Inside Line: 2013 Buick Verano Turbo Full Test

[Mazda 3s]

What Works (pros):
Comfortable ride; quiet cabin; respectable handling; strong and efficient engine; it comes with a manual!

What Needs Work (cons):
Forgettable styling; manual recline seats.

Bottom Line:
All of the comfort, serenity and luxury of a full-size sedan with the more sensible dimensions and fuel economy of a compact one.

http://www.insideline.com/buick/vera...full-test.html

Seems like a much better value than the dog Acura ILX

[kraut_pauer79]

I really like this car, and think it's a unique and solid value, far better than the snore-inducing ILX. It's a damned good effort at will become a growing class of premium and entry-level premium compact cars.

[koko12]

The numbers are there, but the styling is not. It would be nice to see a back to back shootout with the IXL. The Verano might have a slight advantage accelerating, but not necessarily the best all around performer given the IXL is 500 to 600 lbs lighter.


I still think both of these cars are overpriced when for a lot less you can have cars like the GTI, MS3, WRX

[SAV912]

I still think both of these cars are overpriced when for a lot less you can have cars like the GTI, MS3, WRX

Yes, I'm sure some professional businessman (thinking real estate) or somebody who is longing for a comfortable highway ride will be just dandy in a Subaru WRX because at least he or she saved a few grand.

[bmann]

Why would I buy a tarted up Chevy Cruze when a GLI is clearly superior.

[bmann]

Actually, I don't think the styling is bad at all. It's a bit conservative but still handsome/pretty, which I assume should do well for the target market.

[PJA]

Why would I buy a tarted up Chevy Cruze when a GLI is clearly superior.

Why would I buy a tarted up, dumbed down Golf sedan? Would it be for the superior 50 less horsepower it has?

[Sledge]

Why would I buy a tarted up, dumbed down Golf sedan? Would it be for the superior 50 less horsepower it has?

Ahhh but it's 50 less *German* horsepower. Clearly this is an improvement over the 50 American horsepower... if your argument is taken straight from "The Fox and the Grapes".

[Turbio!]

I still think both of these cars are overpriced when for a lot less you can have cars like the GTI, MS3, WRX

Because a baby boomer empty-nester who just wants a comfortable, nice, luxurious sedan with good gas mileage, a warranty, and the same oomph that the old minivan used to have is totally going to go for a harsh-riding hot hatch.

Why would I buy a tarted up Chevy Cruze when a GLI is clearly superior.

How is a GLI superior? The Jetta is no less humble - actually, it's far humbler - than the Cruze is. I won't deny that they're competitors, because they totally are, but it's not 1998 anymore; the Jetta is no longer head and shoulders above its competition.

[2.0T_Convert]

I still think both of these cars are overpriced when for a lot less you can have cars like the GTI, MS3, WRX

Why do we even have these statements.

There should be a disclaimer to add that admits generalizing remarks like this are only meant for the minority enthusiast crowd.

[HaterSlayer]

Why would I buy a tarted up Chevy Cruze when a GLI is clearly superior.

As someone who has been in a LTZ Cruze and a loaded Verano there is noticeable difference of refinement in the Verano. It's hardly just a "tarted up Chevy Cruze."

[HaterSlayer]

Why do we even have these statements.

There should be a disclaimer to add that admits generalizing remarks like this are only meant for the minority enthusiast crowd.

Some people can only see cars from a performance point of view. My mom is shopping around for a new car and one of them on the top of our list is the Verano. As such I've been looking around for video reviews on it. Some site(I think it was C&D) reviewed the car like it is a new Ferrari by telling only 0-60, slalom, and other performance times. I'm watching the video and thinking, "Dude, my mom doesn't care that it can do 67 MPH in the slalom she isn't going to be tracking her Verano."

It irks me in some car reviews when they cannot review a car for what it's meant to be instead of reviewing every car like it's a sports car. The Verano is meant to be a small luxury sedan and it should be reviewed on how it meets that goal. So NVH numbers should be more important than its 0-60 time.

[RacingManiac]

Why do we even have these statements.

There should be a disclaimer to add that admits generalizing remarks like this are only meant for the minority enthusiast crowd.

I agree with that statement though, starting at $29k is a pretty high watermark....considering Regal Turbo starts at $31k(strangely though its less powerful).

The upside I guess though is that this boasts well for the Cruze Turbo whenever that might show up...

