Stopped by a Buick place today and touched a Verano.
Didn't like the color.....red/gray. But the car is sharp. Looks like a larger car, and looks expensive. Parked next to a LaCrosse and Regal in total harmony. The Regal has a more avante garde look, but the Verano does have the looks to sell. Indeed. Makes the Focus look cheap and tawdry.
Through the window, the interior looked consistent in quality to the Regal and the seats and dash look great. All the controls look really similar to the Regal's. Front seat looks spacious, rear looks tight for leg room. Seats looks very well sculpted.
MPG on sticker of course is not eye popping, but sensible buyers will compare apple and apples and find that among non tin boxes, the Verano will stack up fine.
Price to me without leather seats was high, but the upgrade to leather is not much more dough.
There is bound to be a base base Regal out there too that is not much different in price than a loaded Verano. There is less overlap now in the pricing for equivalent models in Buick's lineup, although if you want a 30k LaCrosse, Regal you can get it, and you can also get a Verano darn close to that.
Those wanting a Cruze but not wanting to put up with the small engine madness, this works too.
I still think this is a new age Grand am........perfect sized women's car that is not a Cavalier........but its classy enough to avoid scorn in that way. The Aleros and Grand Ams and Skylarks of the world did not seem to be this well tailored.
Might have to look into some leasing onto this rig........