Buick Exiting The Compact Sedan Market - How Many Others Will Follow Down This Road?

Buick is poised to take the Verano behind the barn and vacate the compact car market in North America, according to sources familiar with the automaker’s plans.

The Verano’s dwindling sales share and the popularity of the automaker’s crossovers and SUVs is behind the decision to phase out the entry-level luxury compact, Automotive News reports.

While North America will lose the Verano, which shares a platform with the Chevrolet Cruze, the model will live on in Buick-hungry China. A second-generation version bowed in that country last year, including a sporty “GS” model.

The sources said Buick will likely keep the current Verano around for the 2017 model year before dropping the blade.

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MDarringer - 5/9/2016 8:06:06 PM

+1 Boost

With Buick kissing away over 30K units in volume, killing the Verano is indeed a significant move, especially seeing as it sells as well as the Audi A3.

The problem with the Verano and even poorer selling Acura ILX is that cars like the Malibu and the Accord (respectively) offer all the same options with as much style for the same or less money.

Buick and Acura are not premium brands, but near premium. The irony is that the CLA and A3 are also based on pedestrian platforms, but "Mercedes" and "Audi" as brands have more prestige.

This is a good move, but it would be a much better move if the next Regal took the Verano's price points rather than being priced so similarly to the Lacrosse.

The Verano--nearly--outsells the ILX 2:1.

runninglogan1 - 5/9/2016 9:52:37 PM

+3 Boost

I fear Buck, like Cadillac, is turning into a truck company..

cidflekken - 5/11/2016 8:50:08 PM

+1 Boost

then what will rental car companies use?