2012 Buick Verano Review

The all-new 2012 Buick Verano certainly isnt the first compact sedan from Buick. The Verano is, in all fairness, a completely different vehicle. Inside, the Verano gets rich leather, infotainment standard voice-activated touch screen, and heated steering wheel.

Especially from the side, the Verano tends to look like a large sedan—in particular, Buicks Lacrosse—sized down. Four-wheel disc brakes provide plenty of stopping power, even if the pedal feels of an old sponge Lux. Verano 2012 luxury sedan than a compact, premium models from among the many brands, phenomenal refined, comfortable, quiet interior. Tuning calm are characteristic of the Buick, and that many of them describing the personality of Verano. Equipment-wise, its all here: ten standard airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock braking with brake assistant, and as well as the Star Auto Accident Response. Assist rear parking is provided.

For just $23,470, the base 2012 Buick Verano comes equipped with an list of impressive features include: automatic dual zone climate control, steering-wheel controls, Bluetooth, input USB, Buick Intellilink touch screen interface, and includes voice control Pandora and Stitched apps. A heated steering wheel and navy system are among multiple choices, with the full price of Verano well below $30k.

The Verano is somewhat related to the Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan, but shares virtually no parts--and no sheet metal--with the Chevy. But like the Cruze, the Buick Verano looks like a big sedan, sized down. The small windows at the front of the front doors fit in Style, and also help with visibility.

The 2012 Buick Verano is hardly accelerating heartbeat, but we have not had time to have thought that part of the Verano mission statement (its extreme quiet might have something to do with it, honestly). The 2012 Buick Verano is shaping up to be one of the safest bets among medium size sedan, with top notch crash test ratings from IIHS along with a very well-stocked list of safety features.

Approaching from behind in the parking garage, a 2012 Buick Verano looks suspicious its scowling chrome taillight eyebrows. Buicks cockpit school of interior design is well-represented in the plush Verano interior. On the road, the "Buick Verano" really shines. More important for the market Buick after, quiet luxury cars actually Verano. Nicely loaded up as tester, it is sparsely populated a premium slot small-car niche for an attainable $27,000 and change. Here we have a really nice small car that happens to wear a Buick badge, and its priced right in my opinion. It feels upscale for a small, Cruze-based sedan with admirably low NVH levels.

As noted, the car drives well (it is really almost too responsive to steering input), good driving. The styling is Buick strong (Id argue that maybe Buick is trying a little too hard with the oversized grill treatment), and the interior is well trimmed and well executed. Enough room inside for a small car does not feel cramped.

I had an interesting conversation with a friend last night about the Verano, which is clearly part of Buicks plan to attract younger buyers to the brand. Moving onto the car itself, it surprised me. Its true that the Cruze sits on a worthy small-car platform from GM. The Buic Verano rolls down the expressway with a planted feeling and soaks up small bumps with ease, with only the smallest thuds reverberating into the cabin. The bottom line is that the Verano is a nice addition to the Buick lineup.

And the Buick Verano is blessed with creature comforts the Cruze lacks, such as softer interior trim, sim-wood paneling, dual-zone automatic climate control, and push-button starting and parking-brake actuation. There is no rear-seat HVAC registers.  Versus two targeted competitors Acura’s TSX and Lexus IS250, Buick Verano  two decibels quieter during cruising (68 dBA) and three to six decibels quieter accelerating (72 dBA).

The feel through the Buick Verano’s steering, suspension, and mostly high-strength–steel body structure is distinctly Germanic. Four-wheel disc brakes collaborating with Continental 235/45R-18 four-season radials mounted to forged aluminum wheels stopped our test car in 175 feet with little hint of fade.

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2011 Buick Lucerne Sedan Review

Buick Lucerne

The 2011 Buick Lucerne receives only minor updates, including streamlined trim levels, new audio systems and standard stability control on all models.

Of course, some buyers may appreciate the Lucernes old-school vibe. Check. Check. As basic transportation, the 2011 Buick Lucerne is good enough. The 2011 Buick Lucerne is a full-size luxury sedan offered in four trim levels: CX, CXL, CXL Premium and top-of-the-line Super. Five-passenger seating is standard and six-passenger seating with a 40/20/40 front split bench seat is available on all trim levels except Super.

The 2011 Buick Lucerne CXL Premium includes the Driver Confidence package, plus chromed alloy wheels, a driver auto-dimming mirror, a lane-departure warning system, a blind-spot warning system and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

Finally, the Super trim takes the Lucerne experience to another level with V8 power, 18-inch chrome alloy wheels, a sunroof (optional on CXL and CXL Premium), adaptive magnetic ride control, magnetic steering, perforated leather/faux-suede upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a touch screen navigation system with real-time traffic. The front-wheel-drive Buick Lucerne offers two engines from which to choose.

Safety

Every 2011 Buick Lucerne is equipped with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags. The Buick Lucerne has not been rated using the governments new, more strenuous 2011 crash testing procedures. The seats are comfortable, with ample room front and back, and a Lucerne advantage is the ability to seat six if needed.

Presented as a CX, CXL, CXL Premium and Super trim level, the 2011 Buick Lucerne shares safety items GMs Stabilitrak, tire pressure monitoring system, 6 airbags and four-wheel anti-lock breaking on all models. On the 2011 Buick Lucerne CX, CXL and CSL Premium, power comes from a 3.9 liter, 227 horsepower V-6 engine which is E85 compatible. The 2011 Buick Lucerne Super is the only trim level offering a 292 horsepower 4.6 liter V-8 engine.

The Buick Lucerne now comes in four different models: base CX, mid-level CXL and EXL, and top-of-the-range Super. Both engines in the front-wheel-drive "Buick Lucerne" come with a 4-speed automatic transmission.

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Official Opel Insignia Heading to the USA as the Buick Regal

General Motors officially announced today that the name of Buick’s next mid-size sport sedan will be the Regal. Even though the Detroit automaker did not hand out any photos other than a cropped image of the sedan, chances are that the US-spec model will be identical to the Chinese market Buick Regal which in turn is based on the European Opel Insignia. These two models differ only in some details such as the styling of the front grille, the shape of the front fog lights and the exterior mirrors.

“The transformation of Buick began with our luxury crossover, the Buick Enclave and continued this year with the launch of the 2010 LaCrosse premium sedan,” said Susan Docherty, Buick GMC General Manager. “We’re thrilled to announce that the Regal will be the next member of the Buick family.”

GM said that even though the Regal name has been out of the market for the past six years it continues to be one of the top Buick nameplates recalled by consumers.

Before entering bankruptcy and the decision to either sell or close its Saturn business (GM recently announced the death of the brand after negotiations broke down with Penske Automotive), the Detroit automaker had planned to replace the Aura with the Insignia.

General Motors did not say when the Regal will go on sale in the States, but buyers should expect to see the sleek sedan arriving at dealerships sometime towards the end of 2010 or early 2011. Engine options will most likely include 4-cylinder turbocharged units as well as a V6.

And what’s that we hear you say about a Buick Regal GNX? Well, your guess is as good as ours, but the recent introduction of the European Opel Insignia OPC that packs an all-wheel drive system and a 325HP 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 means that a sporty GNX model is completely feasible.

The Opel Insignia is also offered in Europe as a five-door liftback and a sleek-looking station wagon called Sports Tourer, but we wouldn’t hold our breath for an American release for neither model.

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