Buick Verano vs. LaCrosse (2015 models)

[GMTruckGuy74]

So, went window shopping for new Buicks today. Wife was pretty well set on a LaCrosse but found the Verano an interesting option too (she referred to it as the 'baby LaCrosse'). She hates Sunday 'window shopping' as she wants to get behind the wheel and go for a test drive. She loved the LaCrosse courtesy car last week and is curious as to the ride of the Verano in comparison. I'm going to try to get her to the dealership early this week for a test drive. Can anyone here who has driven a Verano and a LaCrosse provide me with input on these two cars, especially any pros/cons to each one?

[GMTruckGuy74]

Here's the LaCrosse she's picked out:

[G. David Felt]

Lovely looking car. So the dealerships are not open on Sunday? WOW, that is weird as I am used to everything open 7 days a week.

[Drew Dowdell]

So, the Verano greatly depends on which version she gets.  The Turbo has different characteristics in ride, handling, and performance than the non-turbo.... and it is a not insignificant difference. 

 

The Lacrosse is much more consistent across the board assuming you get the V6.

 

With the base powertrain (and I have a review coming of one shortly), I would not describe the Verano as sporty.  It handles crisply, it has okay punch off the line but runs out of breath quickly.  It has a premium feel inside, but in terms of the ride and drive, the most accurate way I can describe it is "Perky"... and that's the theme of my review of that car.

 

The Turbo takes on a different character. The turbo engine is great, the handling more controlled.  It feels like it can run with a low end Audi. 

 

The Lacrosse is an entirely different breed. It is made for gobbling up highway miles in the blink of an eye.  It is so smooth and quiet at speed, she will have to pay close attention lest she start bringing home speeding tickets. 

 

The Regal is a precise blend of the two cars mentioned above. 

[GMTruckGuy74]

Thanks for the feedback, Drew.  The LaCrosse is the 1SL FWD Leather model with the Experience Buick Package (includes the 3.6L V6) and the Verano would be the 1SL Leather Group with the 2.4L 4cyl.

 

Having put almost a 100 miles on the Buick LaCrosse courtesy car last week (local highways, local roads, major highways [i-295, NJ Turnpike]), the LaCrosse is very well covered in her book.  She's very comfortable and confident behind the wheel of the LaCrosse; she's curious about the ride and comfort level of the Verano.  She's thinking if she feels 2/3rd's of the same experience in the Verano as compared to the LaCrosse, she'd seriously consider the Verano (also, she wants to see how small it feels compared to the larger LaCrosse).  I should be jumping for joy that she wants a full-size car; it's a big step up over the G6 Sedan we have.  However, I'm more into the exterior styling of the Verano vs. the LaCrosse, so we'll see what she thinks.

 

If we do this now, I want to take advantage of Buick's Sweet 16 Deal (16% off), which expires on March 31st.  Seeing as how I just cashed in my GM Extended Card earnings (and top-off bonus), the 16% deal appears to be better than current incentives with the GM Supplier discount.  But I'm sure there's model age rules and the forgoing of other incentives to get that deal.  A test drive in the Verano is up first, then negotiating a deal for the car she wants is next.

 

Surprisingly, the Encore has not been a big focus of her new car desires.  She prefers the LaCrosse to the Encore, and thinks she'd like the Verano to the Encore.  We'll see soon I hope!

[bobo]

If your wife really likes the LaCrosse, I don't think she'd be satisfied with the Verano.  My personal favorite Buick is the Regal for the sharp handling.  To me, driving the LaCrosse is like driving a pillow.  But that's just me.  The Verano leans more towards the Regal than the LaCrosse in the driving experience.  I'm sure you know all about the room inside the vehicles.  The LaCrosse has limo-like legroom in back, though is a bit narrow.  The Verano is for small people in back.

[avant1963]

My wife's Lacrosse has been perfect over almost 4 years and 34,000 + miles. No issues. Never been back to the dealership.

 

She loves the car (the 2015 has a better interior in terms of usable space - if I had one complaint it would be the lack of storage for phones, nav etc. 2014 fixed that).

 

You need the 3.6. The car's steering is very light and it is an large car that is easy to drive. Every once in a while she'll park next to "normal" cars and laugh at how big the Lacrosse is - and that it doesn't feel like that when you're driving it.

 

She won't even look at the Verano for two reasons - too small and 4-banger.

 

I would recommend the Lacrosse if she's looking for a good comfortable substantial car and with the 3.6 is damn quick enough. If she's looking to carve corners - then probably the Regal or Verano would be better

[Z-06]

If your wife really likes the LaCrosse, I don't think she'd be satisfied with the Verano.  My personal favorite Buick is the Regal for the sharp handling.  To me, driving the LaCrosse is like driving a pillow.  But that's just me.  The Verano leans more towards the Regal than the LaCrosse in the driving experience.  I'm sure you know all about the room inside the vehicles.  The LaCrosse has limo-like legroom in back, though is a bit narrow.  The Verano is for small people in back.

