2012 Buick Verano Review, the quietest car we’ve been in

For the past decades, Buick hasn’t been recognized for their vehicles, some still call Buicks cars for old people, cars for the people who don’t care. And I agreed with those acquisitions… until I drove the new Verano. The Buick Verano is one special car, it has miles of sound isolation, electric steering, leather seats, 7-inch display, and a very nice look. It’s one mighty handsome car for sure, but are these looks just for show or do they actually show off something beautiful here, something that people would want to buy? Find out after the break.

Video Review

Design

The Verano starts out in life has a Chevrolet Cruze, one of the most popular and good looking small sedans out on the market. But it goes even deeper, the original plans of this vehicle were co-developed by German engineers, but it was only planned for Chinese market for its long wheel base and very roomy interior. But that’s when the Cruze hit the United States and made a giant splash. The Verano builds on the same design, but this is not only a rebadge job. The car is noticeable different in panels and the way the car drives and feels. It has a bit of aggressive styling in the front but maybe a tad over chrome’d? If thats even a word. It has a pointy nose like a Lamborghini, but this isn’t a Lambo, but you get the point.

But the car isn’t as show off as you would think, its very discrete, doesn’t make a noise about how my suspension works or how my EcoTech engine works, its just some car. But when people see this rolling around, they wonder if its a good car. Trust me it is.

Power

Now the Verano wasn’t made to set a new lap record at the Nürburgring but it’s no slouch. The engine is a 2.4L four-cylinder which produces 180BHP. Its not a bad engine, it even sounds good at higher RPMs, but the whole point of this vehicle is not to hear the engine. Not to hear just about anything from the outside of the car and it sure does that great.

0-60

0-60 came up in 8.3 seconds with manual gear selection, 8.6 seconds with it left in automatic. Very respectable.

Handling

The Verano doesn’t use ordinary hydraulic steering like other cars, it uses an electric steering wheel which isn’t connected to anything. Now there are problems with electric steering, any racing driver will tell you that it doesn’t feel like your part of the machine, you have no feeling to what the car is doing or where the tires are. Now they can’t reproduce the vibrations and feedback, but they can work on a new system that gives feedback like a normal car would. The electric steering is light weight but it doesn’t feel completely foreign either. At speed and on a curvy road, it feels connected, analog even. It’s not a Porsche 911, but it wasn’t cracked up to be one.

Transmission 

The Verano uses a six-speed automatic gearbox which delivers smooth shifts. Its made out of butter, but sometimes the engine likes to stay on one gear for a prolonged time which can get annoying. I’m not sure why the car reacts that way but it feels somewhat unfinished? Maybe it was just me but that is something I have noticed.

Ride Quality 

The whole point with ‘luxury’ vehicles are simple. Make it as fuel efficient as possible with minimum compromise in both the engine and interior. Move the ride quality to top priority followed by the rest. Buick really took that into play here since the Verano is by far the most comfortable car I have driven. Bumps on the road feels like smooth pavement, in order for you to feel a defect, it has to be the size of the Grand Canyon, its that good. The suspension is nice and comfortable, but firm enough to stop bumps and rolls.

Since the Verano has two miles of sound proofing material, its one quiet ride as well. The doors have triple door seals, the air vents have no road noise coming through, and the special tires that comes stock are on of the quietest rolling tires I’ve driven with. Even at speed it feels like you’re going much slower than you really are. This car is perfect for long distance travels, cross country, anything. Perfect for the single driver or the family.

Wrap Up

The Verano is one of the best riding vehicles I’ve driven. It’s as quiet as an empty church, it feels like your constantly on a Tempur-Pedic mattress (its jolly comfortable), and it doesn’t break your wallet at the pumps with its excellent fuel consumption. Also for the price of this thing, it beats all of its competition in price, and maybe some are a little higher quality but I don’t think its lesser of a car for the amount of money you will save. I was never a fan of Buicks but from today forward, Buick Verano is one of the best entry level luxury vehicles on the market.