Its motor is torquey, its transmission is smooth, the seats are supportive and, since our $24,700 all-wheel-drive model came with leather, heated seats, automatic climate control, AM/FM/in-dash six-CD changer, and automatic headlamps (all part of a $2,000 package), the car was also quite luxurious feeling.
The Verano starts at $23,470, and a fully optioned model is about $29,000 with leather upholstery, heated steering wheel and front seats, sunroof, navigation system and fancy stereo.
The test car, with leather, sunroof, heated seats and more, came in at $34,635 -- roughly $3,000 less than a comparably equipped 3-Series.
It was plush plush inside, with sublime wood trim, stitched leather dashboard, a headliner made of microsuede, and leather front seats with heating, cooling and massaging capability.
Its drive was a leather belt, and you know how leather reacts to heat, it stretches out.
My Astra XR two-door started at $18,495 and reached $20,380 with an optional leather package, heated seats, a six-disc stereo and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The cabin of the TRD Pro is fitted with a long list of standard equipment, plus it arrives with leather-trimmed heated front seats.
For the top-of-the-line Platinum trim in the CrewMax cab its special 20-inch wheels, power-folding heated outside mirrors, sunroof, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats and a sound system that comes with 12 JBL speakers.
At the top end, it has perforated leather in black and beige, with heating and ventilation at finger-tip operation.
My test vehicle came with upscale touches including a push-button ignition, leather appointments and heated seats.
