Tests and Features

Concluding that the Buick’s Verano Turbo is nothing more than a pimped, turbocharged version of the Chevrolet Cruze would be a serious error in judgment. Then again, it would be wrong to think that this North American luxury compact surpasses the category’s best German cars, too. In reality, it’s somewhere …

If Buick wants to survive, it’s going to have to woo new markets. To do this, the brand is showcasing the Regal and the Verano, both of which aim to seduce the competition’s clientele. But the Buick LaCrosse, the manufacturer’s traditional luxury sedan, has a totally different mandate. A direct …

All-wheel drive - once the exclusive province of niche automakers - has spread through the industry like wildfire, showing up as an option on a wide range of sedans, hatchbacks, and crossovers, and becoming almost de rigueur for premium brands. It's now no longer enough to merely offer all-wheel drive …

Nothing lasts forever, especially in the automotive industry. Brands often wander from their original path, sometimes with success (BMW’s turn from builder of sport-first luxury cars to a more diverse range of softer models) but occasionally to their detriment (Lincoln’s almost complete loss of identity). Segments, too, see their leaders …

According to Buick, the Enclave is the sales leader in the luxury-crossover segment, with almost 58,000 units sold in 2011. That’s more than enough reason to justify a makeover, and considering that it was introduced in 2008 and due for a facelift, it got one for 2013, even if it …

When the financial crisis struck at the end of the last decade, GM management decided to keep the Buick Division while shutting down Pontiac and Saturn. It was a move that surprised many, to say the least. They reasoned that Buick enjoyed tremendous popularity in China, the world’s biggest automobile …

In the past, the Buick division’s forays into the compact car category have been unconvincing. But with the Verano, its more recent attempts are much more positive. To win buyers over, the Verano combines an efficient platform, complete equipment, a meticulous finish and flawless handling. In a few months, it …

The grand poobahs at General Motors (none of whom I know personally) have a colossal task ahead of them. They have to make sure that the noble Detroit automaker refrains from creating products that are too similar to . . . well . . . its other products. Past transgressions, …

This may seem anachronistic, but to succeed in the luxury and semi-luxury car category, you have to market an entry-level compact model. It helps increase your total number of clients and introduce them to the brand so that, one day, they might upgrade to a more luxurious model. Audi, BMW …