With exactly $4,000 separating the base Cadillac ATS and upcoming Buick Verano Turbo, the question of which one you prefer is perfectly appropriate.
As the UFC’s Mike Goldberg states before every fight, here’s our tale of the tape:
- 2013 Cadillac ATS 2.5: compact sedan, rear-wheel-drive, 202 horsepower, $33,990.
- 2013 Buick Verano Turbo: compact sedan, front-wheel-drive, 250 horsepower, $29,990.
Despite the Buick being FWD, it does feature a significant power advantage over the more expensive Cadillac. Additionally, only the Buick offers a manual transmission at this level. There’s also distinctively different brand images to factor in here, if you indeed care about the badge on your key fob. Where the Buick Verano Turbo comes across as being a mild sleeper car while managing to continue a laid-back persona, the ATS portrays itself to be the latest exciting performance sedan on the marketplace, as evident from the launch marketing campaign.
With all things considered, which one would you rather have? Participate in the poll and elaborate in the comments below!
Comments
It’s always good to have a choice
If money wasn’t an option, i’d opt for a CTS-V Sportwagon, but since it is, i can’t afford the Buick, must less the Cadillac. lol
But if i must give an answer and only 4k is separating the two, i still would choose the Buick. Sorry, i don’t like any base models, no matter the brand.
As the last person said, I don’t like base models. I’d much rather have a Buick or Chevrolet that’s loaded to the gills than pay more to suffer from a premium brand’s “bargain-basement” model.
Besides, I’m not a RWD junkie and the Verano seems to be quite an agreeable vehicle, even in non-turbo guise.
Verano, of course………love the ATS’s style and swagger but unless Cadillac has a suoper sale, not now
Verano……it seems to be a Cadillac in disguise….so much more standard….rear camera, fogs, intillilink, folding rear seats, pretty and luxurious interior……etc, etc…..even that 2.5 should do a great job
ATS. Cadillac taste with a Chevy budget.
Verano. I would only say the ATS 2.5 if it was as fully loaded as can be
Verano hands down, I feel the same way as others, i hate base models, and 4k is still alot of difference.
Verano and ATS have a lot of family characteristics…RWD and FWD seems to be biggest difference as they will both have 2.5 ecotecs eventually….both elegant, etc……..just the big $$$$ dfference…cannot wait to see/drive a new ATS!
Of course, if money wasnt an issue, it would be ats without blinking, even though the Ats would drive better, I bet the verano is faster and more comfortable, both great cars, but 4k difference and “base” just knocks the ats out of cotention.
Great leases available on Verano lately….year-end clearance before the new ones come in I guess…..I don’t think dealers have many left
Babersher….along with the $4k difference, ATS still does not have fogs, remote start, rear-folding sets, etc., etc…..it should really offer more than BMW and people would be much happier to look/drive one.
Front wheel drive is garbage. Rwd has more advantages and better traction in 99% of the driving environment in Philly area so its the way to go. cold air intake and exhaust might squeeze 20 more horsepower from the 2.5… if I’m spending 30k+ RWD or AWD are the only options in my view .
I don’t know how you can compare a Front Wheel Drive car to a Rear Wheel Drive car they have different driving dynamics. It’s like comparing a Audi to a Cadillac 🙂 lol
I am with you on this Daniel, very different dynamics. If you have ever lived with both will you really understand them, each have their own unique attractions… I have both rear and front wheel drives in my garage and enjoy each for different reasons.
I really hate when people try to belittle FWD cars, when they have totally different driving dynamics. It’s kind of how Motor Trend put the Regal GS in 8th place during their comparison. Their reasoning, even though the GS actually performed quite well, was because “it didn’t feel right!” Really people, if you actually can’t drive a FWD car, don’t knock them. In my spare time I live canyon carving. I take my car to Deals Gap, NC at least once a year, and I’ll tell you, FWD or AWD is where it’s at. FWD cars are excellent handlers. I will be the first to admit, FWD cars have their faults and flaws. Trying to launch my GS can be a chore. Understeer can be problematic, however; I’ll take under steer over oversteer ANY day. There is nothing remotely wrong with a FWD car. I’d probably take the Verano Turbo because I want the amenities that come with it versus the bare bones ATS.