 

[Dave Mode] +1.

[Drew Dowdell]

Thanks for the feedback, Drew.  The LaCrosse is the 1SL FWD Leather model with the Experience Buick Package (includes the 3.6L V6) and the Verano would be the 1SL Leather Group with the 2.4L 4cyl.

 

Having put almost a 100 miles on the Buick LaCrosse courtesy car last week (local highways, local roads, major highways [i-295, NJ Turnpike]), the LaCrosse is very well covered in her book.  She's very comfortable and confident behind the wheel of the LaCrosse; she's curious about the ride and comfort level of the Verano.  She's thinking if she feels 2/3rd's of the same experience in the Verano as compared to the LaCrosse, she'd seriously consider the Verano (also, she wants to see how small it feels compared to the larger LaCrosse).  I should be jumping for joy that she wants a full-size car; it's a big step up over the G6 Sedan we have.  However, I'm more into the exterior styling of the Verano vs. the LaCrosse, so we'll see what she thinks.

 

If we do this now, I want to take advantage of Buick's Sweet 16 Deal (16% off), which expires on March 31st.  Seeing as how I just cashed in my GM Extended Card earnings (and top-off bonus), the 16% deal appears to be better than current incentives with the GM Supplier discount.  But I'm sure there's model age rules and the forgoing of other incentives to get that deal.  A test drive in the Verano is up first, then negotiating a deal for the car she wants is next.

 

Surprisingly, the Encore has not been a big focus of her new car desires.  She prefers the LaCrosse to the Encore, and thinks she'd like the Verano to the Encore.  We'll see soon I hope!

 

Wait... she's been driving a Lacrosse for a week, is really happy with it... and you think you'll get her a Verano?    

 

As I mentioned above, a Regal would be a reasonable compromise car, not the Verano. You can usually find some sweet deals on those as well.   

[GMTruckGuy74]

No, we had the courtesy car (LaCrosse) for ~24 hours last week and she put 100 miles on it in that time.  She nor I have yet to drive a Verano; she is dead set against the Regal (I tried my best telling her how it's more in line with her G6 in size than a Verano); she's not a fan of its styling.  She is interested in the Buick Sweet 16% deal but my dealer said he'll likely not be able to trade for a car that qualifies if he doesn't have what she wants (which is the case).  She started up with the Encore today but realizes that this deal is limiting options for her (older inventory only, most older Encore models are the base model that she doesn't want, yada, yada, yada).  My dealer has a Verano that meets her requirements and he's checking to see if it qualifies.  She'll be interested in learning the deal but isn't sure she wants to waiver from the LaCrosse.

 

Walt's comment mimic's my wife's sentiments to a 'T':

 

My wife's Lacrosse has been perfect over almost 4 years and 34,000 + miles. No issues. Never been back to the dealership.

 

She loves the car (the 2015 has a better interior in terms of usable space - if I had one complaint it would be the lack of storage for phones, nav etc. 2014 fixed that).

 

You need the 3.6. The car's steering is very light and it is an large car that is easy to drive. Every once in a while she'll park next to "normal" cars and laugh at how big the Lacrosse is - and that it doesn't feel like that when you're driving it.

 

She won't even look at the Verano for two reasons - too small and 4-banger.I would recommend the Lacrosse if she's looking for a good comfortable substantial car and with the 3.6 is damn quick enough. If she's looking to carve corners - then probably the Regal or Verano would be better

[A Horse With No Name]

 

If your wife really likes the LaCrosse, I don't think she'd be satisfied with the Verano.  My personal favorite Buick is the Regal for the sharp handling.  To me, driving the LaCrosse is like driving a pillow.  But that's just me.  The Verano leans more towards the Regal than the LaCrosse in the driving experience.  I'm sure you know all about the room inside the vehicles.  The LaCrosse has limo-like legroom in back, though is a bit narrow.  The Verano is for small people in back.

 

[Dave Mode] +1.

 

Dave Mode +2

[GMTruckGuy74]

Well, my salesman says that if the other dealer's LaCrosse (dark red one pictured above) is included in the current 16%nsales incentive, the other dealer won't trade it away. She's thought more about the Verano and feels as if she's settling for it over the car she really wants, i.e. the LaCrosse. She's in no rush to get a new car, would prefer to wait for a 2016 assuming the LaCrosse remains the same as the 2015 model. So for the time being she's holding off.