The 2013 Buick Verano Turbo spent more than a year in our fleet, or 17,294 miles of daily commuting, transporting staff to photo shoots and events, and highway trekking on countless road trips. In that time, the compact sedan has been relatively trouble-free, with visits to the dealer only needed for regular scheduled maintenance. In spite of being a reliable set of wheels, the Verano Turbo wasn't loved by all on our staff. Below are our final thoughts on Buick's small sedan. Alex Nishimoto
The idea of a compact Buick with a turbocharger and a manual really excited me, but the excitement gradually started to fade as I got more seat time. The majority of my complaints revolve around the very thing I was most excited for: the Verano Turbo's six-speed manual transmission. As I said in a previous update, the shifter's long throws combined with the clutch's vague engagement point made for a very unsporty driving experience. Also, as Christian pointed out in an update, the gears for the manual are taller and more fuel economy-oriented than the automatic. To review, it's not very fun rowing the Verano's gears, and you're actually better off with the six-speed auto acceleration-wise. Those attributes are deal-breakers for most enthusiasts. And if this car wasn't aimed at enthusiasts, then who was it made for? I don't imagine many Verano buyers are hypermilers, and even if they are, the manual-equipped Verano turbo doesn't have that big of an advantage at 1 mpg better in the city and on the highway.
