Overview & Reviews

When a carmaker reskins an existing car as a more upscale model, the result traditionally offers little to recommend it over the less expensive corporate twin. This is decidedly not the case with the Buick Verano. Although it's based on the Chevy Cruze, this entry-level Buick is bolstered with more than a few key upgrades.

In addition to more sophisticated styling and a nicer interior, the Buick Verano also boasts a larger engine, a quieter ride and the availability of luxury features not offered on the Chevy. It all comes together harmoniously, as the Verano is a good example of Buick's efforts to produce more modern and engaging vehicles that maintain the style, comfortable ride and quiet cabin expected of the brand.

Current Buick Verano
The Verano is a compact luxury sedan that comes standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 180 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque. It drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. A 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is also available, and it's definitely the more appealing engine as it provides much better acceleration with a minuscule fuel economy drop. Six-speed automatic and manual transmissions are available with it.

There are four trim levels: base, Convenience, Leather and Premium. Highlights of the base Verano include 18-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth (phone and audio streaming), a six-speaker sound system, OnStar telematics and Buick's Intellilink electronics interface and smartphone integration. The Convenience Group adds features including rear parking sensors, heated front seats, a power driver seat and a variety of driver warning systems (blind-spot, forward-collision, lane-departure and rear cross-traffic). The Leather Group adds keyless ignition and entry, a heated steering wheel,  leather upholstery and a Bose audio upgrade. Finally, the Premium Group is exclusive to the Turbo model and combines the Leather and Convenience features with a rear spoiler. A sunroof is optional on all Verano models, and a navigation system is optional on all except the base.

In reviews we've been impressed by the Buick Verano's precise steering and surprisingly athletic handling. Performance is more than adequate for daily driving, but the 2.4-liter is underwhelming for an entry-level premium sedan. The Turbo model is the better choice. One of the Verano's greatest strengths, however, is its compliant and quiet ride quality. Whether on a thousand-mile road trip or just running errands around town, the Buick Verano is pleasant for drivers and passengers alike.

The Buick Verano's handsome cabin provides room for four adults (though legroom in back is a bit tight for tall folks) and the overall fit and finish is on par with other entry-level luxury sedans. This Buick also offers leading-edge technology via its Intellilink system that allows streaming Internet radio like Pandora and Stitcher. Operation of Intellilink and other systems is intuitive thanks to a sharp, standard touchscreen and (admittedly abundant) accompanying buttons.

Used Buick Verano Models
The Verano debuted in 2012. In 2014, safety features such as forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems were added to the options lineup and heated front seats became standard on all Veranos except the base model.

User Reviews:

• 

  132K miles Strong - 2012 Buick Verano
  By Eric Richmond - July 12 - 1:51 pm

  Bought this car brand new fours years ago and have since put 132K maintenance free miles on it. Getting ready to put my second set of tires on it. Yes, 65k miles out of performance tires...twice! Other than an O2 sensor crapping out at 19k miles (covered under warranty), Ive had no issues with the car. Regular oil changes between 6 and 7k miles, tires rotated every oil change and had all 100k mile service work performed. Did have minor oil comsumption concerns from 30k to about 90k miles, but that concern is gone. The vehicle is still very tight and mpg have stayed consistant. I am still amazed at the low cost of ownership and reliability.

• 

  Dont Get 18" Wheel / Tire Package - Many Blowouts - 2013 Buick Verano
  By WatsonBryant - July 4 - 11:49 pm

  Power from 4cyl engine is semi-good...interior is nice and Buick has upgraded the car significantly from the Chevy Cruze - design, details, interior. CAUTION! DO NOT GET THE 18" WHEELS / CONTINENTAL P235/45R18 PACKAGE!! EASY TIRE BLOWOUTS and tires are ruined (sidewall damage) and not repairable...have to replace at $190 per tire / per time...an average pot hole or minor bump can unbelievably ruin a tire...this combo of low aspect wheel and tire on a Verano may LOOK good, but totally unusable on real world roads. Ive blown 2 front tires in 6.300 miles - I know another Verano owner with same wheels / tires that has blown 3 of these tires in 31,000 miles...and Continental is no help! Shame on Buick engineers for allowing this tire / wheel package out on the road! If you are getting a Verano - go for standard 17" wheels and higher aspect tires - should work better.

• 

  Outstanding Vehicle - 2014 Buick Verano
  By Lou Koumathi - December 13 - 3:17 pm

  Im very pleased with my Buick Verano.

• 

  Would Highly Recommend - 2016 Buick Verano
  By Marc R - October 3 - 12:23 am

  I went from a 2014 GMC SUV to the Buick Verano. I wasnt even interested in looking at a Buick when my dealership asked me if I was interested in Buick. They took me out to the Verano and I was impressed with the way that the exterior looked. I have to say that it is a sleek looking vehicle and it looks like a luxury sedan, without the luxury price. I then sat inside, and I have to say my first thought was WOW, Buick did a really good job. Now after driving it for a month, I have to say that the ride is pleasurable, its quiet, the entertainment features are great, and the car is a joy to drive. Its considered a compact car however I feel like Im driving in a full size sedan. I just dont feel like the car is that small. The interior design and layout is of great comfort and looks very classy. Everyone that has been inside my car says, wow this is nice. Buick really did a great job making this sedan look like a luxury vehicle. My girlfriend jokes with me that I bought a luxury vehicle. The car handles well and I do a lot of city driving and with the help of cruise control when I can use it, Im getting 27 miles to the gallon in the city. So you can stretch the MPG if you drive sensibly. Overall I have to say that I am happy to be in this vehicle. It certainly feels different than driving an SUV, but I was ready for a switch and am enjoying Buicks Verano.

