Driven: 2016 Buick Cascada Convertible

Will they be rewarded for their efforts? autoevolution.com went to the Southernmost Point of the United States--Key West, Florida--to find out.

It’s all in the flow

Literally Spanish for a flowing waterfall or cascade, the 2016 Buick Cascada is the domestic version of the two-door ragtop that has been sold abroad since 2013. Available as the Opel Cascada in Europe, the Vauxhall Cascada in the UK, Opel Cabrio in Spain and Holden Cascada down under, the Buick now features over 600 parts that differentiate it from its overseas cousins. Chalk that up to new bits for safety and other U.S. regulatory compliances.

The Cascada is a fortified personal luxury mid-sized convertible that the General considers a four-seater but we would call a 2+2 plus to transport two front and occasionally, two rear passengers. It’s Buick’s first U.S. convertible in 25 years. Although available in other markets with additional choices of 1.4-liter petrol or 2.0-liter Diesel Ecotec engines, domestically we will be powered by a singular 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder. With its turbocharger, variable valve timing and direct fuel injection, this four-banger manages 200 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 207 lb-ft of torque between 1,800-4,500 rpm. An overboost function pumps up the jam to a temporary 221 lb-ft of torque, as needed.

The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Buick used some of its other vehicles for suspension inspiration in this new ragtop. While the firm’s HiPer Strut front kit has appeared on others, this MacPherson strut-based setup is specifically tuned for the Cascada convertible, which by its nature would have a higher degree of chassis flex than a car with a rigid roof.

The rear end makes use of one of mechanical engineer James Watt’s (1736-1819) greatest hits, the Watt Z-linkage. (Yes, we know his greatest was the Watt steam engine, but just work with us here.) Through it, the Cascada’s trailing suspension keeps the rear axle centered during left and right turns for a ride that feels as much on rails as France’s TGV.

Steering of the standard 20-inch wheels is accomplished via an electric power assisted rack and pinion setup, for weight savings and efficiency. Still, the Cascada is no lightweight, with a curb weight of 3,979-pounds.

Structurally, the Cascada takes safety into account, in a big way, with spring-loaded pyrotechnically charged roll bars located behind the rear seat headrests. Working in conjunction with the airbag system, they rise 14-inches to match the height of the windshield for occupant protection in case of a rollover.

Loaded with the works…

The Cascada comes in two trim levels starting with a base ($33,990 including destination), but-well-equipped list of features including Buick’s IntelliLink telematics system with seven-inch color touch screen display for text message alerts, Apple’s Siri Eyes Free features, a navigation/radio combo with premium seven-speaker audio system, OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot, and a rear vision camera. But wait, there’s more.

The list continues with a remote vehicle starter, dual zone climate control, 12-volt power outlets, heat-reflective leather seating, heated front seats with eight-way power adjustments, and a heated steering wheel to extend summer drive times into the winter months. Twenty-inch aluminum wheels and rear park assist round out the base offering.

The Cascada Premium model ($36,990-including destination) adds forward collision alert, Lane Departure Warning, automatic headlight control with tunnel detection, front and rear park assist, Rainsense automatic windshield wipers and front and rear air deflectors which, while included with the Premium package, are available for $150 for the base model. We would almost consider the devices a necessity. Finally, buyers can choose from two different wheelsets and a choice of six different colors.

Buick officials estimate that ninety-seven percent of the Cascadas sold in the U.S. will be the high-zoot Premium edition because those buying it will, according to company officials, consider the Cascada a reward. What are they rewarding? Perhaps a marriage, a divorce, a lotto win, kids moving out, etcetera. The possibilities are endless. While sales estimates were not discussed, they think at least 50-percent of buyers will hail from the so-called smile states of New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, and California.

Good looking?

With competition from the likes of Audi’s A3, BMW’s 2-series and Lexus with their RC convertible, the Buick Cascada better have its momma’s good looks. In this case, you can at least notice the family resemblance from the nose rearward. In fact, the only things different from the Euro-Cascadas and the U.S. offerings are the Buick tri-shield badging at front and rear.

Side panels feature the same cyclone-style creases that add interest as well as do their part to break up the monotony of large slabbish doors. The only other difference is seen at the rear lower fascia, which is narrowed more than the European versions since they don’t need the wider EU license plates.

As good looking the Cascada is, with its steeply raked front windshield and minimalist rear deck, we think it looks even more handsome when seen in profile with its multilayer soft top roof in the fully upright and locked position.

Inside lines

The interior is festooned with double-needle stitching to accent the leather-covered dashboard. The driver-oriented control panels and center console feature buttons everywhere as opposed to those dreaded display screen-based menus that have four or more layers before you actually find the function you are looking for.

Once in place with the doors closed, seatbelt presenters reach around you offering the means by which to buckle you in. Adjustable seats offered a quick path to seating nirvana and managed to provide decent comfort for the five-hour drive that lay ahead of us.

The interior execution is quite good, belying its almost $37,000 price tag. It does have a tiny rear window reminiscent of that found in the rear of the BMW 6-series cabrio. Learn to use your side view mirrors religiously, we say.

Having a convertible roof, whether hard or soft, usually results in the loss of cargo space when the top is stowed. But what a droptop it is. Made of multilayer fabric and sound insulation, it muffles all but the loudest noises from the wild outdoors. Latchless with a single control to raise and lower it, it can accomplish the task in 17-seconds at speeds up to 31 mph.

Still, it is a smallish 9.8-cubic feet with the roof down and the droptop housing in place, which grows to a more civilized 13.4-cubic foot hold when in the up position. Packing for a weekend trip is probably best accomplished using resealable Ziploc bags for luggage. The rear seat offers pass-through capabilities as well, that expand to a total of 26.5-cubic feet.

Does it go?

The Cascada’s 1.6-liter Ecotec turbocharged four-cylinder is not spectacular in its get up and go, but that’s not what this Cascada is about. Instead, in Premium trim, we are talking about an all-in cruiser that can get you from point A to point B with few compromises. Power production didn’t exactly come on with a particular sense of urgency, but we were able to channel a Formula1ERS-style system and its sudden burst of energy from 201 to 221 lb-ft of torque, which was good enough for 60 to 80 mph sprints for dispatching the lollygaggers on US Highway 1.

Our seats were not ventilated, but they did feature heaters that would help to keep our buttocal regions warm. So too, the heated steering wheel which must feel as good and welcomed as a Farmer’s warm hand on an extremely cold milking morning.

Speaking of the steering, the feel and heft of the leather-wrapped wheel offered positive input thanks to the EPAS rack and pinion system. Quick lane change maneuvers were easily accomplished with absolute confidence, owing to the Buick HiPer Strut independent suspension kit. Displaying almost no side-to-side wallow, the well-sorted system allowed the Cascada to proceed with an almost go-kart sensibility.

The wrap-up

Buick takes advantage of its European Opel cousin to trailblaze (or renew) the brand’s presence in various niches. With the 2016 Buick Cascada, going topless can be its own reward.