This Buick midluxury compact sedan has few competitors. The similarly sized Volvo S40, at $27,750, and Audi A3 at $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.

Watch the Buick Verano carefully. The upscale compact car will say a lot about whether General Motors' global strategy works. It's a glimpse of GM's plan for two key brands on three continents.

In assembly plants from metro Detroit to China and Europe, thousands of jobs hinge on the car's success. With substantial tweaks for each region, the car is the Buick Verano in North America, Buick Excelle in China and Opel Astra in Europe.

The Verano rolls into U.S. Buick dealerships starting in December.

GM has been reinventing Buick for what feels like decades, but it may have finally hit on a formula that works: a quiet, upscale interior and exterior looks and performance that have high-end appeal without Cadillac's in-your-face brashness.

Until now, we had only two examples to define Buick's new passenger-car line: the LaCrosse and Regal. They're fine vehicles, but lousy data points. The two sedans are too close in size and price to reveal much about Buick's plan.

With the Verano as Buick's third car, we can begin to triangulate and understand the brand's aspirations and appeal.

The Verano will come with standard features like a sophisticated new system that combines a touch screen with voice-recognition control of phone, audio and navigation systems. There's also a heavy emphasis on what you might call subliminal comfort features: unobtrusive, even unnoticeable features that make the Verano a pleasant place to spend your time.

Keeping the interior quiet is Job 1, 2 and 3 at Buick. A quiet ride contributes disproportionately to drivers' perception of a car's quality and value. The Verano's windshield and front-side windows use extra-thick glass that is laminated to shut out noise.

The rear windows also use thicker glass. Automakers frequently ignore the rear windows because they don't affect the driver. Thanks to its experience in China, where its larger cars are frequently chauffeur driven, Buick put a greater emphasis on passenger comfort.

The Verano has upscale touches its Chinese cousin, the Excelle, doesn't offer. Don't be surprised if they make it into the Excelle's next update, though. Building and selling a vehicle around the world provides opportunities to constantly share improvements from one region to another.

Sound insulation, from thicker windows to underbody aero panels and padding between the engine and the passenger compartment, adds weight. That reduced fuel economy, but Buick willingly made the trade-off to ensure the Verano feels and sounds like a classy, high-end car.

It could afford to do that because the Verano's key competitors -- the Audi A3 and Volvo C30 -- are old and not particularly fuel efficient. The Verano's expected EPA rating of 31 m.p.g. on the highway beats their comparably equipped models.

Buick undoubtedly has tricks up its sleeve to wring a couple more m.p.g. out of the Verano's 2.4-liter engine and six-speed automatic transmission, but highway fuel economy in the low-30s from a front-wheel drive compact won't turn any heads.

A couple of technologies Buick's overseas allies already use may, however. The Verano could offer either the eAssist electric boost system Buick uses in the Regal and LaCrosse in China -- and soon here -- or a fuel-efficient Opel diesel. Either alternative should push the Verano over 40 m.p.g.

In the meantime, Buick will give the Verano performance appeal with a high-output 2.0-liter turbocharged engine next year.

A sporty model styled like the dynamic new Opel Astra GTC could also be in the works to liven things up as Buick reaches around the world to craft a modern new identity.

2013 Buick Verano Turbo Debuts with 250 Horsepower

Award-winning engine at the heart of luxury sedan's effortless performance

DETROIT – Buick today announced the 2013 Verano Turbo luxury sedan will be powered by an Ecotec 2.0L turbocharged engine with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing that produces an SAE-certified 250 horsepower (187 kW) at 5300 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) of torque at 2000 rpm. Acceleration from 0-60 mph is an estimated 6.2 seconds.

The Verano Turbo goes on sale later this year.

More than 90 percent of the Verano Turbo's peak torque – more than 234 lb.-ft. – is available between 1700 to 5500 rpm. Its closest competitor, the 2013 Acura ILX 2.4L, offers a peak of 170 lb.-ft. of torque.

"The 2.0L turbo engine was designed for refinement, higher output capabilities and reduced noise," said Amy Joss, Ecotec 2.0L assistant chief engineer. "The way it sounds, the power delivery and the refined character are all fitting of a luxury sedan with a fun side."

In December, Buick's 2.0L turbocharged Ecotec engine was named one of WardsAuto World's 2012 10Best Engines for North America. At the time, the publication's editor-in-chief, Drew Winter, said: "This engine delivers a level of power and sophistication that redefines Buick."

The choice to use a small-displacement turbocharged engine for a more powerful Verano model is consistent with Buick's effort to downsize its powertrains without sacrificing performance. Verano and the Regal luxury sport sedan are available exclusively with four-cylinder engines, while the LaCrosse luxury sedan comes standard with a four-cylinder engine paired with eAssist technology, which uses an electric motor and battery to boost both performance and fuel economy. The standard 2013 Regal four-cylinder engine also is equipped with eAssist.

"Buick's engine strategy continues to be driven by intelligent performance," said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick Marketing. "Four-cylinder engines, turbocharging and eAssist are all the right solutions for today's market. With these advanced technologies, Buicks are more efficient without sacrificing their smooth, quiet character."

According to IHS Automotive, use of four-cylinder engines in North American vehicles will grow 74 percent from 6.9 million to 12.2 million units over the next 10 years.

The Verano Turbo will be available with a choice of a six-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox. Including Regal Turbo and Regal GS, the Buick brand offers more manual transmissions than Ferrari and Lamborghini combined.

Acceleration performance is expected to be consistent between the two transmissions.

Fuel economy numbers are not final, but the Verano Turbo is expected to be in line with Buick's other turbocharged models. Pricing will be announced closer to the start of production in late 2012.