Its steering is well-weighted and accurate, albeit light on road feel, while its suspension doesn’t keep body lean in check. The Cascada’s thick-rimmed steering wheel suggests a sporting pedigree, but in reality this droptop is more of a boulevardier than a sports car. The Cascada’s automatic doesn’t really help matters, however, since it can be slow to downshift when called upon and can deliver occasional slurred shifts. The engine is mostly refined and quiet, humming away under the hood. At a hair under 4,000 pounds, the Buick Cascada is as plump as some SUVs and crossovers thanks to all of the chassis bracing needed to retain its stiffness with an open roof. That’s a lot of power for a little engine. A 6-speed automatic transmission shuttles power forward there’s no all-wheel drive offering. (Read more about how we rate cars.)Įvery Cascada tells the same story under its hood: a 1.6-liter inline-4 rated at 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. There’s simply not enough rubber to make things comfortable, while an underwhelming engine is neither quick nor efficient. We’ve given the Cascada a 4 out of 10, deducting a point for the choppy ride imposed by its too-large wheels with their too-small sidewalls. But if it’s a relaxed demeanor you’re after, keep reading.
If you equate European lineage with blistering performance, the 2018 Buick Cascada won’t be for you. The basic design with its instrument panel canted slightly toward the driver isn’t offensive, but it’s also hardly memorable. Its center stack is riddled with buttons, a look that’s decidedly aeronautical-not in a good way. It’s inside where things start to fall apart as the Cascada reveals its age. All versions have one of three 20-inch wheel designs wrapped in relatively low-profile rubber. Its chrome-heavy grille-blacked out on Sport Touring models-works well with another hint of flashiness linking its taillights at the rear. Some hints of formality contrast nicely with the Cascada’s swoopy detailing. But it’s neat and tidy, a well-proportioned convertible that manages to look as good with its top down as it does with the power, fabric roof erected. Given its German lineage, the Cascada’s relatively conservative style is hardly a surprise. The only thing American about it is its Buick badge. The Cascada’s heritage is international it was largely designed and engineered in Germany and it’s actually assembled in Poland. As a result, it’s a 6 out of 10 on our scale. The 2018 Buick Cascada’s curvy exterior style elevates it above average, but we’re not enamored with its dated, button-heavy interior. One notable demerit is that the Cascada lacks some of the most advanced safety tech it’s one of few vehicles to not offer automatic emergency braking or active lane control, another telltale of this droptop’s real age. Instead, it’s more of a boulevardier, a model essentially without direct rivals any longer. Although pleasant to drive, the Cascada is hardly sporty. Just one engine and transmission combination-a 1.6-liter inline-4 mated to a 6-speed automatic-is available and all Cascadas are front-wheel drive. This design hit the European market more than five years ago and hasn’t been significantly altered since.
Inside, however, a button-heavy control layout and a previous generation infotainment system mark the Cascada’s age. Last year, a new Sport Touring trim level arrived with its own special styling details, but all versions of the Cascada are attractive in a decidedly continental way. The Cascada sees only a minor shuffling of its color palette to mark 2018. We rate the Cascada, available in base, Premium, and Sport Touring trim levels, a 5.6 out of 10, based mostly on its style and its high level of standard features. Instead, Buick parent General Motors plucked the Cascada from its European Opel lineup and brought it to America, where it is one of the least expensive convertibles on sale. The stylish, sedate droptop is hardly a reboot of the old Riviera. There’s more than meets the eye with the 2018 Buick Cascada small convertible.
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