We can probably thank the Chinese market—which embraced the once-faltering Buick brand—for the compelling cars being built by GM's less showy upscale division. Introduced in 2011, the Verano packs all of Buick's luxury, technology, craftsmanship and performance into a premium compact sedan.
For 2013, the Verano gains an optional turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 250 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque—with a manual transmission, it returns up to 31 mpg on the highway. Highway economy from Verano’s standard Ecotec 2.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder improves slightly to 32 mpg. Advanced safety features include a standard rearview camera and available crash-avoidance technologies.
