通用汽车的别克Verano不再是老爷车

Buick Verano isn’t a One Trick Pony




别克已经由于它的老爷车而闻名，但是别克新出的Verano，以及LaCrosse试图改变自己的形象。我试驾了过Verano并且对其印象不错，但是Verano不是一部豪华车，它太想把自己打造成一部豪华四门车了。

Buick’s have notoriously been known for an old man’s car. But the new Buick Verano, along with the LaCrosse and other models, are making a serious attempt at changing the company’s brand image. As I got to test drive a Verano, I was mildly impressed, but the Verano is no luxury sedan and it tries too hard to be one.

当你想到高级轿车，你会想到奔驰，宝马，奥迪。你会问，别克也是豪华车？没错，就是别克。全新的Verano是别克最新一代的紧凑型四门轿车，并且看上去确实像一辆豪华轿车。但是你如果细看，你就会发现它有其他豪华车所没有的问题。当我是个孩子时，我对别克车主的印象总是，老先生们开着它回老人退休屋，或者戴着皱巴巴鸭舌帽、拎着菜袋的那些老人。

When you think luxury sedan, you think Mercedes. You think BMW, Audi. You think, Buick? That’s right, Buick. The new Verano is Buick’s latest compact Sedan and it really does look and feel like a luxury car. Until you look closely and find its flaws. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always had the impression that Buick owners were elderly men, driving to a retirement home or picking groceries with a frilly pompom flat cap.

但是2013年Verano彻底改变了其形象。首先，车的外部已经是一个老版别克的升级版，看起来十分有活力，尽管没有奔驰的老成或者宝马的风流。Verano车的内部满载了别克的印记。坐垫是由精美的浅黄色牛皮制成并且极为舒适。作为一个紧凑型轿车，驾驶员和乘客的座位坐上去有难以置信的宽敞。仪表盘看上去极为奢华和入时，金属镶边触感很好。

But the 2013 Verano is changing that image, and rather shockingly. Firstly, the car’s exterior is definitely an upgrade from old Buicks. They look sporty and although they don’t quite have the class of a Mercedes or flair like a BMW, they are nice looking cars. On the inside, a fully loaded Buick really impresses. The seats are gorgeous beige leather and are fantastically comfortable. For a compact sedan, the driver and passenger seats feel incredibly spacious. The dashboard all fits together and looks luxurious and stylish, and the metallic trim is a subtle touch.

美国车从来就让人第一眼看上去很棒，但如果你凑近仔细看仍然能找到瑕疵。比如仪表盘不易。不是我眼神差，仪表盘十分杂乱并且字体很小很不美观，我发现如果我超速时，我根本察觉不到。

But with all American cars, the first glance is great, but as you seriously look closely, you find flaws. For instance, the Speedometer is nearly impossible to read, and I’m not visually impaired. Cluttered with random ticks and lines with a horribly small and hideous font, I found myself over the speed limit far too often without even noticing.

新一代Verano安装了别克Intelllink系统在中心控制板，但是操控板的按钮太杂乱，看起来像一盒巧克力，你根本无从下手。就算找一个收音机电台也很困难，Intelllink系统反应非常迟钝，而且经常要重新启动。如果你在开车时想把电台频率88.1换到频率99.9时运气好而没有撞车的话，你的手可能也会酸得要死。

Also, the new Verano comes with its space age center console, which includes Buick’s IntelliLink system. But the console is cluttered with an assortment of buttons. It’s almost like looking at a box of chocolates; you aren’t sure which one to pick and not sure what any of them do. Even changing radio stations is a pain; the IntelliLink system is horribly unresponsive and I found it crashing frequently. Try changing stations from 88.1 to 99.9. Yeah, good luck, with that. If you haven’t crashed into anything from turning the knob for an hour due to IntelliLink’s lag, your hand will have been paralyzed from Carpel Tunnel.

一部全配置的Verano带有无键启动引擎系统。但我将近花了5分钟寻找它？它藏在了数千个毫无用处的按钮之下。

In the fully loaded version, the keyless start is also available. But I spent at least 5 minutes looking for it. Where exactly was it? You guessed it, on the thousand button console, perfectly camouflaged with all the other senseless buttons.

