2012 Buick Verano Review By Larry Nutson

2012 Buick Verano
by Larry Nutson
Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel

Buick is working hard to attract new and younger customers. The Verano went on sale in December 2011 and sales have trended upward with March 2012 having been their best month. Top Verano markets are urban, namely, New York, Philadelphia and right here in Chicago. Buick calls these buyers progressive urbanites. And progressive they are with a lot of them seeing red. That is, one quarter of all Veranos are being bought in Crystal Red Tintcoat.

The Verano is Buick’s first luxury sedan designed to compete in the compact luxury segment against the likes of Lexus IS 250, Audi A3, Volvo V30 and Acura TSX. The starting MSRP is $22,585…plus $885 destination charge. Power comes from a 180 HP Ecotec 2.4L DOHC 4-cylinder mated to a 6-speed automatic that helps deliver EPA ratings of 21 city mpg and 32 highway mpg. Electric power steering adds to the fuel saving while still providing good road feel and responsiveness. The Watts Z-link rear suspension is lightweight and compact thus further enhancing fuel economy and making room for the 15.2 cubic foot trunk (14 cubic feet with the compact spare and Bose Premium audio) while delivering good response and control.

The 2012 Buick Verano is offered only as a 4-door, 5-passenger, front wheel drive sedan and it’s built in Lake Orion, Michigan. The aforementioned 180HP 4-cylinder is the only engine, for now. It uses regular grade unleaded and can also operate on E85. At 3300 lbs. the Verano is a bit on the heavy side and acceleration to 60mph is in the 8.2 sec. range…not a head-snapper. Much of the weight can be attributed to the Verano’s Quiet Tuning elements that include lots of sound-absorbing material, triple door seals and thicker acoustic laminated glass. From my observation the Verano is indeed very quiet. A simple test of driving along and lowering and then raising the front passenger window reveals a big difference in sound level.

My tester-for-a-week was not red, but Black Onyx with a Cashmere leather interior…one of my favorite combinations, although black does require a weekly car wash. This “Leather Group” optioned Verano is priced at $25,595. There is also a “Convenience Group” model priced at $23,785. The Verano at any of the three models offered is very well equipped. The full litany of safety equipment is standard, so I won’t list it all. Wheels are 18 inch on all Veranos. Sunroof, a Nav system and Bose Premium audio are available. Another very nice feature that is optional and greatly appreciated in cold-climate regions is a Heated Steering Wheel.

I thought the overall exterior design of the Verano to be very pleasant and balanced. It’s classic Buick and clearly recognizable as such with the waterfall grill and a 2012-interpretation of portholes. Buick makes use of a lot of chrome (inside too) and although not to my personal liking, it’s not too overdone. I noted the front bumper license plate cutout long enough for a European plate. Smart thinking to save money by only making one bumper. The inside is very plush and comfortable, and as I mentioned, quiet. A power seat adjuster is available only on the driver’s side but the recliner mechanism is manual. For a multiple driver household like mine, a full power seat with a memory feature is an important item to have.

A curiosity is the tachometer in the instrument cluster. Buick has chosen to calibrate the tach marking in 100s, and not in 1000s as is the industry convention. I noticed this on a Regal GS I had previously driven. So instead of the tach being marked 1-2-3-4 and so on, X1000RPM, it is marked 10-20-30-40 and so on, X100RPM. But how often will you even look at the tach on this car?

In summary, kudos to Buick for the very quiet interior, the quite plush interior, and the heated steering wheel. A memory driver’s seat feature would be a good addition. Vehicle performance will be improved with the expected 220HP 2.0-liter turbo later this year and a 2.5-liter four next year. Speculation has it that a 6-speed manual will be offered with the turbo four, like it is in the Regal.

Not to be overlooked, the Verano was named an IIHS 2012 Top Safety Pick. The Verano is covered by a 4-year/50,000 mile warranty and has a 5-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

If Gen-Y decides to drive cars, Buick is hoping they get a look with the Verano. But no matter what generation you may be, be it Gen-X or a soon-to-retire Boomer, the Buick Verano is worthy of a look. The rear seat is suitable for taking another couple on a short trip out to dinner, or for young pre-teens, or for a child safety seat and your toddler. With gasoline prices trending beyond $4 per gallon, smaller and more fuel efficient cars are very much in vogue.

© Larry Nutson