http://www.automobilemag.com/news/re...17-model-year/

So GM has confirmed the end of the Verano, I think Cadillac will make a Cruze based version to take its place.

 

Quite a bit of discussion about that here:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...ye-verano.html

 

Yes, Jill.......I'm quite aware of it.

The next Verano is also going to be based on the Astra/Cruze...they are just not offering it in the American market. The lame (IMO) excuse for dropping it is that they need the factory-space for more SUVs. The Encore and Enclave, for example, are selling head over heels. And the new Envision SUV is going to be Chinese-built.

 

Maybe they've changed their mind about having the Envision being built in China, or there might not be enough capacity in China to meet demand for North America and China.

Personally I can see the market for the Verano being taken care of by upper trim levels of the Cruze. I think the real problem is that when gas prices spike way back up in a couple years and combined with a recession, GM is really going to be screwing their Buick/GMC dealers by only having expensive, thirsty SUV's and $30,000+ Regals and Lacrosses to sell. The Buick/GMC dealers aren't going to have anything on their lot that is under $30k and gets a better than 30mpg combined rating when the economy tanks and gas prices go up again.

 

The Buick Encore at $24,065 (base) gets 28city/34hw gets pretty darn close, but that's about it.

 

That mileage is better than the Verano

 

I forgot about that ugly thing. Styled after a potato. No room at all in it, there are much better, bigger SUV's for the same price, and I think its sales reflect that.

 

Not even in the same league. Though the Cruze has a nice interior trim, the Verano's cushy, overstuffed seats, sound insulation, transmission smoothness, and overall refinement is far more upscale.


Yes, that's my guess, too.....when gas prices go back up, people are going to want downsized luxury or semi-luxury products like the Verano, and the industry will be short of them.

 

A new Cruze is coming out for 2017, so we'll see if they push it more upscale in the higher trim levels. I'd argue that they could make the upper level Cruze LTZ(or whatever they call it) more than just leather seats, and actually put more sound insulation, better/nicer trim, bigger engine, and all the stuff your Verano has on it that the current Cruze lacks.

GM is the king of redundancy since they have 2 main dealer networks while every other automaker has one. Sometimes the redundancy can be pretty nice, like your Verano. Other times it leaves you scratching your head, like asking why you'd pay $20k more for an Escalade vs a Denali or an XTS vs an Impala.

 

I'm not a fan of it either, but it seems to be enjoying this CUV wave here in the States.

May Sales Thread

 

Interesting, I guess people will buy anything as long as its a body style/type of car that is "in fashion", even if there are much better options IMO

 

Yes, it is becoming remarkably popular. One of my colleagues at my church just got one himself.....I referred him to the guy who sold me my Verano. Though it has a typically nice Buick interior and trim, I myself find the Encore a little too stubby-looking and too small of an engine (1.4L turbo) for my tastes. IMO, it should have been based on the Verano's compact platform instead of the Chevy Sonic's subcompact one. But he loves his new Encore....and that is what matters.

 

I can't see the attraction of these new CUVs even though everyone seems to be getting one. They're heavier than sedans of similar length, the driving dynamics are compromised, mileage is a lot lower because of that weight and optional AWD, they cost more, yet they're flying off the dealer lots. The higher driving position becomes pointless when the road is clogged full of tall vehicles. Most buyers never venture off flat asphalt so why are they buying these things?

 

Interesting point about the sound insulation- the Verano actually has real time Bose Noise Cancellation system that works full time in the passenger cabin, pumping in phase inverted sound signals.

 

Why? Most likely because of space efficiency. If you are at a yard sale or thrift-store, for example, and see a good bargain on a piece of used furniture, you might not be able to cram it into a small sedan.