Buick Verano Holds Value, Bucks the Small Sedan Trends

As a great entry level sedan, the 2014 Buick Verano is a joy to drive, look at and own. As an award winner from Kelley Blue Book for its ability to hold its value, the Verano has been adorned with the Five-Year Cost to Own Award. Add to this the fact that it is truly a Buick with all the comforts and stylings expected from the branch of GM geared toward being a bridge between Chevrolet and Cadillac.

Added to the Verano for this year are the forward-collision alert and lane-departure warning systems as well as text message support and Siri Eyes Free system. These additions will allow the driver to be safer on the road as well as avoid the desire to text while driving which can be very distracting.

The Verano drives just as expected, which is to say it is smooth, easy and comfortable on the road. Even though this car is equipped with what is considered and out-of-date suspension it really does the job of taking care of the road defects with ease. Add to this the highly responsive steering and the Verano easily handles any road the driver can throw its way. One other expectation found in Buicks is a quiet ride and this car delivers in abundance allowing the occupants to enjoy anything they want to listen to rather than the road noises around them.

Starting off the engines is a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine that has 180 horsepower and 171 lb.-ft. of torque. When mated with the six-speed automatic transmission the fuel efficiency comes in at 21 city/32 hwy mpg. This powertrain offers adequate power for all road conditions as well as plenty of passing power, but won’t really offer much excitement, however the next engine might be a better choice.

The other engine set up for the Verano is the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that offers 250 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, a huge increase in power according to Miami Buick for some added driving excitement. To have this engine with the six-speed automatic transmission the fuel economy is still decent at 20 city/30 mpg. Instead of the automatic, some drivers can choose the manual transmission with brings in a fuel economy of 20 city/31 hwy mpg.

The interior of the car offers upgraded and high-quality materials throughout the cabin. With four trim models available, the two lower trims offer very comfortable cloth and the two higher ones a supple leather option. All instruments are well appointed and easy to use with no space wasted. Surprisingly for a car in the smaller sedan class the Verano offers a nice amount of leg room throughout to allow maximum comfort for all occupants of the vehicle. Feeling more and more like a luxury vehicle this car has something for everyone inside from comfort to control to make a very enjoyable ride.

On the outside the Verano is a masterpiece in motion. With great lines including the rising belt line along the doors, the smooth and sweeping hood and windshield all the way through the roof line, this car has style in droves. Top off the body appearance with chrome trim, a waterfall grill, and headlights that mold to the body and hood lines and the ca really is a beauty to behold.   Add to all of this the dual exhaust and 18-inch double star spoked aluminum alloy wheels and this car is absolutely Buick.

At the base model the standard features are really quite extensive including the 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a six-speaker audio system with touchscreen controls, dual zone automatic climate controls, and a rearview camera. Move up to the Convenience trim and add blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, heated front seats, and a power driver’s seat. At the next trim levels leather seating is added, along with a heated steering wheel, and a nine-speaker Bose sound system. All of the trim levels include ten airbags, stability and traction control, and a six-month OnStar subscription.

Most of the optional features for the Verano are bundled into the four trim levels, but some options are available as stand-alone choices. These options include a navigation system, a power sunroof, the Bose premium audio system, multi-spoke wheels, diamond tri-coat paint, and a spoiler. With four trim levels to choose from and a host of standard and optional features to add to the car the Verano can be set up to really please anyone looking for a great entry level sedan for either a daily commuter or a family sedan.

With all the available equipment on this car the starting price would seem to be above $35,000 but the base starting price is set at $24,625, a very seriously affordable price considering the equipment included for the money. Even at the highest, Turbo trim model the starting price still comes in just under $30,000 which allows the Verano to be a great value for anyone.

No matter what the purpose in choosing to shop for an entry-level sedan, the Buick Verano is sure to please many customers and turn a great deal of heads as well. With excellent and close to luxury stylings at a very affordable price and all the comfort expected of the Buick name the Verano is sure to make a great car for daily commuting, long family vacations, or just running errands around town.