Inside Line: 2013 Buick Verano Turbo Full Test

[koko12]

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.

Well if the Target Costumer is a professional businessman who wants a comfortable highway cruiser than this is hardly the car to get. The Verano is barely bigger than a Honda Civic and actually has less interior space. This is a Compact car with some luxury and sporty intentions, nothing more.

[koko12]

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.

You right, people shopping for a Verano will most likely not give a rats ass about performance, same as with any other car in general. However, people shopping for a 6 SPEED MANUAL,TURBO VERANO more likely than not are enthusiast and care first and foremost about performance and as such there are a bunch of alternatives that not only outperform the Verano, but have a much lower price.

[bmann]

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

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.

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."

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

Yeah but did you see how hard the dash is? Actually my comment was supposed to be facetious and would make more sense if you read the recent ILX thread (since the OP made the Verano / ILX comparison) where the first two pages were about how the ILX is a tarted up Civic and the remaining 4 are about how a GLS would be better and VW is a premium brand.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...ra-projections

[jay3737]

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.

except the the ATS in manual form with similar features is more $$$ than the GS...

the GS fits in-between the Verano and ATS price wise and feature wise (but maybe not performance wise).

[xdre]

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

The Astra's nose looks dull to me. But ruined? C'mon.

[SAV912]

Well if the Target Costumer is a professional businessman who wants a comfortable highway cruiser than this is hardly the car to get. The Verano is barely bigger than a Honda Civic and actually has less interior space. This is a Compact car with some luxury and sporty intentions, nothing more.

How does the Verano being barely bigger than a Honda Civic make it an uncomfortable highway cruiser?

[6cylVWguy]

except the the ATS in manual form with similar features is more $$$ than the GS...

the GS fits in-between the Verano and ATS price wise and feature wise (but maybe not performance wise).

Considering that relative performance is a much larger concern to me than standard convenience features, that would explain my previous post. A car with fewer standard convenience features is more of a plus---and I think my purchasing history confirms this view.

[HaterSlayer]

How does the Verano being barely bigger than a Honda Civic make it an uncomfortable highway cruiser?

Exactly. The Verano has lots of room in it. Economy sized cars these days are pretty big.

[Turbio!]

Yeah but did you see how hard the dash is? Actually my comment was supposed to be facetious and would make more sense if you read the recent ILX thread (since the OP made the Verano / ILX comparison) where the first two pages were about how the ILX is a tarted up Civic and the remaining 4 are about how a GLS would be better and VW is a premium brand.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...ra-projections

Dude, I'm moving, starting a new job, and renting a new house today. There are autistic people that are better able to detect sarcasm than me today, because I'm basically doing the mental equivalent of juggling chainsaws and puppies..

[Activ8]

2013 Verano turbo 6.6s and 20mpg city - ordinary by 2013 standard.

I think pathetic by 2013 standards ....

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

Opel:



Buick:

good catch .... and maybe it's just me but the seats and pedals on the Opel look better than the Buick too ... and I agree the chrome is excessive

[AKADriver]

The Opel shown is the sporty OPC hatchback trim level (comparable to a Golf R). The regular Opel sedan seats are much flatter.

Here's a lower model Astra with cloth, its seats are about as flat as the Buick's but of course trimmed in cloth. Also note the rubber pedals.

[lorge1989]

I cant believe of the major 2 cons, one was having manually reclining seats. Really??

[Swallow Doretti]

I cant believe of the major 2 cons, one was having manually reclining seats. Really??

I think you haven't had the pleasure of sharing a car with someone much shorter/taller than you. Manually reclining seats are a PITA in that situation.

[clutchrider]

If this was available when I was in the search for a car last year I would have shopped it against my GLI. Heck I wanted a Regal GS but it was priced a little north of what I was willing to spend.

That being said I did see a Verano in person the other day, really does look like a smaller version of the Regal, but the design from the rear door back just didn't mesh with me. It looked too crunched together and almost as if part of the car is chopped off.

Again at that point it's totally subjective opinion.

[AKADriver]

I think you haven't had the pleasure of sharing a car with someone much shorter/taller than you. Manually reclining seats are a PITA in that situation.