[Saintor]

Too bad that it isn't as light as the Cobalt SS.

2008 Cobalt SS 5.7s and 22mpg city
2013 Verano turbo 6.6s and 20mpg city - ordinary by 2013 standard.

[WhistlerYOW]

Why would I buy a tarted up Chevy Cruze when a GLI is clearly superior.

Because the Verano (Astra) has more German DNA than the Mexican designed and built Jetta now.

[Swallow Doretti]

A full power driver's seat away from perfection, IMO.

[PlatinumGLS]

As someone who has been in a LTZ Cruze and a loaded Verano there is noticeable difference of refinement in the Verano. It's hardly just a "tarted up Chevy Cruze."

I agree, they aren't even made in the same factory.

A full power driver's seat away from perfection, IMO.

I prefer manual seats anyway.

[RacingManiac]

Because the Verano (Astra) has more German DNA than the Mexican designed and built Jetta now.

Verano is Astra now? I thought it was a Cruze which started out in Korea....

[PJA]

Verano is Astra now? I thought it was a Cruze which started out in Korea....

They both use the Delta II platform, but the Verano is an Astra sedan with a Buick grille. A lot of the engineering heavy lifting for the Cruze occurred in South Korea. The Astra (and Verano) was engineered primarily at Opel in Germany.

[RacingManiac]

Interesting, its good that GM is utilizing Opel more, otherwise all the money lost in that would be completely pointless...

[PJA]

Well, GM is trying to amortize the cost of the platform and development, so it makes sense. The Regal is also Opel developed (Insignia), and in fact was built in Germany for it's first model year. We will also be getting (as Buicks) the Astra convertible and Astra OPC hatch.

[RacingManiac]

I know about the Regal, the changes in the Regal is small enough that you can see enough Insignia in it, Verano seems less obvious to me...

[PJA]

It's actually surprising to me just how much they carried over.

Opel:



Buick:



Opel:



Buick:



Lots of hate on here for the chrome on the Verano's taillights. None from me, but different strokes.

[WhistlerYOW]

I know about the Regal, the changes in the Regal is small enough that you can see enough Insignia in it, Verano seems less obvious to me...

If you Google the 2013 astra sedan it's almost an exact match. I'd post a pic but it seems like an impossible task on this phone.

[2.0_Mazda]

I wish it looked like the Astra instead of the Buick. The front is ruined.

[xdre]

[PJA]

10-4, copy that good buddy.

[2.0_Mazda]

I know its the same car, but I prefer the Astra

[PlatinumGLS]

I know its the same car, but I prefer the Astra

The Astra front looks odd to me.

[RacingManiac]

I think the changes doesn't work as well as the Regal. It just makes the front look that much taller than the Astra...Although I supposed being a "entry luxury" car in US they need to have a more shouty grill...

[curvedinfinity]

The fuel economy on their test was great. I wonder how heavy the tester's foot was.

This car makes so much sense to me. After coming off my old GTI, what would have been ideal for a short while was a very similar car, just more mature and with lower running costs (my GTI required a lot of preventative maintenance). This fits that to a T. Compared to a GTI Autobahn, you're getting a more mature and refined car with a very good warranty for the same money. The GTI has its place as being a great compromise between refinement and sportiness, but this car seems like it takes the same formula and turns the dial toward refinement.

Very cool that it lives up to its potential!

[Infiniti]

grill of the opel is much better but i dig the buick too. nice car

[compy222]

its a great car. i had the chance to drive one and it's a lot of fun for what it is. its not really a sport sedan or sport compact, its a great touring car though. the spool comes on instantly and it pulls easily in higher gears without downshifting. the steering is like the cruze, a bit overboosted, but excellent on center and quick to turn in. i feel like within this new and emerging segment, this is the only real choice other than the GLI. i wouldn't be surprised to see a verano go for less than an equally equipped GLI.

the real question: now that GM has proved this engine fits and works, can we have a Cruze SS, please?

[6cylVWguy]

I'd still rather have a GLI vs the verano turbo because it can be had for substantially less money. But, it also looks like there's now yet another car I'd take over a Regal GS. As time goes by, the GS makes less and less sense. And the kicker is that it's primarily other GM offerings which turn me off to the GS. Verano for less or Caddy ATS for about the same--all with a manual and similar motors.

[curvedinfinity]

the real question: now that GM has proved this engine fits and works, can we have a Cruze SS, please?

This!