The 2013 Buick Verano Turbo is a stealth car. It looks pretty and rides comfortably. But stomp on the accelerator and this newest Verano sedan takes off.
A full 250 horses come out of the turbocharged four cylinder under the hood, which is a whopping 70 horsepower more than the Verano with its regular engine, a naturally aspirated four cylinder.
Peak torque from the turbo is a healthy 260 foot-pounds and comes on at a low 2,000 rpm compared with 171 foot-pounds of torque at 4,900 rpm in a Verano with non-turbo four cylinder.
And, Buick offers a six-speed manual transmission as a no-cost option with the turbo. A six-speed automatic also is available and is expected to be the most popular transmission.
The new-for-2013 Turbo version of Verano isn’t just a Buick sport statement. After all, Buick already has a Regal GS sedan with the same 2-liter, Ecotec, turbocharged four cylinder that the Verano gets this year.
Rather, the turbo is a welcome alternative to compact sedan buyers who want more zip in their driving than the Verano’s base, 180-horsepower engine can provide.
Just be aware that the Verano Turbo has the lowest government mileage ratings and the highest starting retail price of all Veranos.
Specifically, the federal government fuel economy ratings for the Verano Turbo are 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 31 mpg on the highway. The test car, with manual transmission and the vast majority of driving done in city traffic conditions, averaged just 20.6 mpg. This is akin to the government fuel economy rating of 20 mpg in city driving for a 2013 Ford Explorer with six-cylinder engine and two-wheel drive.
Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, for a front-wheel drive, 2013 Verano Turbo is $30,000. This is with the manual or automatic transmission. In comparison, the starting retail price for a base, 2013 Verano with base engine and automatic transmission is $23,975.
But the base Verano doesn’t include all the standard features, such as leather-trimmed seats, premium Bose sound system with nine speakers, push-button start, power adjustable driver’s seat, heated steering wheel and side, blind-spot monitor, that are found on the Verano Turbo.Competitors in the premium compact sedan segment include the 2013 Acura ILX, which has a starting MSRP, including destination charge of $26,795 with 150-horsepower four cylinder and $30,095 with 201-horsepower four cylinder and six-speed manual. The government estimates the 201-horsepower, front-wheel drive ILX gets 22/31 mpg. Premium unleaded gasoline is recommended but not required for both the ILX and Verano Turbo.
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