Buick’s ‘Quiet Ride’ boast certainly lives up to billing
Buick’s drama-free Verano is an intriguing entry-level luxury option
There’s a nondescript shed on a rural road northeast of Oshawa, Ont. If you didn’t happen to notice the heritage plaque beside it, you’d probably drive right by.
This unassuming display on the edge of rolling farmland, just outside of the village of Tyrone, commemorates one of the most important figures in Canada’s automotive history. It’s part of the former homestead of Robert McLaughlin, born here in 1836, and stands not far from the original shed where he built his first two cutters.
McLaughlin became one of the world’s best carriage makers, and his company eventually grew to become McLaughlin Buick, the foundation upon which General Motors of Canada was built.
Peering through the shed’s dusty windows, I can make out a pair of vintage carriages, their large spidery wheels appearing impossibly delicate against their lacquered bodies. It’s fittingly symbolic that superimposed over the image is the reflection of this week’s test car — a 2015 Buick Verano Turbo.
First appearing in 2012, the Verano was part of Buick’s strategy to move from stalwart favourite of the blue-rinse set, to a premium brand with wideranging appeal. As its first foray into the compact luxury segment, the Verano has been quite successful at luring new buyers into the fold, achieving the third highest sales in the Buick lineup in the past couple of years.
It hasn’t changed much since its debut. A new turbo-charged engine was added in 2013, and this year saw the inclusion of the Wi-Fi and 4G LTE hot spots that are appearing across the GM portfolio.
Although the Verano is Buick’s entry-level sedan, it doesn’t really appear that much smaller than its larger siblings, and wears the same familial waterfall grille and side character lines. Based on the same Delta II platform underpinning the Chevy Cruze, the Verano is actually three inches longer, almost an inch wider and about a third of an inch taller, with a cabin that’s closer in size to the larger Regal’s.
Styling is respectably refined, though generous lashings of chrome brightwork add sparkle to the Verano’s overall character. It takes a keen eye to differentiate the more potent, top-of-theline Turbo from the basic Verano. Dual exhaust tips and a discreet trunk-lid spoiler are the only external cues.
Buick claims the Verano’s interior should invoke the comfortable feeling of a den or lounge. That may be pushing it a little, but there’s premium leather, soft-touch materials, rich wood and aluminum accents and warm ambient lighting. Available features include push-button start, Bose audio, remote start as well as a heated steering wheel and seat heaters that are automatically activated by temperatures below 7 C (45 F).
Speaking of seats, the engineers spent hundreds of hours researching and studying the “best seats in the business,” and the result are these pillowyplump chairs that cradle your backside like a favourite recliner. There’s plenty of leg and head room up front. Although the front seat backs are concave to help increase leg room, the backseat area is still tight quarters for rear passengers.
One of Buick’s main claims to fame is its “Quiet Ride,” and considerable work has gone into creating this atmosphere of tranquillity. The body has been MiG-welded and glued to create a consistently rigid, vibrationfree main structure. Insulating foam was blown into the hollow pockets of the body, while liquid sound deadener has been applied (by robots, no less) throughout the body and frame to absorb low frequency noise and mitigate pings. The headliner is five layers thick and the windshield and side windows are of laminated, acoustic glass.
The engine, too, has been quiettuned by a five-chamber intake manifold — the exhaust designed to move noise away and prevent it from coming up through the floor panels.
The sound of the turn signals, the clicking of switchgear, everything has been engineered to be less intrusive. Besides creating a ride that’s quiet and serene, this serves another purpose: reducing white noise makes the voice-activated infotainment system that much more accurate.
Buick’s IntelliLink infotainment system now features OnStar’s Wi-Fi hot spot, which creates a mobile hub whenever the car is running. IntelliLink will accept connections from up to 10 devices, and its ability to read aloud text messages will protect the rest of us from those who just can’t resist the siren call of their iPhone’s pinging.
Under the hood is a 2.0-litre, 250-horsepower turbo-charged four-cylinder that’s smoothly quiet, yet deceptively powerful. The Verano is a drama-free cruiser, but mashing the throttle can induce a little torque steer for the unwary.
The suspension has MacPherson struts up front and a Z-link, Watt’s linkage setup in the rear. This arrangement — according to GM engineers — provides more predictable, composed handling. Because of its placement farther back under the body, it intrudes less into trunk space. Shocks, springs and valves are all Veranospecific.
While the ride and handling are more cruiser-oriented than sporty, the Verano is quick to react when pushed into corners, thanks to sharp steering and quick throttle response.
Official fuel numbers are 11.4 L/100 km city, 7.7 L highway, though in a cold week of mixed driving I averaged around 13.4 L/100 km, and never got lower than 10.3 on the highway.
The Verano’s entry-level price of $23,790 is sure to appeal to new and younger buyers.