The direction that the auto industry is heading is clear: more SUVs and crossovers. Sedans and compact cars are becoming more of a niche, along with fully gas-powered vehicles. To many a gearhead, the mass shift to enormous SUVs or crossovers seems logically incomprehensible, and plenty of excellent cars are being left behind as a result. Even before the main wave of the crossover craze, though, there were always vehicles that tried to push the boundaries of what a more compact vehicle could provide.
With plenty of unique cars that didn’t meet the mark for the masses, they gained their own mass appeal as objects of influence and risk, with people fascinated by their ambition for a different automotive landscape. There are some cars, though, such as this American compact Buick, which seems to have gone under the radar, despite all of its efforts to bring a new meaning to the world of compact cars.
The Unknown, Underrated Buick Verano Turbo
Many people still view the future of cars through the lens of more compact vehicles. They are easy to drive, and do less damage to the roads over time, whilst being large enough for most people the majority of the time. Buick had the same idea with the Verano, which was a miniature premium sedan that, from 2012 to 2017, aimed to have the luxury refinement of something like a Lexus, with sedan proportions but with a fairly small footprint to match.
Though it was essentially an Americanized version of the Opel Astra with the platform of a Chevrolet Cruze, Buick went to serious lengths to disguise this with a sense of genuine compact-car luxury. The Verano used acoustic laminated glass with triple door seals, and extra underbody panels to block as much road noise as possible, creating a cabin that was actually more peaceful than most premium-brand vehicles at the time — cars that weren’t even compacts.
Not Only Was It Comfortable, But It Was Also Fast
A 2010’s compact Buick doesn’t have the whiff of performance to it, but, despite its downsized looks and focus on comfort, the turbo model packed a serious punch. While the standard model housed a 2.4-liter powertrain, which was ample but uninspiring, the 2.0-liter turbo was the one to have. It should be noted that the Turbo trim was not offered for the final 2017 model year.
2012 – 2016 Buick Verano Turbo
|
Horsepower |
250 hp |
|
Torque |
260 Ib-ft |
|
Transmission |
6-speed manual, or auto |
|
0 – 60 mph |
6.2 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
129 mph (restricted) |
For a small sedan with the priority being driving serenity, these were impressive specifications. Because it only weighed in at 3,300 pounds, the turbo Verano had a relatively excellent power-to-weight ratio, higher even than rivals like the Lexus IS 250. It was also the last time Buick would ever offer a manual gearbox for North America, as the Regal GS with a manual was also axed during this time. This simply means that, in the future, it will likely hold some acclaim with more hands-on, mechanically focused Buick fans.
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The Verano Is Fantastic Compared To Modern Rivals
Admittedly, the Verano is an aging vehicle now, and because of that, there are several things it simply can’t compete on, including connectivity, touchscreen infotainment, and safety features that belong to the 2020s. With that being said, not everyone wants a car that’s a sanctuary of screens. The mid-2010s offer a pleasant balance of Bluetooth availability, mature safety measures, and most useful modern features that don’t simply feel like pure nerdy-gadgetry for the one percent, whilst having tactile buttons and simplicity, which cars of the last decade seem to excel at.
The 2026 Acura Integra is perhaps the most direct modern counterpart to the Verano, with a focus on being a value-focused compact sedan. However, despite the Verano’s age, it still not only matches but beats a standard 2026 Acura in some serious areas. With prices now of newer Veranos hovering around $10,000 – $13,000, you are paying almost a third of the base $33,400 asking price of the Integra.
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Over A Decade Old, Still Trading Blows With Rivals
You might think that most examples being more than 10 years old and costing less than half of the price would mean the 2026 Acura is a vastly better car, but oddly, you’d be mistaken. With a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbo on the base model Integra, the miniature displacement and smaller horsepower output of 200 horsepower really do put the Integra at a performance disadvantage. The 250-horsepower engine powering the 2.0-liter turbo Verano feels muscular and effortless in comparison, making cruising or hard acceleration feel less of a hassle on the older vehicle.
Features Of The Verano That Make It Truly Luxurious
- Hydraulic bushings create a creamy and sophisticated ride
- Premium interior choices such as choccachino and cashmere leather
- Ambient lighting, which was rarer at the time
- Bose audio nine-speaker setup with subwoofer
- Heated seats and steering wheel
Not only that, but it occupied a much higher standard of luxury than the Acura does. While the 2026 Integra feels like a geek’s bedroom, the Buick Verano feels like half of a limo, and it contains features that compact vehicles haven’t completely standardized even today.
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The Death Of The Underrated Verano
It just wasn’t meant to be for the Verano in North America, which is unfortunate: it gave a chance for the typical car buyer to own something that had industry-leading insulation, a high-quality interior, and a genuine sense of quiet pleasure, whilst offering impressive performance. All of these excellent characteristics the Verano turbo had going for it were shifted aside when the rise of the crossover broke through in the mid 2010s, and even with the punchy turbo engine on offer, Buick couldn’t shift the perception that it was an old man’s car that was simple to maneuver. In a market where status and impressions are critical, Buick couldn’t shake the dated and old-school image.
In October 2016, GM ended production of the Verano in the US and realized that it wasn’t destined to overcome the crossover wave. They decided that dedicating their resources to SUVs and electric vehicles was the only truly profitable way forward. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Especially if it means Buick can still produce models going forward.
The Verano’s Secondary Life And Ongoing Greatness
North America’s loss of the Verano proved that a car had to be more than great to be a success. Not only was it beautifully luxurious, but it achieved a phenomenal score of 89/100 on J.D. Power’s quality and reliability rating for the 2016 model year. Now, it’s for those people in the second-hand market to realize that the 2010’s consumers missed an opportunity to own the under-loved Verano Turbo.
The Verano has proved an unbelievable success in China. Whilst Buick is seen as an older gentleman’s car in America, China sees it as a symbol of aspiration and wealth, proving how important the connotations that your brand emits are. Truly getting its redemption arc, Buick was selling around 200,000 Veranos per year in China throughout 2017 and 2018, and the model continues in 2026, known as the Verano Pro — the same gorgeous comfort-driven experience with modern wizardry. After all seemed lost, the Verano lives on.
Sources: Buick, Acura, J.D. Power, KBB