Hey Scotty, I love your channel. Watch you all the time. I'm in Toronto. Your old stompin' ground. I'm looking for a reliable small luxury car good on gas. I've been looking at the Buick Verano premium. There is little info on the web about Buicks, or at least a confusion about their quality, because they are associated with GM, but their all the rage in Europe and China and sell like hot cakes over there. Are they any good?
Hi, although I'm not scotty I must point out that
their all the rage in Europe and China and sell like hot cakes over there
This is false.
GM managed to sell 2,978 cars in Europe in 2019.
(For contrast, Toyota sold 1,076,300 cars in Europe, and that's still only 6.4% marketshare,
It basically means that GM products have less demand in Europe than $100k Chinese electric RollsRoyce copycats)
They aren't selling like hot cakes, here in the Middle East and in Europe they're considered pure garbage.
I'm looking for a reliable small luxury car good on gas
Well... the Verano is neither.
The outgoing model based on the Opel Astra - an unreliable $16,500 cheap car, sold in the US as the Chevy Cruze.
And as far as gas milage, I don't remember them being any good - as fas as I remember they're all around 30 mpg.
And the new ones don't like promising either, they have been developed by a devision of Chinese car company SAIC - their cars aren't really known for quality either.
Honestly? if you're buying new and are looking that rides well and is good on gas - the way to go is Prius or Niro.
there a few options that look good, are reliable and are luxurious
I really think that design is one of the last things you should look at, but I kind of get you - One of the reasons I bough my latest car (expect for liking the powertrain, size and price) is because it looks fab for what it is.
Just to name a few:
Mazda 6 - 3rd gen facelift, undoubtedly a good looking, luxurious, reliable car.
Corolla hatch - can be optioned in fun colors, they look amazing in two tone.
Speaking of a Toyota hatch,
Scion iM - a Corolla with european design not "luxurious" but again, price.
Toyota Avalon - mixed opinions on looks, I think it does look grandiose and special
Toyota CH-R - considered to be quite stylish, I don't think it is - but most people do.
And as a honorable mention, the latest Honda Civic - it's quite alright on looks.
Please search the board, this has been asked in the past. (The short answer is "no".)
Since you mention “luxury” in your post why not consider a Toyota Avalon, which is more comfortable and luxurious compared to the Camry but still uses similar parts so won’t break the bank when it comes time for maintenance or repairs. It is also just as reliable and, as a bonus, built on the same platform as the Lexus ES. I would mention the ES but it will be pricier initially and in the long run compared to an Avalon.
Not just gas but,
- nice Looks
- luxurious features
- and good on gas
- Under $20,000
If you read stuff from Consumer Reports, and other reports, they tell you the Verano is not bad.
"The Buick Verano Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 15th out of 36 for compact cars. The average annual repair cost is $478 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average and the frequency of those issues is low, so major repairs are uncommon for the Verano."
You don't know what to believe.
I just sold a 2003 Mercedes c230 coupe, and i can tell you aside from the name and good looks, the thing is a piece of garbage. I had problems with that Mercedes since day one. I am not sure if i would ever buy another one again...
That's the problem, in a coupe or sedan, there a few options that look good, are reliable and are luxurious.
I dont like the look of the Camry or Corolla. The Prius looks like a space ship. Honda accord newer one's look ok. The civic looks too edgy and young...dont know what to get...
You cannot trust Consumer Reports ratings on vehicles: they are all over the place.
The Mazda 6 and the Toyota Camry and Avalon is a contender. Don't know if i can find one under 100,000 kms (62,000 miles) and under $20,000 Canadian $$$.
Not only that, but what's up with that grille on the Avalon? looks like a large mouth bass or catfish.
That has to be Toyota's biggest weakness, their styling and design. They make some of the most boring looking and ugly cars. They should take ques from Mazda's new lineup...
Mazda's new lineup should take a que from Toyota / their own old lineup on quality.
-
Quite honestly, you were looking at an Opel Astra - it's not in the same class as a Camry, it's a Scion iM competitor, literally.
-
It's not like the Verano was a "looker", they look like the $16k cars that they are underneath the skin (a slightly different front lower bumper)
"cue"
It's all about taste. Some like product A and some B.
I personally, don't like the look of Toyota's, nope they don't do it for me.
Mazda, yes.
Lexus not bad, don't like the grille.
New Honda's lines are too edgy and chiseled.
To me, Buick's styling is nicer. Will they hold up like a Toyota for 5 years? I think they will and 70,000. Will they last 10 years 300,000? No, Buicks will have more problems we all know that...Let's face it, very few cars last 300,000 miles. Eventually they all break down and you have to start replacing stuff.
7-10 years or 100,000 miles since new is when GM products are decent.
But aren't they all like at least 5 years old already and have milages put on them?
-
It's your money and you can do whatever you want, but as you saw - the consensus among forum members is that these are crap.
I personally, don't like the look of Toyota's, nope they don't do it for me....
Eventually they all break down and you have to start replacing stuff.
Some break sooner and more often than others.
Your original question asks about quality, and that's how people answered. If you care more about beauty then you should have stated that in your original question.
