I tried Burger King's upgraded Whopper, which the chain says is helping drive sales. I can see why.

Burger King’s updated Whopper burger is helping to boost the brand and reignite the fast-food burger wars.

Inspired by customer complaints that its iconic burger was often squished during transit — it used to be simply wrapped in paper — the fast-food chain updated its signature Whopper in February with new box packaging, a new bun, and new, “creamier” mayonnaise.

The company said on Thursday that the updates are paying off.

The chain reported that US same-store sales jumped 8.5% in the second quarter, a surge that company president Tom Curtis attributed to the updated burger and new family-focused promotions, such as Burger King’s Mandalorian meal collab.

Customers also bought about 20% more Whoppers than they did in the previous period, suggesting the makeover is resonating.

Its success comes as other burger chains struggle with sales.

On Friday, Wendy’s reported a 7% decline in same-store sales for the second quarter.

McDonald’s, which also released a new burger earlier this year, announced on Tuesday that comparable US sales growth slowed to 0.8% in the second quarter.

Both chains pointed to problems with their value strategies: McDonald’s cited too many overlapping promotions and discounts, while Wendy’s pointed to its decision to pull back on discounting.

I tried Burger King’s new “elevated” Whopper following its release, and I thought it was a clear upgrade from the original.