• 

  Love, Love, Love! - 2014 Buick Verano
  By kerri - July 9 - 11:02 pm

  Nothing I dont love about this car, and this is coming out of a Cadillac. Snappy, sporty, great entertainment/phone system, no lag at all. Warranties are excellent as well. Cant say enough, and Im back in Buick for good.

• 

  Cheap compact luxury w/ lots of techs, sucky relia - 2012 Buick Verano
  By Stan - April 5 - 11:30 am

  Engine developed rocking at low RPMs (<1000 when in idle, sitting at the traffic light, goes away when you drive) at 70K, recently started seeing Reduced Power to Engine, Service Stabilitrak warning on the dash and partial power loss. On 4-year-old car, at less than 100K engine - its pretty pathetic to have go into shop for major diagnostics, GM. AC went again, even though refrigerant shows pressurized to proper level. Bumper cover started falling off at the point of attachment (fixed myself), and inner insert fell of twice (had to JB weld it). This car is a cash cow for dealerships and mechanics and nightmare for a DIY owner (unless you dont mind buying it at full price at the dealership and just driving it in and getting a loaner vehicle and paying lots of $$$ every time something goes wrong). Did I mention that even license plate indent is not shaped right? (made for European, skinny plates). A lemon. After my reliable-as-AK 2001 Buick Verano that I only sold because of severe body panel rust issues and worn-out-to-shreads leather driver seats after 10 years of cold Michigan winters and hot summers, I am bitterly disappointed in Buick products. Probably my last Buick ever.

• 

  Buick Verano great car - 2013 Buick Verano
  By Brent Davis - November 11 - 3:07 am

  The Buick Verano is one of GM’s more affordable luxury cars with a base price of $20,000. This Buick attracts a lot of younger people that want luxury car features at an affordable price. The Verano is a sporty car, but also a great family vehicle. The upgraded package can includes leather heated seats, a 9 speaker Bose audio system, heated steering wheel, electric seats, rear backup camera and a push to start ignition. While the basic package is well-received, the upgrades are worth the extra money. These upgrades can bring the price to over $25,000. The 2013 Buick Verano comes with two different engine sizes. The base engine is a 4 cylinder 2.4 L able to produce 180 horsepower at 6,700 RPM’s. For a sportier feel the upgraded engine is a 4 cylinder 2.0 L with a turbo for and extra boost of 250 horsepower at 5,300 RPM’s. With a base engine, I noticed that you barley have to hit the gas for the engine to get up in speed. The Verano only comes with a 6 speed automatic transmission that shifts very smoothly through gears. Even know you might think the smaller the engine the better gas mileage, this isn’t true. Buick has put an eco-friendly engine in the Verano. Both models come with a fuel tank capacity size of 15.6 gallons. The fuel economy is rated at 21 miles per gallon in the city and 30 to 32 miles per gallon on the highway. I drive 30 miles round trip 6 days out of the week and have noticed excellent gas mileage. Safety and security features are another great aspect of this car. The Buick Verano includes a driver and passenger airbags. There are also rear side-impact airbags and overhead airbags, for a total of 10, that make passengers feel safe in case of an accident or if the car was to roll over. Other people may wonder if the Verano is secure in weather related conditions. I would say yes, because it is equipped with traction control, ABS brakes and break assist. The Verano is front wheel drive which helps in snow because the weight of the engine is in the front pushing the tires down to grip the surface. In a crash test, the Verano tested 5 out of 5 stars for its excellent safety features. The car also comes with security features such as a panic alarm, 4 door locks and immobilizer which will prevent the wrong key from going in the ignition to keep thieves away from stealing the vehicle. Safety, security and high tech features are why I would suggest a Buick Verano to anyone that is looking for a reliable car to get them to point A and B and back. The only con I had with this car is its limited backseat room which is not that big of a problem. Overall I would rate the 2013 Buick Verano an 8 out of 10 stars.

• 

  Good Deal - 2014 Buick Verano
  By RichardC - September 16 - 11:35 am

  This year and model was rated #1 in its vehicle size by the U.S. News & World Report. I searched and found our 2014 Buick Verano 4 door sedan with low miles and a good price. I Like my car!

• 

  Not worth the money! - 2012 Buick Verano
  By Anthony G. - June 4 - 11:57 pm

  Ever since owning this vehicle, the warranty doesnt cover alot of parts. Transmission is bad. Stalls alot. Electronics just shut off. Ac fan varies in speed. Very, very poor acceleration to pass cars. Handles great though. First time ever owning a buick and certainly the last time buying one. My overall opinion is that car is junk. Shame american makers cant get it right. Im buying a foreign car this time. You can look up on google how bad these cars are. DO NOT BUY BUICK!!!!!

• 

  2013 Buick Verano - 2013 Buick Verano
  By Wendy Catto - May 25 - 4:48 pm