Serving as a virtual poster car for luxury on a budget, the front-drive Verano has promised greater refinement and comfort than most members of the compact class, since its 2011 debut. The Verano succeeded well enough in its mission to be considered a credible alternative to entry-level sedans from prestige brands.
However, sluggish sales lately led Buick toward dropping the Verano after a short 2017 model year. A redesigned Verano is sold in China, but isn’t expected to make its way to the U.S. market as Buick concentrates more on crossovers than sedans.
What's New for 2017
Because the Verano is expected to be available for only an abbreviated 2017 model year before expiring completely, the lineup has shrunk from five to three trim levels. They include a new Sport Touring edition that replaces the 2016 Convenience model. All Veranos now have the same four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission.
Choosing Your Buick Verano
Buick has dropped the previously available 2-liter turbo engine and the availability of a manual gearbox. So, all Verano models now hold a 180-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, mating with a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is estimated at 21 mpg in city driving and 31 mpg on the highway (24 mpg combined).
The 2017 lineup consists of three Verano trim levels:
Last year’s stripped-down 1SV is gone, and the remaining base model is well-equipped for its price. Stepping up to the new Sport Touring not only brings more amenities, including a rearview camera, but it’s eligible for adding the active-safety features in the Driver Confidence Package. Because the Verano is becoming extinct, tempting prices shouldn’t be too difficult to find.