Buick Verano

Buick Verano: Which Version Should You Buy?

The Buick Verano choice comes down to two very different specifications. The second-generation Sedan, produced from 2017, offers the 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT, both with a naturally aspirated 1,485 cc Gasoline engine producing 114 hp and 143 Nm.

The Buick Verano choice comes down to two very different specifications. The second-generation Sedan, produced from 2017, offers the 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT, both with a naturally aspirated 1,485 cc Gasoline engine producing 114 hp and 143 Nm. The first-generation Sedan, produced from 2011 through 2017, includes the naturally aspirated 2.4 AT with 180 hp and the turbocharged 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT, each producing 250 hp. Choose a second-generation version if the transmission choice matters more than output: its versions share the same engine and differ principally between a 5-speed Manual and a 6-speed Automatic. Choose the first-generation 2.4 AT for a middle ground, or one of the 250 hp turbo versions for the strongest measured performance.

Buick Verano generations: what changed?

The first generation ran from 2011 to 2017 as a Sedan with three versions: 2.0 MT, 2.0 AT, and 2.4 AT. Every version has a front, transverse Gasoline engine, 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, direct injection, and FWD. The 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT use the same turbocharged 1,998 cc engine, while the 2.4 AT has a naturally aspirated 2,384 cc engine. This generation is the one to compare when horsepower, acceleration, top speed, fuel consumption, kerb weight, tank capacity, and wheel sizes are essential, because those figures were measured for all three versions.

The second generation began in 2017 and is represented by a Sedan with two versions: 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT. Both use the same naturally aspirated 1,485 cc Gasoline engine with distributed injection, 114 hp, 143 Nm, and FWD. Compared with the first-generation 2.4 AT, they have 66 hp and 89 Nm less; compared with either first-generation turbo version, they have 136 hp and 210 Nm less. However, acceleration, top speed, consumption, weight, tank, and wheel-size figures for the second-generation versions are not measured, so the available data cannot establish whether either is more economical or lighter.

Buick Verano engine options and specs

The 1,998 cc turbo engine has the highest specific output at approximately 125.1 hp per litre. The 1,485 cc engine produces approximately 76.8 hp per litre, while the 2,384 cc engine produces approximately 75.5 hp per litre. Consequently, the 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT deliver about 48.3 hp more per litre than the second-generation versions and about 49.6 hp more per litre than the 2.4 AT.

Torque separates the engines even more clearly. The turbo 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT produce 353 Nm at 2000 rpm, which is 121 Nm more than the 2.4 AT and 210 Nm more than either 1.5 version. The 2.4 AT develops its 232 Nm at 4900 rpm, while the 1.5 versions reach 143 Nm at 4400 rpm.

All five engines are mounted at the front in a transverse position. The second-generation engines use distributed injection and a compression ratio of 10.2. The turbo 2.0 versions use direct injection, an 86 × 86 bore and stroke, and a compression ratio of 9.2. The naturally aspirated 2.4 AT also uses direct injection, with an 88 × 98 bore and stroke and an 11.2 compression ratio.

Buick Verano performance and fuel economy

Among the versions with measured performance, the 2.0 MT is the quickest and fastest. It reaches 100 km/h 0.5 seconds sooner than the 2.0 AT and 2.1 seconds sooner than the 2.4 AT. Its top speed is 9 km/h higher than the 2.0 AT and 29 km/h higher than the 2.4 AT.

The 2.0 MT also records the lowest consumption in every measured cycle: 12.3 l/100 km in the city, 6.6 l/100 km on the highway, and 7.3 l/100 km combined. Against the 2.0 AT, that is 2.8 l/100 km less in the city, 0.8 less on the highway, and 0.7 less combined. Against the 2.4 AT, it uses 2.1 l/100 km less in the city, 1.1 less on the highway, and 1.2 less combined.

The 2.0 AT is 0.5 seconds slower to 100 km/h than the 2.0 MT, but it retains the same 250 hp and 353 Nm while providing a 6-speed Automatic. The 2.4 AT has the lowest measured top speed and the slowest measured acceleration. Its 8.5 l/100 km combined figure is also 0.5 l/100 km higher than the 2.0 AT, although its city figure is 0.7 l/100 km lower.

No acceleration, top-speed, or fuel-consumption figures were measured for the 1.5 MT or 1.5 AT. Their smaller displacement alone does not prove lower fuel consumption.

Buick Verano dimensions, weight, tank, and wheel sizes

Overall exterior dimensions, length, gross weight, and ground clearance are not measured for any listed Buick Verano version. That prevents a numerical size comparison between the two generations.

The 2.4 AT is the lightest first-generation version at 1,551 kg. The 2.0 MT weighs 46 kg more, and the 2.0 AT weighs 59 kg more. Between the turbo versions, selecting the Automatic adds 13 kg.

Power-to-weight arithmetic favors the turbo versions. The 2.0 MT carries about 6.39 kg per horsepower, and the 2.0 AT about 6.44 kg per horsepower. The 2.4 AT carries about 8.62 kg per horsepower. Second-generation ratios cannot be calculated because their kerb weights are not measured.

The second generation has independent spring suspension at both the front and rear. The first generation combines independent spring front suspension with semi-independent spring rear suspension. Every listed version has ventilated disc front brakes and disc rear brakes.

Buick Verano reliability, problems, and buying limits

The supplied specifications contain no reliability records, failure rates, maintenance history, engine-problem data, repair costs, or documented “years to avoid.” They therefore cannot support a claim that one Buick Verano year or engine is more reliable than another. The data also contain no prices or sale listings, so they cannot show whether the additional output of a turbo version is worth any particular amount of money.

What the figures can establish is the mechanical trade-off. The first-generation turbo versions provide 70 hp and 121 Nm more than the 2.4 AT, despite having 386 cc less displacement. The 2.0 MT combines that advantage with the quickest measured acceleration, the highest measured top speed, and the lowest measured consumption. The 2.0 AT exchanges 0.5 seconds in the 0–100 km/h result, 9 km/h of top speed, and higher consumption for an Automatic transmission.

Which Buick Verano version should you buy?

For the strongest numbers, choose the first-generation 2.0 MT. Its 250 hp, 353 Nm, 6.8-second 0–100 km/h result, 251 km/h top speed, and 7.3 l/100 km combined consumption lead the measured versions. It also has the best calculated first-generation weight-to-power ratio at about 6.39 kg per horsepower.

Choose the first-generation 2.0 AT when an Automatic is required without giving up the turbo engine’s 250 hp and 353 Nm. It is 13 kg heavier than the 2.0 MT, takes 0.5 seconds longer to reach 100 km/h, and consumes 0.7 l/100 km more in the combined cycle.

Choose the first-generation 2.4 AT if you specifically prefer a naturally aspirated engine with an Automatic. It is 46 kg lighter than the 2.0 MT and 59 kg lighter than the 2.0 AT, but produces 70 hp and 121 Nm less than either turbo version. Its measured acceleration, top speed, and combined consumption do not surpass the 2.0 MT.

Between the second-generation versions, choose 1.5 MT for the 5-speed Manual or 1.5 AT for the 6-speed Automatic. Their engines are otherwise identical in the supplied figures: 1,485 cc, 114 hp, 143 Nm, Gasoline, 4 Inline cylinders, no boost, and FWD. Neither can be declared faster, lighter, more economical, or more reliable because those comparative figures are not measured.