My wife is 5'5", I'm 5'10", my mother in law is like 5'3"... swapping cars between us, when I get in, I pull the handle under the seat to give myself enough legroom and I'm done. I don't even touch the recline.

If any of my cars had power seats it would take longer to do this. Even if they were memory seats. Pull, slide, done; vs. push button and wait, wait, wait, wait while the motors move me around. No thanks.

[Swallow Doretti]

My wife is 5'5", I'm 5'10", my mother in law is like 5'3"... swapping cars between us, when I get in, I pull the handle under the seat to give myself enough legroom and I'm done. I don't even touch the recline.

If any of my cars had power seats it would take longer to do this. Even if they were memory seats. Pull, slide, done; vs. push button and wait, wait, wait, wait while the motors move me around. No thanks.

I'm 5'8", Steven is 6'5". If we share cars, he always changes both the fore-and-back AND the recline. I find it takes me forever to find the right recline setting after swapping on a car with a manual recline, and vice versa. It's easier with a power seat because you have more graduation in the settings.

When we do buy another car, memory seats with memory outside mirrors are a mandatory.

[AKADriver]

It's easier with a power seat because you have more graduation in the settings.

Well if I had my druthers, my cars would have the twisty knob to recline instead of the ratchet lever. But I know most people hate those too.

[Swallow Doretti]

Well if I had my druthers, my cars would have the twisty knob to recline instead of the ratchet lever. But I know most people hate those too.

Yes, most do, though I'd prefer the knob if I wasn't sharing a vehicle.

[Numbersix]

I just can't see why someone would go for an ILX over this.

Seems like a great choice in this segment to me.

[mraguilar]

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.

Because Golf has a GERMAN brand and Verano has a AMERICAN Brand

brand whores use to like VW just because that

[czykvw]

GM REALLY needs to quit using the same generic headlight designs over & over & over. Ive seen the same shaped headlights on pontiacs, saturns, not too long ago, as well as chevy's like the new and previous gen malibu, cobalt, now buick.

[Minority5]

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.

There is a substantial difference in driving experience between all three. Looking at specs on a sheet can only tell you so much.

[uncleho]

good catch .... and maybe it's just me but the seats and pedals on the Opel look better than the Buick too ... and I agree the chrome is excessive

That probably has to do with the fact that those look to be the OPC seats (top sport/racer model that probably 95% of Verano buyers would find uncomfortable for ingress/egress)... and OPC pedals.

[uncleho]

GM REALLY needs to quit using the same generic headlight designs over & over & over. Ive seen the same shaped headlights on pontiacs, saturns, not too long ago, as well as chevy's like the new and previous gen malibu, cobalt, now buick.

I think this one takes the cake for BIGGEST STYLING GENERALIZATION EVER.

[1985Jetta]

Looks great, except for the tails. The Opel ones look so much better.

[uncleho]

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.

I don't know why this is so freakin' hard for people to understand.

It's a Buick! It's not an Opel. It's not a Saturn. It's entry level luxury. And in America... people love COMFORT a lot more than they do sport. That is why the Miata doesn't sell 100,000. That's why the S2k doesn't sell anymore. That is why the sport market is totally broken down into niches (like it should be).

POWER: Just because the Verano has a turbo 4/stick option doesn't mean the majority of those customers want to take the car to the track. They're just enthusiasts who have matured and want more comfort than racer. And if it doesn't fit your taste/formula... that's fine. Go buy any number of other choices that do, but don't act as if the target market doesn't exist!

SIZE: For pete sake... a COMPACT car is supposed to be... COMPACT! A Verano isn't a Regal or LaCrosse. Just like an ATS isn't supposed to be a CTS or XTS. If you are too big... well... SORRY! Blame it on your maker! Plenty of us fit compacts just fine and don't need one iota more in inches.

The gripe that I have not read here (unless I missed it) should be pretty clear - WHY ISN'T THIS MODEL TRICKED OUT IN STYLING LIKE IT'S OLDER BROTHER THE REGAL GS?!!!!! Now THAT to me is STUPID!

[Mike!]

