2012 Buick Verano Review

The all-new 2012 Buick Verano certainly isn't the first compact sedan from Buick. The Verano is, in all fairness, a completely different vehicle. Inside, the Verano gets rich leather, infotainment standard voice-activated touch screen, and heated steering wheel.

Especially from the side, the Verano tends to look like a large sedan—in particular, Buick's Lacrosse—sized down. Four-wheel disc brakes provide plenty of stopping power, even if the pedal feels of an old sponge Lux. Verano 2012 luxury sedan than a compact, premium models from among the many brands, phenomenal refined, comfortable, quiet interior. Tuning calm are characteristic of the Buick, and that many of them describing the personality of Verano. Equipment-wise, it's all here: ten standard airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock braking with brake assistant, and as well as the Star Auto Accident Response. Assist rear parking is provided.

For just $23,470, the base 2012 Buick Verano comes equipped with an list of impressive features include: automatic dual zone climate control, steering-wheel controls, Bluetooth, input USB, Buick Intellilink touch screen interface, and includes voice control Pandora and Stitched apps. A heated steering wheel and navy system are among multiple choices, with the full price of Verano well below $30k.

The Verano is somewhat related to the Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan, but shares virtually no parts--and no sheet metal--with the Chevy. But like the Cruze, the Buick Verano looks like a big sedan, sized down. The small windows at the front of the front doors fit in Style, and also help with visibility.

The 2012 Buick Verano is hardly accelerating heartbeat, but we have not had time to have thought that part of the Verano mission statement (its extreme quiet might have something to do with it, honestly). The 2012 Buick Verano is shaping up to be one of the safest bets among medium size sedan, with top notch crash test ratings from IIHS along with a very well-stocked list of safety features.

Approaching from behind in the parking garage, a 2012 Buick Verano looks suspicious its scowling chrome taillight eyebrows. Buick's cockpit school of interior design is well-represented in the plush Verano interior. On the road, the "Buick Verano" really shines. More important for the market Buick after, quiet luxury cars actually Verano. Nicely loaded up as tester, it is sparsely populated a premium slot small-car niche for an attainable $27,000 and change. Here we have a really nice small car that happens to wear a Buick badge, and it's priced right in my opinion. It feels upscale for a small, Cruze-based sedan with admirably low NVH levels.

As noted, the car drives well (it is really almost too responsive to steering input), good driving. The styling is Buick strong (I'd argue that maybe Buick is trying a little too hard with the oversized grill treatment), and the interior is well trimmed and well executed. Enough room inside for a small car does not feel cramped.

I had an interesting conversation with a friend last night about the Verano, which is clearly part of Buick's plan to attract younger buyers to the brand. Moving onto the car itself, it surprised me. It's true that the Cruze sits on a worthy small-car platform from GM. The Buic Verano rolls down the expressway with a planted feeling and soaks up small bumps with ease, with only the smallest thuds reverberating into the cabin. The bottom line is that the Verano is a nice addition to the Buick lineup.

And the Buick Verano is blessed with creature comforts the Cruze lacks, such as softer interior trim, sim-wood paneling, dual-zone automatic climate control, and push-button starting and parking-brake actuation. There is no rear-seat HVAC registers.  Versus two targeted competitors Acura’s TSX and Lexus IS250, Buick Verano  two decibels quieter during cruising (68 dBA) and three to six decibels quieter accelerating (72 dBA).

The feel through the Buick Verano’s steering, suspension, and mostly high-strength–steel body structure is distinctly Germanic. Four-wheel disc brakes collaborating with Continental 235/45R-18 four-season radials mounted to forged aluminum wheels stopped our test car in 175 feet with little hint of fade.