Driver: Jermaine Bagnall

Age: 30

Height: 6-foot-7

When I think of Buick the first image that comes to mind is the epitome of uncool: my Grandpa’s old beast of a car. The Verano took that image and shook it out of my head. Its aggressive and sporty design makes it seem even while in park. The great design is matched by equal parts peppy acceleration and amazing handling. 

Being a fairly tall man my main concern with any car is legroom, I’m like a drug addict for it; I can’t get enough of it. Much to my surprise the mid-sized Verano provided me with legroom to spare! The Verano also has enough gadgetry to keep any button-happy technophile content: push-button ignition, ONSTAR navigation system, and heated seats/steering-wheel to name a few. This sure isn’t your Grandpa’s Buick.

Driver: Christina Butterfield

Height: 5-foot-2

Age: 42

The first car I ever drove was a Buick – an early-'80s model station wagon complete with faux-wood panelling. With seating for nine, I could transport most of my high school basketball team comfortably. So when I first laid eyes on the 2012 Buick Verano I was feeling a tad nostalgic and a little wary, but the only giveaway that the sleekly styled Verano is a Buick is the insignia on the grill.

The design details carry over to the fully loaded interior, complete with the intuitive touchscreen Intellilink system. My big issue with most mid-size sedans is that they usually make me feel like I’m driving my dad’s car. That wasn’t the case with the Verano once I hit the road. It had plenty of pep, handled well and was great on gas. It even elicited a few double takes when out on the road … It’s always nice to be noticed.

Driver: Mark Hacking

Height: 5-foot-8

Age: 43

Two years ago, when GM decided to ditch a number of its brands, including performance-oriented Pontiac, people questioned the decision. Then, when they decided to keep resident oldster Buick, guess what? People questioned the decision. Yet, since those calls were made, Buick has made such a profound about-face, it’s now completely unrecognizable — in fact, it looks more like the old Pontiac with a healthy dose of old-fashioned luxury thrown in for good measure.

The latest salvo in this comprehensive rebranding is the 2012 Buick Verano and a brief test revealed that it’s a good thing that Buick has survived. While a longer test is required, the Verano impressed early with its extra-supportive seats, stellar visibility, high level of refinement and pleasing exterior design. Strip the badges off the Verano and it could very easily be mistaken for a sporty European sedan — and that’s the highest praise of all.