The Buick Verano, which is based on the same
platform as the Opel Astra K, has gone through a mid-generational update in
China, getting new looks and different engines.
The second-gen Verano has been on offer since 2015
in sedan/saloon and five-door hatchback body styles. The series received its
first facelift a couple years ago, but the current one
is much more thorough.
Changes include LED headlights, new taillights,
restyled bumpers, and a new radiator grille. The dimensions stay unchanged,
unless you are willing to celebrate the 5 millimeters of added
length.
Inside, the dashboard is still non-digital, but it
is now larger than before. Optional equipment includes a reversing cam,
automatic parking, a sunroof, and more.
The main novelty comes in the form of turbocharged
three-cylinder engines that come to replace the old four-cylinders. The 2019
Verano no longer ships with the 1.5-liter, naturally aspirated V4 with its 118
hp and 146 Nm of torque, nor is its turbocharged
counterpart with 169 hp and 250 Nm available.
Instead, customers are offered a choice between a
1.0-liter three-cylinder mill with 125 hp and 180 Nm of
torque and its larger 1.3-liter version churning out up to 165 hp alongside 240 Nm of torque. The former connects to a six-speed
automatic transmission, while the latter hooks up to a CVT.