The solution here would be to make the Buick RWD. FWD was spread like a cancer for the sole purpose of cost savings. If you are smart, RWD / AWD are the only options for the 30k+ price range. Drive the bare bones ATS and the Buick and then tell us how you feel, even so…
FWD is for CAFE. RWD is for cost savings. AWD is for higher profit margin.
“I’ll take under steer over oversteer ANY day” this opinion differs from mine as i would rather end up sideways on a canyon road then going straight off the edge. I would personally choose the ATS because a caddy, regardless of trim, will always beat a buick for me. i however am not against fwd i am a huge fan of hot hatches.
My Cooper S was the most forgiving car when it came to understeer. All you had to do was lift off the throttle and then punch it again. Either way, understeering or oversteering too much can send you over the embankment as I have seen numerous times on Hwy 129. And yes, I’m a fan of hot hatches myself. It’s why I’ve owned two MINI Coopers and plan on getting another one in the future. By far, the best FWD car I’ve ever driven, not counting the classic Minis I’ve owned.
You’ll have to solve this puzzle with dollar votes. After a year on the market you’ll have a better understanding of what is prefferred.
I can tell you how I feel without driving either. After coming from a 10 year stint of owning classic Minis and the BMW sourced MINIs, I know first hand how to drive a FWD car. I like the way FWD cars handle. You make a mistake with a RWD in a mountain curve, you’re done. FWD is very forgiving. No, I like my FWD cars and I absolutely love my GS!!!
Tim, first off, you are totally clueless about rwd if you think “you’re done” if you make a mistake in a rwd car. A better balanced car is safer and more maneuverable than a nose heavy understeer wheel barrel . Secondly, ALL CARS TODAY HAVE STABILITY AND TRACTION CONTROL. You won’t be able to spin out pretty much anything these days, regardless of drivetrain layout .
Clueless? Sounds like YOU’VE never driven a FWD car. It sis much easier in my opinion to correct a nose slide, than if you were to oversteer a high HP, RWD car. Traction control you say. How many people leave that on when they’re out playing? Did you see that Corvette fail compilation posted on GM Authority a couple of weeks ago? I rest my case.
Tim, the only car I own right now is a 09 Malibu. It IS front wheel drive. I have owned plenty of RWD cars in the past and plan on switching back in the future. If you stick 500 horsepower in a front wheel drive car, tell me how much easier it is to control than a RWD Corvette, and yeah, you can turn traction control off when you try that one too. I’ve seen quite a few d-bags in turbo/sprayed FWD civics crab walk their cars right into the wall / guardrail plenty of times. So no, your case is not rested. You obviously never have driven a RWD car before.
I’ve driven lots of RWD cars. The numerous cars my dad owned to include a ’75 Vega and ’67 Skylark and one of my favorite past cars I’ve owned, was a 1980 Morris Ital wagon. Currently, along with my GS, I own a 1996 Suzuki Sidekick. Yes, it’s RWD and it’s fun to drive. That’s why I’ve kept it for 16 years. I can honestly say my Regal GS hugs the road very well. It’s not a rail rider like my old Cooper S was, but grips the road nonetheless.
Without a doubt the Regal is a beautiful well engineered car. But how much more beautiful the ATS is underneath is what counts to me. If the Regal was built on the Alpha platform, it would be better, hands down. You can’t compare a 60’s, 70’s, or 80’s RWD car to a modern FWD car. Compare a 3 series to a Regal. That’s more like it.
No, I was merely mentioning those cars as examples that I do in fact have experience with RWD cars. Now, I agree, the ATS is a well engineered car. If they could share some of their diet secrets with Buick, the GS could be an even better car. For the life of me, I still can’t figure out why the GS weighs 3700 pounds. If I had the money, the turbo version of the ATS would be mine. I can barely afford this GS now, and I’d hate to see what the sport version of the ATS will run.
