Cascada Brings Open-Air Driving Back to Buick

[one_fourth]

[/one_fourth][three_fourth_last]
What is it? Buick’s first convertible since the long-forgotten Reatta in 1990, the Cascada is a four-seat soft-top based on the Chevrolet Cruze. It has been on sale in Europe for the last two years as the Opel Cascada.

The front-wheel-drive Cascada will use a new-to-North-America 1.6-liter turbocharged engine boosted to 200 hp and a six-speed automatic transmission. Convertible drivers who suddenly find they’ve had too much sun can raise the fabric roof in 17 seconds at speeds up to 31 mph.

Safety equipment includes lane-departure warning, rearview camera, and an active rollover system that pops roll bars up from the rear head rests if the car begins to tip.

Leather seats, 20-inch wheels, and Buick’s Intellilink touch-screen system with 4G connectivity come standard.

What’s new or notable? Buick says the Cascada will be the first convertible in some time with fold-down rear seats to expand the trunk space, which is usually miniscule in such convertibles.

CR’s take: The Cascada arrives just in time to fill a market hole left by the Volkswagen Eos, and it should add some spice to the Buick line.

When will it be available? Spring 2016.