MotorMouths

The Buick Verano gets top scores for styling, transmission, cornering, comfort, engine and interior. Price and fuel economy make it a winner. We recommend considering it when shopping for a premium compact.

It’s hard to look at the 2012 Buick Verano as just another compact sedan, as no other small four-door comes close to being this luxurious for the price. Verano is really in a class by itself.

The 2013 Buick Verano Turbo is a premium compact car with a dirty little secret: it’s fast. And the power. It’s prodigious.

The Verano manages to deliver upscale looks and a killer interior while at the same time offering a competitive price tag. It only helps that the Verano comes standard with hordes of tech features and all of the most desired add-ons.

The Verano Turbo is one of the best cars out there for empty nesters or retirees. It provides the comfort, serenity and luxury that they desire and expect, while being nimbler, cheaper and more efficient than the full-size sedan their friends might buy.

The 2012 Buick Verano drives great. Looks cool. Makes you feel like somebody special behind the wheel. Perfect? Nothing is. Among premium small cars, though, Verano is close enough.

With the Verano, G.M. has done a lovely job of knitting together upscale features, ride and handling at a competitive price. The question is to what extent Americans are willing to embrace the concept of “small luxury” — and whether status-conscious buyers are ready to consider Buick.

The Verano rides well and handles better than anticipated. Though we have some quibbles, overall Buick has done a good job with this car. It is a quiet, comfortable, and well-equipped vehicle at a reasonable price.

The 2013 Buick Verano provides the comfortable ride, interior serenity and luxury features of a full-size sedan, with the parking-friendly dimensions, more nimble handling, cheaper price and better fuel efficiency of a compact. That’s what we call a win-win.

The Verano Turbo occupies its own little sweet spot: Bigger and nicer luxury cars are priced at $35k on up, and non-luxury brands don’t have the Verano’s cachet. The turbo engine definitely adds to the Verano’s appeal.

The Verano provides a solid ride, a new easy-to-use infotainment system, really comfortable seats and just enough razzle-dazzle to impress some but go unnoticed by others.

The 2012 Buick Verano offers a solid balance of ride and handling, and it gets good fuel economy. The interior is rich and offers decent space, but the back seat is tight. Given its well-rounded character and a modest price tag, the Verano is a fine choice.