A 2.5L 202hp Verano would be my number one choice.
ATS. No decision – RWD everytime. GM needs more RWD.
I don’t get the base model 4 this car, a 2.5L just does not sit well 4 me. Having 3 engines is fine 2.0L Turbo 250hp, 3.0 V6 280 hpturbo, 3.6L 325hp. All hypothetical but my choice none the less… My pick the Verano…
The base engines of the Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class are more in line with the ATS 2.5. Also, the pricing of the ATS 2.0T and base 3-Series are within a few hundred dollars of each other, with the ATS undercutting it slightly while being more powerful.
The base 3 Series has a 2.0L 240 hp I4
Daniel, isn’t BMW more expensvie?
It maybe I was just comparing their engines 🙂
Has anyone here driven the ATS?
Danny posts the question we should all be asking ourselves… 🙂
Danny posts the question we should all be asking ourselves… 🙂
Manoli, why follow… Cadillac should lead… Set a new standard for this class ect… Why have a 2.5L engine at all, I know they are using what exists, but one of the engines could have been specifically engineered for this vehicle and set a new world class standard for entry level compact luxury… Picking from the engine parts bin for the ATS when there was so much work done on the rest of the car is a head scratcher… Just Sayin..,
The ATS does seem to have set new power and weight standards in its class with the 2.0T and 3.6 V6. And do you see it as a bad thing that the V6 was also picked from the engine parts bin?
Manoli….I think ATS will do very well…plenty of choices….Alex drove one and said it is QUIET too! Anxious to drive one….I will have to get base model; cannot afford more than that or, I’ll get the 2.5 Verano later on….it will be fun to look anyways 🙂
2 engine choices would have been enough, and truthfully, I don’t see why they couldn’t offer Manual on the V6, or even the AWD’s for that matter. I know that most RWD buyers want a true drivers car which is why it’s the only option for a proper transmission, but I’m sure there are plenty of buyers out there that want AWD with Manual. That should be telling you all something tho. Like the BMW’s, this car was built from the ground up as a RWD machine. AWD is a tack-on afterthought to get sales in the northern areas and to keep the stay at home soccer moms off their husbands case. It more than likely hinders performance and efficiency.
Manoli, the 3.6 V6 is obviously a great engine, not sure if it is world class though, and it definitely produces enough HP/ “But what if”… The V6 option will never be in my price range… Wow… And I know all of these engines were retuned for the ATS, but why not have an engine or engines that can be Caddy specific… And set a new industry standard; cause rest of industry to follow.., and power dump in there undies… This is what I expect from Cadillac, but no doubt the ATS is a contender,
Of course the ATS is a good car people. Motor Trend’s” Scott Evans rolled one over an embankment!!
Easy choice for me. I really like the ATS but I need a vehicle with FWD or AWD since it will be driven in snow country. $42k for a Turbo AWD ATS is more than I am willing to shell out. $36k maybe, but not $42k. I do not expect the Verano Turbo to have the driving dynamics of the ATS but the Verano will be quiet and decently quick.
Mark….I think the Verano will be wonderful…I live in snow country too….I drove Verano this Spring and loved it….lots of power and very, very quiet and smooth….really felt like a Cadillac…so the Turbo should be really good…traction control and VSA should do the trick…..good luck!!
I would rather have a base model with an awesome chassis and a lot of standard equipment than a tarted up Chevy cobalt. FWD is for economy, I would never pay 30k for a fwd car, they just aren’t fun to drive.
Nothing wrong with a base model when it meets your needs. 0-60 in the 7 second range, 30 mpg, runs on regular gas and less expensive maIntenance than the 2.0t. Plus it’s easier to work on a RWD so it’s a better car to keep for 10+ years than the verano too.
Got the ATS…………….so nice….wish it had a few more standards for the money. Got a nice deal and love the car……..a Cadillac for sure 🙂