Buick isn’t a very popular automaker in the United States, probably due to its underachieving lineup. While packed with many cool gadgets and a beefy engine, the Buick Enclave still has a lot of issues. The Encore SUV is slightly more popular among consumers, but it doesn’t get outstanding marks from critics.

Still, Buick has put out a few great cars in its lifetime. The LaCrosse is a great pick for families with young drivers behind the wheel. Another one of Buick’s best vehicles was the Verano sedan, specifically the 2016 model. Although discontinued a few years ago, it still has a great reputation as one of the most reliable used cars.

What’s inside the 2016 Buick Verano?

The Buick Verano has a great interior, with a mix of faux leather and cloth that feels very high-quality. All of the seats are supportive and spacious, even during long drives. However, the base model doesn’t come with many infotainment features. Some drivers may also be disappointed with the Verano’s powertrain.

This sedan comes standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine capable of 180 hp. For drivers who need a little more action, the Turbo trim’s engine gets 250 hp. Despite this, it’s still not as sporty as its rivals and neither engine gets great gas mileage. The base engine only gets 25 mpg combined city and highway.

Long-term dependability

Despite its drawbacks, the Verano has a great reliability rating from J.D. Power. In the site’s long-term dependability study, the car scored a perfect 10/10. This means that Buick Verano owners barely experience any problems during their first few years of ownership.

The 2016 Buick Verano also boasts impeccable safety scores. It has a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and got mostly great scores in tests conducted by the IIHS. However, it did get one of the worst possible scores for its headlights.

The Buick Verano’s great reviews

U.S. News had a lot of good things to say about the 2016 Verano. The car was given a lot of praise for its ride quality, comfortable interior, and its high-reliability rating. The Buick Verano also got great ratings from Cars.com.

The staff appreciated its quiet cabin, smooth automatic transmission, and the excellent power from the turbocharged engine. They were also impressed with the Verano’s cargo space, although it makes the second row a little too cramped. Many of the consumer reviews on this site are also very positive.

Critical reviews about the Verano

Edmunds liked the 2016 Buick Verano, but noted that a lot of rivals were superior. Both the Mercedes-Benz CLA and the Audi A3 had nicer interiors. Edmunds also felt that the Verano’s center stack was too crowded with controls, and the touchscreen isn’t very user-friendly.

The Car Connection recommended that the base model of the Verano should be avoided altogether. This reviewer also found the Verano’s exterior styling to be a little too generic. Still, they gave the car a glowing review overall.

The final verdict

While there are minor nitpicks about the 2016 Buick Verano, every critic was impressed with its ride and interior quality. However, there’s also a general negative consensus about the Verano’s base engine. If you want a more exciting drive, you should probably opt for the available turbo.

However, the good news is that even with the best engine, the used 2016 Verano is still a bargain at $14,000. Judging from many consumer reviews, the car is also just as dependable as J.D. Power claims. One Cars.com user even stated that the 2016 Buick Verano was the most reliable car they had ever owned.