2016 Buick Cascada: What's New

Vehicle Overview

The new 2016 Buick Cascada is based on a European Opel car of the same name. Under the skin, the Cascada is essentially a Buick Verano turbo with two fewer doors and a folding roof, while its bodywork looks like the latest Opel Astra. It’s a product of GM’s new global initiative with Buick in which a number of U.S.-market vehicles are sourced from Europe’s Opel division with a little rebadging and slightly different sheet metal.

ExteriorTwo long doors are broken by a crease reminiscent of other Buicks, while the taillights look lifted from the Regal sedan. The convertible features a folding cloth roof and it descends under a hard tonneau cover in just 17 seconds at speeds up to 31 mph.

The U.S. version comes standard with 20-inch wheels.

InteriorInside, the Cascada is a cut above the Verano and Regal, with a unique dashboard and seats that are decidedly more upscale than either of the sister Buicks. The soft-touch material covering the dash wears genuine stitching, although it’s not leather. The convertible roof features several layers of insulating material designed to isolate noise and weather.

Buick’s IntelliLink multimedia system is standard, as is a 7-inch touch-screen residing in the center console. It’s the latest version, featuring Siri Eyes Free connectivity for Apple iPhone users and a 4G LTE WiFi hot spot for wireless devices. Access to the rear seat is made easier by an automatic entry assist system that moves the front seats forward if the seatback is tilted and then automatically returns the front seats to their original position when the seatback is pushed back upright.

Under the hoodPowering the Cascada is a new turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine instead of the more powerful 2.0-liter engine found in the Verano turbo. In this application it makes 200 horsepower, sending that power through a standard six-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels. The Cascada is not meant to be a sports car; this is a touring convertible, meant for warm-climate cruising.

SafetyThere are emergency rollover protection bars that deploy from behind the rear seats if a rollover is detected. A full suite of electronic safety items is also offered, including lane departure warning, rear park assist, a rearview camera and rain-sensing windshield wipers.