The Verano is part of Buick’s plan to attract younger buyers. It’s a compact sedan that shares its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Cruze, but this upscale manufacturer has done a good job of giving this car a genuine upscale feel. Our main criticism is that the Verano feels like a small Buick, rather than the entertaining small sedan with which the Verano competes. Here’s my review at Autofocus.ca.
The Macan is Porsche’s first compact crossover. This is a profitable vehicle segment, and Porsche seems keen to take advantage of that with a car that is far from a bargain even compared to other German models. Have a look at my review of the Macan at Autofocus.
Consider it fair to say Kia has benefited from the experience of its parent company. Hyundai’s first luxury cars were nice, but not quite good enough to be take seriously, in spite of attractive prices. That’s changed, and now Kia has made its own move in luxury sedan territory with the K900, a good-looking, well-conceived sedan that is a slam-dunk in terms of what you get for the price. Read my full review at TractionLife.com.
1. Lots of luxury
My test car was a 3.8 Tech model, the best-equipped Genesis available with the V6 engine (there’s also a V8). It comes with, among other things, navigation, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable steering wheel, power trunk (more on that in a moment), power rear window sunshade, and wood trim that, if it isn’t real, looks pretty close to it.
2. Is that a Bentley?
Two people who saw the Genesis’ winged logo on the hood asked if the car was “some new Bentley” model. Enough said.
3. So-so sightlines
It’s easy to lose sight of a pedestrian while making a left turn, thanks to the thick A-pillar, large side mirror and relatively short greenhouse, making the Genesis a nerve-wracking car to drive in busy urban traffic.
4. Big on convenience
With the “smart” key in your pocket, stand next to the trunk for a few seconds, and it’ll power open on its own. Handy if you’ve got armfuls of stuff, and saves you the indignity of having to wave a foot under the rear bumper, a common method of hands-free cargo access.
5. Short of practicality
If you’ve got big stuff to move, keep in mind the Genesis’ back seat doesn’t fold, at all. This is a serious oversight that’s common in upscale Asian sedans.
6. New design, improved performance
Steering feel isn’t great, and the chassis tends toward understeer in hard cornering, but this is a much more entertaining car than its predecessor. In “sport” mode, the engine and transmission are eager to get where you’re going, quickly, and the engine and exhaust sound pretty sweet in speedy driving.
7. Big-car thirst
My test car averaged 12.6 L/100 km (18.7 US MPG) in a mix of city and highway driving. It’s a thirsty car in city slogging, where you can expect an average of about 15 L/100 km (about 15 US MPG), even with a gentle right foot.
8. Enticing offering
For its upscale look, decent performance and long list of luxury goodies, this car is a steal at its $53,000 MSRP. But it’s a better deal in the U.S., where Hyundai sells the same car I drove for $48,000. If your eyebrow muscles need a workout, go see what it would cost to kit out a competitive German sedan with the same equipment.
The 2005 STS brought rear-wheel drive performance back to Cadillac’s full-size sedan range. It was a promising move, but a few years later, it seems that this car doesn’t hold up its end where reliability is a concern. Click here to read my Autos.ca Used Vehicle Review.
The hits keep coming from Buick, a brand trying to reinvent itself as hip and relevant after decades of selling stodgy, dull sedans. Its biggest engineering success so far is its smallest model, the compact Verano. Click here to read my Autos.ca Quick Spin of the 2012 Verano.
The letter R is a dangerous one when used in a vehicle trim designation.
I am neither tall, nor do I possess the financial fortitude necessary for luxury car ownership. Presumably, though, there are many non height-challenged drivers who have the cash for a cushy car. If you are one of them, let me take the opportunity to tell you that the sedan you see here — the Lexus IS 350 AWD — is not the car for you.
In August, I extolled the virtues of the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid, and mused about how far Porsche has come as an automaker with addition of that gas-electric powertrain. The Panamera S Hybrid arguably moves the company a step further, combining that fuel-efficient drivetrain with sport-sedan handling.
Chris Chases Cars 