2017 Buick Verano Sedan. 2nd generation
The Buick Verano is a compact car produced by General Motors for its American Buick brand since 2011. In 2021, the 2017 second generation sedan can be found on the market.
The 2009 crisis put an end to many American brands, and those which managed to adapt were forced to become smaller and weaker, like mammals in the Age of Dinosaurs. The Buick Verano is a leader in this regard, as it has managed to become so small that it became popular even in China, which is a sign of incredible marketing success in the 21st century.
Distinctive features
GM has diligently adhered to the ‘compact luxury’ concept. Introduced in 2017, the new Buick Verano has turned out to be compact, moderately powerful and reasonably fast, but agile, durable and comfortable, well-equipped and safe.
Don’t underestimate the 2017/2018 Buick Verano, GM is positioning it as a luxury car, a less expensive, less dynamic, but no less pretentious competitor to the Acura ILX, Audi A3 and Mercedes CLA-Class.
The second generation Verano was supposed to be the last. Until 2019, there were rumors that GM would discontinue this model and focus on models like the Encore, but these plans were most likely disrupted by a pandemic. Therefore, the Verano will still delight its fans, at least in China. The second generation car is tailored for Chinese needs, but this does not mean that it cannot be successfully used in some other highly urbanized country.
Engines and chassis
The 2018/2019 Buick Verano is powered by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 180 hp. The engine comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission, which transmits power to the front wheels. The previous generation Verano was equipped with a turbocharged engine. But the manufacturer decided to refuse from this engine due to its obvious uselessness.
The Verano is not a car for daily cruises on a high-speed highway. It is perfect for traffic jams surrounded by smog somewhere in Beijing or narrow streets of a small Chinese village with a population of ‘only’ 2-3 million people. Therefore, the sedan is notable for its cornering stability, cab strength, and the ability to slowly overcome any road surface. The engine runs very quietly, allowing it to be used for romantic rides in shady areas of Shanghai under the cover of nighttime darkness.
Interior
Despite its compact exterior, the 2020 Buick Verano has a European-style configuration, which means that it is bigger inside than outside. The seats and the steering wheel are adjustable. The rear seats are not very spacious, unlike other competitive models. But the sedan has an impressive trunk volume of 430 liters. Which means you can download the whole bunch of things from the Chinese market to it!
In the USA government crash tests, the new Buick Verano received five stars: five stars for overall frontal impact protection and five stars for overall side impact protection.
The car has a 7-inch touchscreen monitor, the location of the symbols on which can be configured like on a smartphone. For iPhone users, there is additional voice control via Siri Eyes Free. However, the user interface is not considered the Verano’s strength, as it does not work well. The interior is assembled from high-quality materials, but clearly not as refined as those of Japanese and European competitors, but thanks to this, the American offers a more affordable price.
Trim levels
The 2020/2021 Buick Verano is offered in three trim levels:
- Standard Buick: 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, 2-zone climate control, split-folding rear seats, eight-way adjustable front seats, OnStar (with 4G Wi-Fi), audio system with six speakers, CD player and USB port.
- Sport Touring: Remote engine start, Buick IntelliLink technological interface, reversing camera, Bluetooth phone and audio, voice recognition, smartphone app integration and satellite radio.
- Leather: 18-inch wheels, fog lights, heated side mirrors, rear parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Safety
Standard safety functions of the new Buick Verno include an anti-lock braking system, traction and stability control, front and rear side airbags, full-length side airbags and front knee airbags. Additional safety features such as blind spot monitoring, frontal collision warning, lane departure warning system and rear cross traffic alert are available on the Sport Touring and Leather trim levels.
In the USA government crash tests, the new Buick Verano received five stars: five stars for overall frontal impact protection and five stars for overall side impact protection.
