The Buick Verano is a great compact luxury car. Sure, some may not like the car’s “ass-brows” (we ought to trademark that) or its incorrectly-sized cutout for the front license plate, but that doesn’t detract from the car’s otherwise great qualities of being quiet (almost silent, even), comfortable, and elegant.
Seeing how great the Verano already is, we thought that The General would want to fix the Verano’s only downside — the wheezing, weak, and outdated 2.4 liter Ecotec LEA engine that serves as the base powerplant, with something a bit more potent and modern… something like, say, the newly-designed 2.5 liter LCV unit. But alas, that’s not the case.
Instead, the 2014 Verano gets a new gray color (Smoky Gray Metallic), new 18″ wheels, as well as Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning systems — which are very welcome safety features. In addition, the two front seats feature heating as standard equipment — adding even more standard features to the already-generously-equipped sedan.
Here are the full RPO-level changes:
Deletions
- Exterior color (GBV) Cyber Gray Metallic
- (PXW) 18″split multi-spoke alloy wheels with Silver finish
New Features
- Exterior color (GLJ) Smoky Gray Metallic
- (UEU) Forward Collision Alert
- (UFL) Lane Departure Warning
- (UG1) Universal Home Remote, garage door opener, 3-channel programmable
Changes
- (KA1) Driver and front passenger heated seats are now standard on 1SG (were not available in 2013)
- (RV1) 18″ multi-spoke machined faced alloy wheels with polished face and Sterling Silver finished pockets are now standard on 1SD and 1SG (were available in 2013)
Comments
Put a 2.5V6 in it and watch it fly out of the showrooms…….
the 2.5L is a 4 cyl, not a V6. (for the gentelman who made the original comment), and it is WAY under-powered at that. Only produces 200HP and can barely move the ATS Cadillac. So the fact the Verano has the available 2.0L Turbo is a win win for that size vehicle. Thumbs down for the 2.5L
Or a 2.0 turbo.
FYI- the Buick Verano already offers a 2.0 TURBO! It has 250 horses and is a pleasure to drive and VERY fast! I have a 2013 model that I have had since January 31, 2013! I love this car compared to my crappy shifting 2011 Chevy Cruze LTZ RS model that was a piece of crap! There is NO comparison no matter what anyone says. All you have to do is drive them both and you will see the difference in an instant!
I hope my Verano continues to be as trouble free as it has been these past five months. When I buy a NEW car, the ONLY thing I want to see the dealer for is oil/filter changes during my three year lease the way all my other GM cars were!
One can be had with the 2.0t already. I was hoping to see one of the smaller more powerful engines already discussed here put in it as a base engine. As an owner of a 2011 Malibu with the same 2.4l in it I tend to think this engine for most every day driving has plenty of pep. A smaller but more powerful motor would probably yield better EPA numbers too which is what I want out of this car. If that were the case they would have me. Yes Alex you guys should trademark “assbrows” I love it.
Paul- I LOVE the ass-brows on my 2013 Verano Turbo! I don’t think I would like the back without them!
GREAT car…I almost bought it but got ATS instead….Verano is a deal for all it offers!!!!!
I was thinking about the Cadillac ATS also, but had to get rid of my crappy 2011 Chevy Cruze FAST! This RED tintcoat turbo was available and the rest is history! I love this car!
didn’t they promise a 1.6T?
Don’t think anyone (from GM, at least) promised anything… But if they did, it’s not going to be for this (first) generation of the Verano.
because remember it was on that one pdf file that we all saw?
Ass brows….great idea…………it was one of the things I was not impressed with….OK but not a winner for me….still a superb car…I thought the standard engine was fine but a bit loud; my ATS does extremely well with the 2.5l….most normal drivers are happy with it
It is a new car and it is selling well as we will not see much in changes here for a while.
No V6 for this car and the present 2.0 does a good job as it is. This is not a sports sedan and Buick makes it clear it is a luxury sedan with a competent suspension but not a sports sedan.
I expect this car will change in the not too distant future with the new platform that is coming.
Who knows, maybe this is when we’ll see new engines etc. such as this site mentioned about the “VIN cards” info a while back. 2015 anybody?
Scott, you’re absolutely correct in your observation that the Verano is not a sport sedan (although that 250 HP 2.0T might beg to differ). Nevertheless, it’s rather surprising that the 2.4L remains in the “luxury” car, even though it’s nearly 2 generations old, while the “non-luxury” Malibu gets the much-better 2.5.
So we have the old 2.4, the 2.4 in the eco, the 2.5 from the ATS, the “revised” 2.5 in the new Malibu (at least the redundant 2.2 is gone). GM should take a lesson from Chrysler when they replaced the 2.7, 3.3, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, and 4.0 V6’s with the 3.6. All the different models create a lot of costly complexity in the part numbers and builds of these similar engines, and miss the opportunity of the savings on volume if they just put the best one in everything. One year should be enough time to make the transition to the new 2.5 across the board. The 2.5 has been out for a year, there’s no reason that 2014 should not be the last model year of the 2.4!
