2012 Buick Verano Priced at $23,470

The 2012 Buick Verano will go on sale for $23,470, excluding an $885 destination fee, GM said today. That starting price gets you fog lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, leatherette upholstery, a 7-inch touch-screen, automatic climate control, remote start, power accessories, steering-wheel-mounted controls, Bluetooth connectivity and a USB input.

The model gets a 180-horsepower four-cylinder engine, six-speed automatic transmission and 10 airbags standard, too.

The top-of-the-line version, which starts at $26,850, includes a heated steering wheel and genuine leather. A 2.0-liter turbocharged engine will be available later.

This Buick midluxury compact sedan has few competitors. The similarly sized Volvo S40 ($27,750) and Audi A3 ($27,270) cost about $4,000 more. A well-equipped 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn — which has similar gas mileage and content to the base Verano — starts at $25,545. A similarly equipped Chevrolet Cruze LTZ sedan, which is the Verano’s sibling vehicle, comes in at $23,420.

Buick hasn’t detailed all the package levels yet — we know there are 1SG and 1SL packages — but we know there will be three packages in all. Starting with the 2012 model year, Buicks no longer have trim designators.

The Verano goes on sale later this year.

Posted in: Car Buying