Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2013 Buick Verano Turbo; Day 1

[Autos_Editor]

The Buick Verano Turbo offers a long list of luxury features in a compact package, and a high-powered turbo-four paired with a manual transmission.
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[Winterpeg]

Looks great in that color too. Winger....just a 6 spd manual to be had or is there an slushie box as well?   

[Boff]

That's a handsome car, although I'd prefer it in black. This will be an interesting one to hear about...is it a better 3-series competitor than the Regal GS? How premium can a Cruze variant really be? Might actually follow James's twitter feed on this one.

[easyrider]

GM hit the nail on the head with this one. No real competitors for it, ILX and Lexus IS250 are not even in the same ballpark.

[Rupert]

A nice enough looking car but I prefer the looks of the Cruze which at that price is just as well. I think that the Cruze fits a better spot with a 2L engine.

[redman]

Nice looking car although I find the 8K increase a bit much for the Turbo packaged model.
I'm a diehard RWD first AWD second and FWD dead last, so for me it simply does not compete with rwd models like the Bimmer or Benz.
I know it maybe quicker than some and have more features, but my viewpoint starts from the foundation first then I build upon that.
If GM I'd prefer an ATS model.

[safristi]

BOFFO.................................lads.........................

[ChaosphereIX]

fantastic small premium car. Best of the bunch. I don't know why this one is so expensive though, most Turbos go for under 34k. Take out the stupid navigation, the 1000 dollar white paint, the subtly different rims than the stock ones, and the idiotic cross traffic etc alerts, and you have a tidy sporty sedan for someone who wants to drive. I am selling lots of these, and to younger folk than the traditional Buick customer. This car is so different from the Cruze that a comparison is not really fair. It is also the quietest car I have ever been in for NVH, including Merc and Audi.

[ChaosphereIX]

Nice looking car although I find the 8K increase a bit much for the Turbo packaged model.
I'm a diehard RWD first AWD second and FWD dead last, so for me it simply does not compete with rwd models like the Bimmer or small Benz.
I know it maybe quicker than some and have more features, but my viewpoint starts from the foundation first then I build upon that.

the 1ST includes all other packages you can get on the base Verano too. Similarly equipped with leather etc the turbo only asks about 1500 more IIRC

[whaddaiknow]

The Buick Verano Turbo offers a long list of luxury features in a compact package, and a high-powered turbo-four paired with a manual transmission.
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Sure, it offers a long list of luxury features, but I have a problem with this statement:
"...With the market for smaller cars ever growing in Canada, the Verano makes perfect sense for those looking for a compact car with a ton of luxury features, and with a base starting price of just $22,895 the Verano certainly delivers on that promise..."

No, it doesn't. At the base level, let's what this luxury compact is missing (some of these must be mandatory on all cars, let alone luxury cars, IMHO), in the order they appear in the GM brochure

- bluetooth
- no auto climate control
- no fog lights
- no leather wrapped steering wheel or any bluetooth or audio controls
- no power driver seat
- no heated seats
- no heated mirrors

I would have a hard time calling that car luxury if it missed more than one of the features listed above.
AND in order to get any of those basics, one MUST select one ore more options groups that will easily get you into the $30's, and that, my friends, kills it.

A loaded Cruise makes a lot more sense.

[ChaosphereIX]

The Buick Verano Turbo offers a long list of luxury features in a compact package, and a high-powered turbo-four paired with a manual transmission.
Read More...

Sure, it offers a long list of luxury features, but I have a problem with this statement:
"...With the market for smaller cars ever growing in Canada, the Verano makes perfect sense for those looking for a compact car with a ton of luxury features, and with a base starting price of just $22,895 the Verano certainly delivers on that promise..."

No, it doesn't. At the base level, let's what this luxury compact is missing (some of these must be mandatory on all cars, let alone luxury cars, IMHO), in the order they appear in the GM brochure

- bluetooth
- no auto climate control
- no fog lights
- no leather wrapped steering wheel or any bluetooth or audio controls
- no power driver seat
- no heated seats
- no heated mirrors

I would have a hard time calling that car luxury if it missed more than one of the features listed above.
AND in order to get any of those basics, one MUST select one ore more options groups that will easily get you into the $30's, and that, my friends, kills it.

A loaded Cruise makes a lot more sense.

not if you want luxury. Yes option pkgs are needed, but what car has the base model with everything these days? Option pkgs are there to keep the base price down and you can kit what you want. Most base Verano with most if not all of those options go for 26-29k.Turbos have all of those features and most go for under 33 or 34k. A loaded Cruze is nice, nut it is not luxury. 

[whaddaiknow]

not if you want luxury. Yes option pkgs are needed, but what car has the base model with everything these days? Option pkgs are there to keep the base price down and you can kit what you want. Most base Verano with most if not all of those options go for 26-29k.Turbos have all of those features and most go for under 33 or 34k. A loaded Cruze is nice, nut it is not luxury.

Let me rephrase your question - what luxury car has the base model with everything those basic features these days?

