Originally published April 21, 2012
Luxury cars aren’t offered at economy prices. The 2012 Buick Verano defies that logic.
The Verano is offered in three trim levels – Base, Convenience and Leather Group. We enjoyed the latter with its leather interior, heated steering wheel and Bose audio, and its sticker price of $26,850.
Builders of the Verano paid particular attention to sound-deadening, through a knit headliner, triple-sealed and padded doors, acoustical laminated glass, baffles and foams; the A pillars are wrapped in fabric rather than plastic. Normal-tone conversation is the clear winner in isolation of the road noises.
The ride is comfortable, too; after all, it is a Buick. Based on the platform of the Chevrolet Cruze, the Verano is 2 inches longer, an inch wider and 150 pounds heavier. It ties itself easily to the road with stiff suspension components borrowed from GM’s Opel of Germany.
A signature waterfall grille and portholes on the hood link the Verano to its larger siblings LaCrosse and Regal. Shortened space is devoted to the hood and rear deck, leaving a rakish windshield and rear window and roomy interior. A refined two-tone dash is trimmed in brushed aluminum, which is also applied on the steering wheel, around the vents and on the door scuff plates. Small quarter windows add visibility ahead of the A pillars. Trunk space is adequate at 14 cubic feet.
A couple of “minuses” inside are the lack of a rearview camera and the fact there is no power control on the front-seat passenger side; in fact, a plastic-type ratchet is used for raising and lowering seat level.
Beneath the hood of the Verano is a 180-horsepower, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic transmission, a much-improved performer over the Chevy Cruze’s 1.8-liter or 1.4-turbo choices.
The Verano shows plenty of low-end torque and is well-suited to the quick-shifting 6-speed automatic. Aided by 70 percent highway travel, the Buick delivered an average of 28.9 miles per gallon, and carries an EPA estimate of 21/32.
“The Verano’s 32-mpg rating for highway beats competitors like the Acura TSX, Infiniti G25 and Lexus IS250,” said Phil Colley, who heads Buick Communications. “While those competitors recommend the use of premium fuel, Verano uses regular gas.”
Colley said nearly half of Verano purchasers are trading in vehicles from brands outside of General Motors.
Starting prices for the three levels of Verano are $22,985 for Base, $23,785 for Convenience and $25,965 for Leather. Front, side, knee and head-curtain airbags are standard on the Leather version.
Other equipment included rear park assist, OnStar, heated seats, power windows/locks/mirrors, remote start, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, tilt and telescope steering column, XM satellite radio, driver information center, nine speakers for Bose system, 18-inch machine-faced alloy wheels and halogen headlamps.
Though its styling takes the shape of a much larger automobile, the Verano is the smallest Buick sedan offered since the 1998 Skylark.
’13 Mazda CX-5 AWD much-better equipped
The 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring all-wheel-drive crossover came my way four weeks after I reviewed the less-expensive CX-5 Sport with front-wheel drive.
Not only does the AWD capability make the most recent model more suited to Colorado winters, the Grand Touring version is much better equipped. It rides on 19-inch wheels instead of the Sport’s 17s, uses a fairly smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic rather than the manual shift, and was loaded up with navigation, Sirius satellite radio, leather-trimmed seats, dual-zone climate control and pivoting adaptive front lighting.
Sticker prices spell out the difference – $30,415 for the Grand Touring AWD and $21,490 for the Sport FWD.
The Grand Touring carries an EPA estimate of 25/31 in fuel mileage.
Sidebar: Improving your credit score
Buying a car usually involves getting a loan. Getting the best loan depends on your credit score. Here are ways to keep your score as high as possible:
Pay your bills on time. Delinquent payments and collections can have a major negative impact on a credit score. Keep balances low on credit cards and other “revolving credit.” High outstanding debt can affect a credit score. Apply for and open new credit accounts only as needed. Don’t open accounts just to have a better credit mix. It probably won’t improve your credit score. Pay off debt rather than moving it around. Owing the same amount but having fewer open accounts may lower your credit score.– Courtesy Experian.com</em
