The Buick onslaught continues

"AMC/Renauledge" (n2skylark)
11/23/2015 at 13:01 • Filed to: None

So today at the Guangzhou Auto Show, Buick revealed the all-new Verano 5-door for the Chinese market. It’s obviously a rebadged Opel Astra 5-door like its predecessor - the Excelle XT - was. The sedan was shown a bit ago.

Both cars are very good-looking. And I hope that Buick has the common sense to sell the sweet-looking hatch alongside the sedan in the US. However, if they do, it’ll probably look different now that Buick has a new grille design for America.

With these cars, the all-new LaCrosse that bowed at LAIAS last week, the upcoming redone Regal, and the launch of the Cascada and (hopefully American-made) Envision, Buick will be on a roll. A new Enclave and possibly Adam will be offered after that.

I’m excited. And if Buick sells the Verano hatch here in America, I’ll be first in line to trade my ‘13 Verano sedan for it.

For more photos of the new Verano hatch, see the link below.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DISCUSSION (16)

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > AMC/Renauledge
11/23/2015 at 13:09

Kinja'd!!!

Me like the new Astra. I saw two new ones and they were good looking in person. And the Sports Tourer is quite sexy.

AMC/Renauledge > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
11/23/2015 at 13:15

Yes! For 3 generations in a row, the Astra has been very good-looking. This Astra K is the best yet.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > AMC/Renauledge
11/23/2015 at 13:18

Can I just have a sedan based on the Avenir concept. Also, I really want the hot Astra in the US. Sedan or hatch will do, preferably hatch.

Honestly all of the new Buicks are cars I wouldn’t mind owning.

AMC/Renauledge > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
11/23/2015 at 13:26

I want to see the Avenir get made, as well. But given how cheap they have priced CT6 it’s based on, I think GM is going to be stupid and continue to piss away opportunities by giving them all to Cadillac.

Meanwhile, between the CTS, XTS, and CT6, Cadillac will have 3 relatively fresh models that are close to the same size and price on 3 completely different platforms.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > AMC/Renauledge
11/23/2015 at 13:31

I have always preferred the Astra over its competitors.

AMC/Renauledge > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
11/23/2015 at 13:44

I had a 5-door back when it wore a Saturn badge in the US. Now I have a sedan version wearing a Buick badge. Loved them both.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > AMC/Renauledge
11/23/2015 at 13:49

My godfather had at least 5 Astras. They were all great and he never had a problem with them. Oh, and he was an intern at Opel over a decade ago.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > AMC/Renauledge
11/23/2015 at 13:50

You are probably right, GM is really pouring it into Cadillac. In their defense Cadillac is really starting to do well, the V cars certainly have the effect of drawing people in. Plus de Nysschen has done a great job revamping the brand I think. I wanna see Buick get a little more love for sure, the Avenir is a great step as a touring style/2+2 coupe contrasting the performance coupes that Chevy sells and Cadillac’s current lack of larger 2 door models.

GM as a whole is doing well, all of the brands are selling nice vehicles and growing, and I hold out hope that they resurrect Pontiac from the ashes of Holden. Even as a psuedo-halo/performance brand under Chevy or something.

AMC/Renauledge > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
11/23/2015 at 13:59

The trouble is that for all the cash they’ve sunk into Cadillac on great products (which they are), sales of those products are pretty awful.

Meanwhile, Buick's sales have more than doubled since the GFC and GM isn't investing nearly as much.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > AMC/Renauledge
11/23/2015 at 14:10

That is quite true, Caddy sales are not stellar. I think the new XT5 is going to be a sales boost but they really need to start moving the sedans to make all this investment worth it.

Buick is almost half Opel nowadays and I see that as a good thing since Opel/Vauxhall is killing it with their vehicles. Buick definitely has a bigger road presence that I’ve noticed and does deserve some money thrown their way.

AMC/Renauledge > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
11/23/2015 at 14:29

Yeah, I’m sure the XT5 will be a hit.

GM has sunk so much into Cadillac’s sedans, though. Without much return. Kinda like they did back in the ‘80s with the W-body cars. They launched the coupes first, just as that market was collapsing, and the sedans didn't launch until Ford had already dominated the market with the Taurus.

Textured Soy Protein > AMC/Renauledge
11/23/2015 at 16:45

For all this “oh Buicks are so nice now” talk, when I had a Regal turbo for my rental a couple weeks ago, I was hoping it’d be pretty nice. It was a somewhat up-level trim with the 2.0T, leather, “wood” trim, sunroof, auto climate control, etc.

On the plus side, it was reasonably peppy and got really good gas mileage. Ride, handling and braking were pretty decent if unspectacular. Nice and smooth and quiet on the highway but it still handled ok. No real complaints.

The interior was more of the same, almost. The graphics on the non-navigation touchscreen look woefully out of date compared to say an Apple or Android tablet, the dash plastic was fine but not “premium,” the fake wood was oh so obviously fake, and the leather on the seats was super cheap and hard. Well, maybe it was vinyl. I don’t know. But it was some shitty looking upholstery. The seat cushion when I first sat in it was also rather hard but eventually I managed to get it into a decent position, but for the duration of my 4-day rental I never once thought “this is a comfy car seat.”

Looking at the Regal configurator, the sticker price on this car was about $31k! I’ve seen better looking leather in cars that are way the hell less expensive than $31k, and for a brand that’s trying to be entry-luxury, they damn well should have some particularly comfy seats, not mediocre ones.

Maybe the new one has better seats.

Svend > AMC/Renauledge
04/01/2016 at 20:49

I do like the new Astra K. There has been talk of a VXR version coming but not very loud. As Vauxhall/Opel have only made it in 5 door and estate form I would assume like the Ford Focus ST and RS a VXR would be a 5 door.

Currently the most powerful is a 1.6i 200ps petrol with a 6 speed manual.

AMC/Renauledge > Svend
04/01/2016 at 20:57

I think the 1.6 T would be a great standard engine, with VXR/OPC/GS 2.0T versions to follow.

Fingers crossed we get it.

Svend > AMC/Renauledge
04/01/2016 at 21:09

I’d like to see a 3 door VXR but I guess a 5 door would be acceptable ( or rather would have to be).

AMC/Renauledge > Svend
04/01/2016 at 21:37

Yes, well now that the Adam has been shelved, perhaps the next Astra GTC will make it to America as a Verano as well.