And the answer will be all(?) of them. Hence, the Verano is a $30k+ luxury car (if you want the basics), and the $22k base price means absolutely nothing. And that's my oly nitpick today. James used the basic price number and "delivers on the luxury promise" in one sentence which is misleading.

[JRM]

Sure, it offers a long list of luxury features, but I have a problem with this statement:
"...With the market for smaller cars ever growing in Canada, the Verano makes perfect sense for those looking for a compact car with a ton of luxury features, and with a base starting price of just $22,895 the Verano certainly delivers on that promise..."

No, it doesn't. At the base level, let's what this luxury compact is missing (some of these must be mandatory on all cars, let alone luxury cars, IMHO), in the order they appear in the GM brochure

- bluetooth
- no auto climate control
- no fog lights
- no leather wrapped steering wheel or any bluetooth or audio controls
- no power driver seat
- no heated seats
- no heated mirrors

I would have a hard time calling that car luxury if it missed more than one of the features listed above.
AND in order to get any of those basics, one MUST select one ore more options groups that will easily get you into the $30's, and that, my friends, kills it.

A loaded Cruise makes a lot more sense.
[/quote]

+1.    I'm not a fan of the Buick signature grille and the rear is overstyled for my taste.  The Cruze has sportier lines and a more aggressive look, which I prefer.

[ChaosphereIX]

not if you want luxury. Yes option pkgs are needed, but what car has the base model with everything these days? Option pkgs are there to keep the base price down and you can kit what you want. Most base Verano with most if not all of those options go for 26-29k.Turbos have all of those features and most go for under 33 or 34k. A loaded Cruze is nice, nut it is not luxury.

Let me rephrase your question - what luxury car has the base model with everything those basic features these days?

And the answer will be all(?) of them. Hence, the Verano is a $30k+ luxury car (if you want the basics), and the $22k base price means absolutely nothing. And that's my oly nitpick today. James used the basic price number and "delivers on the luxury promise" in one sentence which is misleading.

ok I agree there. He used the base Verano price for a review of the Turbo. 6k difference there.

[ChaosphereIX]

It's a good car but the interior quality doesn't match the "budget luxury" label. More budget than luxury. But I would love to test drive this turbo - I drove the Regal Turbo (non GS) and I wasn't hugely impressed.

Regal turbo is underpowered for its weight, need to go to GS. I have no idea why for the regal they didn't make the 270hp turbo the turbo model and give it the 320hp v6t from the new 9-5 Aero instead for the GS. Nothing a Trifecta flash can't fix though.

Also I have no idea what you are talking about re the interior. It is the best in its class, and it is certainly not budget. And as for the motor car combination, it is a hoot to drive. Regal GS power nearly in a car that is 500lbs lighter.

[whaddaiknow]

This car is a great offering and if you can get past the badge it's a class leader. Both this and the Acura ILX offer the buyer entry-level luxury in a tight little package and for what they are....they're good.

As for the nit-picking on standards, 60K BMWs and Mercs come standard with plastic seats. I call real leather a basic feature in a 50K-60K luxury car, don't you? Also, many other Luxury manufacturers don't offer HIDs as standard, forcing you to buy a luxury package of sorts. Really, packaging features is par for the course across the board. You seem to be focusing on it here because it's a GM vehicle.

That I agree with. The fundamental difference is, the base BMW and Merc already start in the luxury territory pricewise, so it's off limits for a regular mortal mainstream family sedan buyer. The base price for the Verano is in the compact territory and thus Buick tries to lure compact buyer into its brand with its "luxury" promise where in fact, there is nothing luxury about it, and the Cruise makes more sense at that price is would arguably be better equipped.

Makes sense?

[Rupert]

I would consider a car to be luxurious without that long list of sillyness as long as the other features were so.

[whaddaiknow]

Motortrend took the Verano Turbo over the ILX: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1210_2013_acura_ilx_vs_buick_verano_turbo/viewall.html

If you're going to argue missing luxury features, Motortrend pointed out that NAV is NOT available on the ILX 2.4.

Listen, there are lots of GM cars to hate on but I don't think this is one of them. Other than the Enclave, I think this is Buick's best car and it's a class leader.

You've missed the point again. I am not talking about the luxury features like the NAV. I am talking about BASIC features that must be standard in a luxury car, like heated seats and mirrors. I don't hate the car, I'm just saying that at the base price, it's not a luxury car by any stretch of imagination, and in fact doesn't offer any luxury features at all. Period. It needs to be brought up beyond the $30k mark to begin to resemble anything luxury but then it faces competition that will make its life much more difficult than the base price where luxury doesn't exist. Marketing trickery.

Buick will continue to insist that they offer their luxury car at a base price of $22k which is simply not true.

[Jaeger]

Facking stooopid fakeorama chrome vents excepted, this is a terrific little car.

[Fobroader]

I think in order to consider oneself a "luxury car",  heated leather, climate control, full function steering wheel, bluetooth has to be there. If you gotta spend an extra $10k to have all of those, maybe their tagline should be, Verano, starts at $22k, but if you want all the goodies, its gonna cost you well over $30K.