For the most part, GM has already consolidated its powertrain lineup in the way that you’re suggesting. Going forward, it will be (in order of displacement):
New 1.6 liter range (gas, diesel, turbo, naturally-aspirated, etc.); more on this range in the coming months
2.0L Turbo LTG
2.5L LCV (or upgraded LCV)
3.0L LFW
3.6L LFX
3.6L Twin Turbo LF3
5th gen V6/V8 small block family
The continuation of the dated and done-for 2.4L in a premium product such as the Verano is rather peculiar, to say the least.
true, they did get rid of all the OHC V6’s, the I5/I6 line, but the 3.0 should go too – I just don’t get it’s purpose — less HP/torque and same mileage as the 3.6 – and another example of an inferior engine in a premium vehicle (CTS). Other than that, I agree with your list – they have to standardize as much as possible yet cover all the bases (but only once per base!) to be competitive.
It’s just hard to believe that the validation costs (engine/tranny calibration, production/assembly testing, EPA, etc) to change over every model to a new engine (like the 2.4->2.5) is more than the cost of continuing production of the old engine for a few more years. There are huge cost savings in the elimination of unique part numbers, and there are a lot of parts in an engine.
Ford is guilty of this, too – the F150 got all new engines a few years ago, yet the Econoline soldiers on with the 4.6 & 5.4. I suspect GM will continue the old V8’s in their vans for a while, too.
The Verano really needs the 2.5L I-4 engine and its platform mate the Cruze needs at least a 2.0L I-4. I’ve heard rumblings of an eAssist power train coming. I hope that is not the case.
I’m with Alex on the “assbrows”. They need to go.
Never mind heated seats is the driver’s seat at least power operated? I know it wasn’t for 2012 because I couldn’t get the seat to set in a good position relative to the steering wheel without the power option. A power driver’s seat with recliner should be std on any Buick.
yes, the 2.4 is rather noisy but I did feel that it was very competent and had plenty of power when I drove it; we all know it will be changed out before long…at least a 2.5l?
Cars like this are why Buick isn’t worth anything anywhere except China. If it can’t perform well in its home market then what the hell does it matter how it performs anywhere else? People who don’t wear suits and sit behind desks aren’t stupid.
I strongly agree with the many comments disparaging the 2.4 L Verano engine. Buick management must think that having the lowest possible EPA mileage is a sign that the Verano is a luxury car, or they get some unseen benefit from helping GM corporate get rid of obsolete junk like the 2.4 L engine. I’ve waited since 2012 to buy a Verano with the 2.5 L engine. Sadly. the time is up, I can’t wait forever.
Which is exactly the reason I decided to go for a 2011 Malibu. slightly larger but as good to a little better mileage, but would have rather got the Verano instead as it is IMO a much nicer car.
Buick’s use of the 2.4 liter enfine raises the question: “what are these people thinking?” The Verano EPA gas mileage rating is 21 city / 32 highway while it appears that the larger 2014 Malibu with the 2.5 liter engine will have an EPA rating of 25 city / 36 highway. Maybe the responsibility for engineering Buick’s power trains should be transferred to Chevrolet.
I just test drove a fully loaded 2014 Verano today as I’m upgrading from my 2011 Regal. Had the standard 2.4L, which I do NOT like in my Regal, but in the Verano??? The car moved just fine. Better than just fine, actually. Certainly not a rip-roaring screamer, but absolutely plenty of power even at 182hp. Keep in mind I’m coming from a Regal 2.4, which is much heavier and the sluggishness is noticeable in that, but in the Verano, which is significantly smaller and lighter, it more than does the job–or at least that’s how it felt. I’d have no qualms about passing on a double lane road in the night or merging onto a busy freeway (as doing these things with my Regal intimidates me). My only gripes about the car, and I honestly only have two, which I think are more significant than the standard 2.4L??? The manual passenger seat and bare, exposed hinges in the trunk—-both things that scream cheapness. The car had forward collision alert, side blind zone, nav, heated steering wheel, all the good stuff——and a crank seat for the passenger and gooseneck hinges that’ll crush my luggage. Now those are things I’d have more trouble living with than 182hp in a small lightweight car. Just an opinion.
I mean How do you even explain something like that to the passenger in your Verano? “Yes, I have a luxury car with nav, heated everything, techno bling and more, but you have to crank that seat you’re sitting in, and don’t put anything breakable in the trunk because I have 1980’s trunk hinges” (face palm). Still an incredibly nice car, but I’m on the fence with whether or not I want this, or a slightly pricier leftover 2013 Regal Turbo (Premium III) that still doesn’t have the same level of tech as the Verano.
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Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Many thanks