I'm 5'8", Steven is 6'5". If we share cars, he always changes both the fore-and-back AND the recline. I find it takes me forever to find the right recline setting after swapping on a car with a manual recline, and vice versa. It's easier with a power seat because you have more graduation in the settings.

When we do buy another car, memory seats with memory outside mirrors are a mandatory.

I know some cars have continuous adjustment for manual recline (Volkswagen?), but in my experience, I've owned cars with notched manual recline, and now one with power recline.

I'd much rather have notched manual recline back. Did the wife drive the car and recline the seat? OK, get it, lift up the lever, and pull it all the way upright... done. It's much more annoying to get back to the 'right' spot with my current full power seats.

[ChiTownA34DR]

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

[ChiTownA34DR]

I don't know why this is so freakin' hard for people to understand.

It's a Buick! It's not an Opel. It's not a Saturn. It's entry level luxury. And in America... people love COMFORT a lot more than they do sport. That is why the Miata doesn't sell 100,000. That's why the S2k doesn't sell anymore. That is why the sport market is totally broken down into niches (like it should be).

POWER: Just because the Verano has a turbo 4/stick option doesn't mean the majority of those customers want to take the car to the track. They're just enthusiasts who have matured and want more comfort than racer. And if it doesn't fit your taste/formula... that's fine. Go buy any number of other choices that do, but don't act as if the target market doesn't exist!

SIZE: For pete sake... a COMPACT car is supposed to be... COMPACT! A Verano isn't a Regal or LaCrosse. Just like an ATS isn't supposed to be a CTS or XTS. If you are too big... well... SORRY! Blame it on your maker! Plenty of us fit compacts just fine and don't need one iota more in inches.

The gripe that I have not read here (unless I missed it) should be pretty clear - WHY ISN'T THIS MODEL TRICKED OUT IN STYLING LIKE IT'S OLDER BROTHER THE REGAL GS?!!!!! Now THAT to me is STUPID!

Commenting on both of these highlighted...

First, thank you for saying what I was thinking. I am 6'5" 210lbs and I drive my Verano with no problems. It is very close in size to my old 98' Jetta. The back seat is small, my daughter has to sit on my wife's side, but if I had to put someone behind me I would man up and move the seat.


On the styling side of things, I was hoping they would do more, but then I realized it is just the Turbo model. The Regal has a Turbo model and it has nothing other than dual chrome pipes out the back to show for it. The GS model is dressed up because it is Buick's flagship model. If they made a Verano GS, then I can see making it look different.

[uncleho]

On the styling side of things, I was hoping they would do more, but then I realized it is just the Turbo model. The Regal has a Turbo model and it has nothing other than dual chrome pipes out the back to show for it. The GS model is dressed up because it is Buick's flagship model. If they made a Verano GS, then I can see making it look different.

Good point. I always forget about the middle level turbo model.

I do wish they throw the dealerships a bone and offer more styling options so they can customize and profit more.

I'm not shocked that you can fit the Verano, because my wife has one and it has some serious seat height adjustability range, but obviously that means you detract from rear legroom. But you do like most people do... Suck it up and deal with it logically and don't whine about it on the net (i.e. most people who buy a car know well its limits and buy accordingly or adjust to it accordingly, because they like the pliers it affords them).

[uncleho]

I know some cars have continuous adjustment for manual recline (Volkswagen?), but in my experience, I've owned cars with notched manual recline, and now one with power recline.

I'd much rather have notched manual recline back. Did the wife drive the car and recline the seat? OK, get it, lift up the lever, and pull it all the way upright... done. It's much more annoying to get back to the 'right' spot with my current full power seats.

Totally agree!

A lot of power seats I ride in have so much fine adjustments in so many degrees of freedom that adjusting them back and forth to JUST the right spot is a PITA without memory seats.

Such are the woes of 1st world living.

[CP1]

An overall good job by GM; it's a shame Buick designers didn't come up w/ more attractive sheetmetal for the Verano.

[bmann]

Dude, I'm moving, starting a new job, and renting a new house today. There are autistic people that are better able to detect sarcasm than me today, because I'm basically doing the mental equivalent of juggling chainsaws and puppies..

sorry. I would have put a smiley in my post but that would have ruined all the fun.