about pricing comparisons is to look at what you get vs. what the other near luxury compacts offer when optioned comparably. As is my roving nature when it comes to cars, I'm always looking, and it drives my wife crazy when I say my car is always for sale..  But I'm spoiled now with this fully loaded car with its remote start, heating steering wheel and seats, rear camera, cross traffic sensors, 250 HP 260 Torque, noise insulation, excellent ride etc. Sure I go to lots of Build and Price sites but by the time I'm finished optioning up other cars I get sticker shock. Big time. And because of being spoiled by these features, cars that didn't make the cut when I shopped for this one (ILX, Jetta GLI) aren't being looked at, instead its stuff like the A3, CLA.

The only downside appears to be depreciation, based on Black Book. 

Great points - all of them; and, most importantly, made by an owner. The Verano represents a lot of what GM is doing well these days.

I'm in the same boat as doug, and the Verano is pretty high on my shopping list. I basically want the ride and soundproofing of a midsize car, but need a compact to navigate a crowded city. I'm looking at the 1SG trim, top trim with cloth seats, to get the features I want while staying on budget. WAF is actually very high. It seems that 2500$ in incentives happens at least once per year, so I would expect such a rebate vs msrp.

The revamped ILX is a solid alternative, depending on how the pricing vs content will be balanced by Honda Canada.

[Solstice2006]

Damn this is cheap!

http://www.autotrader.ca/a/Buick/Verano/St+Catharines/Ontario/5_22953293_20080621144633703/?ursrc=hl&showcpo=ShowCPO&orup=10_15_18

[dougjp]

By the way, real world mileage with the turbo, in September (I would never look at mileage in the winter! Too depressing!) is very good in my opinion;

Trip: 2,260 kms, average speed 79 kph (includes small towns and traffic), highway speed usually 120 kph/74 MPH.  Average fuel economy 8.4 L/100 km

[Solstice2006]

By the way, real world mileage with the turbo, in September (I would never look at mileage in the winter! Too depressing!) is very good in my opinion;

Trip: 2,260 kms, average speed 79 kph (includes small towns and traffic), highway speed usually 120 kph/74 MPH.  Average fuel economy 8.4 L/100 km

Like I said, not much different then my Odyssey.  Winter numbers, are part of the real world numbers...

[dougjp]

By the way, real world mileage with the turbo, in September (I would never look at mileage in the winter! Too depressing!) is very good in my opinion;

Trip: 2,260 kms, average speed 79 kph (includes small towns and traffic), highway speed usually 120 kph/74 MPH.  Average fuel economy 8.4 L/100 km

Like I said, not much different then my Odyssey.  Winter numbers, are part of the real world numbers...

I shouldn't have used the term real world. Instead I should have said in my imaginary world where I "live" in my mind and its always +25C and not this 'effn Minus 34C wind chill like it is here right now! 

[Jaeger]

I think it's a pretty well done little car - probably a better overall offering than the more-cramped-than-it-should-be Regal.

By the way, real world mileage with the turbo, in September (I would never look at mileage in the winter! Too depressing!) is very good in my opinion;

Trip: 2,260 kms, average speed 79 kph (includes small towns and traffic), highway speed usually 120 kph/74 MPH.  Average fuel economy 8.4 L/100 km

How much highway are we talking here, percentage wise?  I saw much better numbers on a summer trip to Maine in my Sonata, with 3 passengers and luggage for a week. (3 female passengers, so... luggage for 2 weeks.  )

[Great_Big_Abyss]

By the way, real world mileage with the turbo, in September (I would never look at mileage in the winter! Too depressing!) is very good in my opinion;

Trip: 2,260 kms, average speed 79 kph (includes small towns and traffic), highway speed usually 120 kph/74 MPH.  Average fuel economy 8.4 L/100 km

That's pretty good actually.  My Altima does closer to 7.6 at that speed, but considering you've got an extra 85hp and torques on tap, you're doing pretty well.

[sacrat]

Damn this is cheap!

http://www.autotrader.ca/a/Buick/Verano/St+Catharines/Ontario/5_22953293_20080621144633703/?ursrc=hl&showcpo=ShowCPO&orup=10_15_18

I believe 2012 didn't have a backup camera yet. But a used Verano with an extended warranty looks very tempting. I'm in loud traffic all day driving a transit bus, so a quiet car like this sounds really good...

[dave_b]

8.6L/100 kms lifetime average including winter on Hakkapellittas so far.

[dougjp]

I think it's a pretty well done little car - probably a better overall offering than the more-cramped-than-it-should-be Regal.

By the way, real world mileage with the turbo, in September (I would never look at mileage in the winter! Too depressing!) is very good in my opinion;

Trip: 2,260 kms, average speed 79 kph (includes small towns and traffic), highway speed usually 120 kph/74 MPH.  Average fuel economy 8.4 L/100 km

How much highway are we talking here, percentage wise?  I saw much better numbers on a summer trip to Maine in my Sonata, with 3 passengers and luggage for a week. (3 female passengers, so... luggage for 2 weeks.  )

Sounds like yours might be better, as this was also on a trip to Maine. Although we got caught in stop and go rush hour traffic on the highways coming home (95, 495), also stop and go in the coastal towns like Kennebunkport and Ogunquit, and a lot of in town type short travel. Anyway, the mileage isn't bad, but it is premium gas.