The Failed Buick Cascada Is the Definition of Misunderstood
The Buick Cascada is one of the best convertibles of recent years. However, most people know nothing about this midsize car from Buick. Those who do have the wrong perception of it as they consider it a failed sports car. It has several top features, and it was also affordable. In many ways, this is among the best modern Buick cars as it shows the fun side of the sometimes stuffy automaker.
The Buick Cascada is among the best convertibles despite its sales
The Buick Cascada was introduced in North America in 2015 at the North American International Auto Show. It went on sale the following year and brought back more exciting days of the automaker’s lineup. This was Buick’s first factory convertible since 1991 and was also the company’s first two-door car since 1999, as it had begun to focus on larger models.
Unfortunately, the Buick Cascada never really took off like the automaker hoped. According to Good Car Bad Car, what many call one of the best convertibles sold only 7,153 units in 2016 despite being released early in the year. Additionally, this was the peak for the Buick as sales fell to 5,595 units the following year. By 2019, its final year in production, only 2,535 people bought the Cascada.
The sad part about the failure of the Buick Cascada is that the car is actually good. For context, J.D. Power gave it an overall 83 out of 100. Additionally, it has an 89 out of 100 for driving experience, which measures aspects of cars such as performance, technology, comfort, etc.
Why no one bought the Cascada
Many people may wonder why one of the best convertibles failed so drastically. Well, there are a few main reasons. For starters, convertibles don’t have a significant share of the auto market. Because of this, it takes a solid option to break through and really capture people’s attention. Similarly, Buick was far from its glory days at the time, which means the Cascada was a hard sell for the automaker.
Additionally, the Cascada, despite being mechanically good, isn’t the best looking convertible. It has a weird shape that many compare to a slipper. Sadly, this didn’t fit the times as its exterior looks outdated. Regarding the interior, many people felt that the seats in the car were a bit too firm for true comfort.
In terms of performance, the 2019 Buick Cascada uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter that makes 200 horsepower. It has a torque of 207 lb-ft, and this is a front-wheel drive car. The transmission on this model is a six-speed automatic, and it accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 8.3 seconds as this is a heavy convertible.
Overall, this won’t be among the best used cars for most people. However, those looking for a modern convertible that hasn’t flooded the market should test drive one. Still, don’t expect sports car level performance or agility.