启动车后，试驾情况有所好转。Verano最显著的特点就是驾驶。我比较担心驾驶它时会感到不易操作和颠簸，但是它上路后出奇的安静而且平稳。如果你不在意，你可能会有种错觉你在开奥迪A4。当你踩下油门的瞬间，你会很惊奇你开的是一辆保守的高档轿车。尽管引擎反映不是很快，但开Verano绝对是一种享受而且你会沉浸其中。我所有开过此车的朋友都很享受它带来的平稳的感觉，这感觉就完全像是在开一辆豪华车。

But it does get better, for the Verano’s greatest feature is the ride. I was afraid the ride would feel harsh and shaky, but the Verano is surprisingly quiet and rides beautifully smooth. If you weren’t paying attention, you would mistake it for an Audi A4. And it’s pretty quick. When you put your foot down, it’s exciting to drive and has a conservative luxury sedan growl. Although the engine isn’t quite as responsive, the Verano is a pleasure to drive and I thoroughly enjoy driving it. All my friends who have ridden in it have enjoyed the smoothness it has offered. It truly feels like a luxury sedan.

紧凑的Verano车内布局使其更具实用。尽管耗油量不高不低。别克声称此车的耗油量为25英里/加仑，但我发现其耗油量为25英里/加仑。相比大型轿车，Verano更适合城际驾驶和停车，它让停车变得不再是难事。通过后视电视，任何死角都会一览无余，而且后备箱的尺寸也很合适。但是紧凑的尺寸总会有代价的，一个身高高过5英尺的后排乘客就会感到腿不够放。

The compact version also allows the Verano to be quite practical. Although the gas economy is quite average; Buick claims it will do a combined 25 MPG, I found myself doing a combined 23 MPG.  For city driving and parking, the Verano is much smaller than full sedans, which makes parking an absolute breeze. Throw in the rear view camera, blind spot sensors (which are a fantastic touch), and a very decently sized trunk and you have yourself an easy to drive car. But the compact size comes at a cost. The rear passengers will surely feel a squeeze as leg room is significantly decreased if you’re any taller than 5 feet.

尽管Verano是五人座，你肯定会只想让孩子坐后面，因为车后座放腿的位置几乎是不存在的。但Verano最大的问题在于此车想晋升为豪华轿车。这跟人们的想象肯定有出入。当你坐在宝马里，你知道它是宝马。当你坐在奔驰里，这感觉就是坐在50年代的德国轿车里。但别克就是感觉它少了点什么，就会因为它少了点自己的特点，就像有些调料。你不讨厌但也不喜欢。它没有自己的特点。但是，Verano最大的特点是其吸引人的价格：其全配置的售价只超过$32,000（你至少要加上皮座），标准配备的售价是$22,000。Verona用杰出的价格与对手竞争。

Although the car seats five, you will definitely only want to have kids sitting in the back as the leg room is nearly nonexistent. But my biggest problem with the Verano is that it tries too hard to be a luxury car. It doesn’t really feel like it has its own image. When you sit in a BMW, you know it’s a BMW. When you’re in a Mercedes, it feels like German class from the 1950’s. But the Buick just feels like it’s missing something, that certain je ne sais quoi. It doesn’t have its own flavor, it just tastes like vanilla. You don’t like but you don’t hate it. However, most won’t care about the feel of a car. What matters is the Verano’s outstanding price—fully loaded at just over $32,000 (and you’re going to want the Leather Package, at a minimum) or the standard model at just $22,000, the Verano beats the competition for its great price.

总而言之，基于它的价格，卓越的驾驶感受和豪华的车内装潢使得驾驶Verano变成一种享受。当然，如果没有糟糕的Inelllink系统和中心操控板、能够再省油就更好了。除了这些缺点，Verano已经让我感到意外了。这辆车对于30岁的信息技术顾问和有家室的人是个很不错的选择，并且我推荐大家有机会可以试驾这辆车。

This then, is a good car. Its stellar price, great ride, and luxurious interior, make the Verano a pleasure to drive. I could do without the horrible IntelliLink system and remote control console, and sure, the fuel economy is lack luster, but for its flaws, the Verano has been a pleasant surprise. Gone are the days of Buick’s retirees, this is a car for the 30 year old IT consultant and the family man and I encourage anyone to test drive it.

编注：英翻中：钱楚仪。

Note：Chu Yi Qian, English to Chinese translation.