“Small Buick” may sound as unnatural as “loose tights” given Buick’s long history of large cars. But the newly reconstituted General Motors has been gradually recasting Buick as a full-line brand, and the Verano is a building block toward that goal. It’s a small sedan using the same platform as the Chevrolet Cruze, but with longer overhangs, more sound-deadening materials, a nicer interior, and more available options. Prices start at $23,470 and top out just under $29,000.

Initial impressions: The Verano handles responsively in everyday driving, but the steering feels rather vague. It’s not in the same league as the agile Regal.

The 182-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is shared with the one-size-up Regal. It pulls well but despite the Verano’s lighter weight, acceleration doesn’t feel particularly quick. (A more powerful 2.0-liter turbo will be added for 2013.) The brand new six-speed automatic transmission (shared with the 2012 Cruze) shifts smoothly.

The ride is compliant and less firm than the Cruze’s, but it is still composed. Some low-speed impacts could probably be chalked up to the standard 18-inch wheels and low-profile tires. The interior stays relatively quiet, with far less road noise than in, say, even the larger Honda Accord or Hyundai Sonata.

Cabin ambience is a high point: Electronic amenities abound, from the electronic parking brake to a push-button start in high trim levels. Audio content can be streamed via smart phone, allowing the use of Internet music sites like Pandora and Stitcher. Fit and finish is good and rather attractive in “Choccachino” color scheme. Most surfaces you touch are soft, but some hard plastics and a few misfits are visible.

I was struck by the lack of a power recline for the driver’s seat and the absence of an adjustable lumbar support. Any car with upscale pretensions should include those items. Personally, I found the front seats overly squishy, but Buick loyalists may like them. The rear seat is well shaped but, as in the Cruze, it’s pretty cramped fore-and-aft. I also missed an exterior trunk release.

Overall, the Verano is an agreeable compact sedan with an upscale presence. When it hits the streets at the end of December, it may find a perfect niche, filling the void left by the departure of the Volvo S40 and the downgrading of the Volkswagen Jetta.