- Buick has refreshed the China-market Verano sedan, and it looks good.
- The Verano left the U.S. market in 2017, and GM has no plans for its return.
- In addition to the Buick's clean lines, it gets a turbocharged three-cylinder (!) engine.
Buick's compact Verano sedan broke up with the U.S. market in 2017—and after that, it went and got itself a revenge body. Consider us jealous of the updated, surprisingly attractive Verano. It's being introduced to China, a country with a well-known affection for Buicks.
The old Verano, the one we saw between the 2012 and 2017 model years, was fine. You could say it had a good personality; outwardly, it was sort of dumpy. The compact premium car next door, if you will. Its replacement—which is essentially a reskinned version of the Cruze sedan that Chevy just killed off—never came to America, being sold instead only in China since 2016. That car is what you see here, albeit refreshed heavily with new headlights, taillights, and bumpers.
Buick's designers really stuck the landing on the Verano's cosmetic update, particularly when you consider they had to keep and work with the Cruze's basically tadpole-like body shape. There are many similarities between the new Verano's look and that of its larger sibling, the Regal Sportback (which is sold here in the U.S.), including its squinty headlights; large, upright grille; and long, lean body lines. The resemblance is a very good thing.
Too bad, then, that we won't see this updated Verano here in America (and also too bad the wee Buick got so hot since leaving us). The Buick car lineup here has been pared to only the Regal Sportback and GS models, the LaCrosse, and the soon-to-die Cascada convertible. Maybe it's for the best—for, as eye-catching as the Verano's new look is, its turbocharged three-cylinder engine might be too surprising for many Americans who are used to, well, four cylinders or more. Enjoy, China.
The cars, expensive cars.
By: Car and Driver
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