When GM first showed off the 2016 Buick Cascada convertible, a good share of the reactionary sentiment was something along the lines of, “With the Chrysler 200 Convertible discontinued, what will it compete with?” Besides this theory, we think we’ve finally found the perfect answer.
The primary rival to the Buick Cascada will be the Audi A3 Cabriolet.
The more we thought about it, the more we came to realize that the Cascada and the A3 vert are more alike than they are different.
2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet (European Model)
The Buick Cascada rides on slightly modified variant of GM’s compact Delta 2 platform, the same one used by the Buick Verano/Opel Astra range. Coincidentally, the (first-generation) Chevrolet Cruze also rides on the very same second-generation Delta architecture.
Keeping that in mind, congress that the Audi A3 Convertible is based on the Volkswagen’ Group’s MQB vehicle framework that debuted with the third-gen Audi A3 and seventh-gen Volkswagen Golf family. The next-gen Volkswagen Jetta will also ride on the same platform.
Hence, both the Buick (Opel-Vauxhall) Cascada and the Audi A3 Cabriolet are variants of mainstream compact vehicle ranges — the Chevy Cruze in the case of GM, and the Jetta in the case of the Volkswagen Group. One could say that the Cascada is a fancy Chevy Cruze, while the A3 is a tarted-up Volkswagen Golf… though that is quite a primitive way of reasoning about platform sharing, so let’s leave it at that.
Both the Buick Cascada (and its associated Buick-Opel family) and the Audi A3 family have a transverse powertrain layouts driving the front wheels, at least by default. The only difference, however, is that the Audi A3 Cabriolet features optional quattro all-wheel-drive, while the Buick does not, a circumstance that is rather unfortunate.
The Buick Cascada and Audi A3 Cabriolet are also quite similar from a dimensional standpont. Though the Cascada is slightly longer due to a longer wheelbase and front overhang, the Audi A3 makes better use of its footprint by being more space-efficient. Plus, the infamous heft of the Delta 2 platform shows, as the Cascada is several hundred pounds heavier than the Audi.
| Measurement | Buick Cascada | Audi A3 Cabriolet |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 106.1 | 103.8 |
| Length | 184.9 | 175.4 |
| Height | 56.8 | 55.5 |
| Width | 72.4 | 72.2 |
| Front track | 62.5 | 61.2 |
| Rear track | 62.5 | 60.1 |
| Curb weight | 3750 – 4003* | 3373 |
| Measurement | Buick Cascada | Audi A3 Cabriolet |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 2595 | 2636 |
| Length | 4696 | 4455 |
| Height | 1443 | 1409 |
| Width | 1839 | 1960 |
| Front track | 1587 | 1554 |
| Rear track | 1587 | 1526 |
| Curb weight | 1700 – 1816* | 1529 |
Both the Buick Cascada and the Audi A3 Convertible are powered exclusively by turbo-charged four-cylinder engines. There are not six-cylinder motors in either of these vehicles, nor in the vehicle families on which these two compact sport-luxury verts are based.
| Measurement | Buick Cascada 1.6T FWD | Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.8T FWD | Audi A3 Cabriolet 2.0T quattro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 200 | 170 | 220 |
| Torque | 206 (221 with overboost) | 200 | 258 |
| Measurement | Buick Cascada 1.6T FWD | Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.8T FWD | Audi A3 Cabriolet 2.0T quattro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power (kW) | 149 | 126 | 164 |
| Torque (Nm) | 280 (300 with overboost) | 271 | 349 |
To note, the Buick offers one engine choice — the turbo-charged 1.6-liter Ecotec four — in the Cascada driving the front wheels. Audi, meanwhile, has its turbo-charged 1.8-liter four as the base motor driving the front wheels, with the turbo-charged 2.0-liter four being optional and driving all four wheels.
There’s no fancy-shmancy hardtop convertible options, as both the Buick Cascada and the Audi A3 Cabriolet have soft-top convertible tops. Coincidentally, neither the Cascada nor the A3 has a hard-top coupe variant… though we really would love to see a Cascada coupe.
Knowing all that, the Buick Cascada’s primary and (possibly) only rival will be Audi A3 Cabriolet. Thoughts?
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The only disappointment with the cascada in my opinion is the interior. It looks like a verano!
That's because the Cascada is the Verano in a different roof and door configuration.
And the interior of the A3 convertible looks like the interior of the A3 sedan. How's this a bad thing?
Since current Buick interiors appear to be designed from similar parts, all you're really saying is that the interior looks like a current Buick.
The Buick has some serious weight for it's size. I wish Buick would create a smaller direct injected version of the venerable 3.8 Turbo V6 (a 2.8?) that would cruise at 70 mpg while getting 32 MPG. Maybe a single and a twin turbo version. A supercharged unit might work well. Stuff one of these in the Cascada and it would really fly (down the road and off the showroom floors).
I think it's odd GM is bringing Cascada to market without the Buick grill that's really helped transform and unify their look. No portholes either.buicks are great looking as of late and this seems a step back.
My guess is they will add the chrome holes on the fenders. Cascada was unveiled a year before it's release so they have time to improve from the concept. New GM won't do a straight rebadge that could damage Buick brand. It's a halo car and needs to look like Buick lineup to attract buyers to Enclave and family. As is it looks like A Chrysler but final product should look like a Buick I would think.
The Cascada is more of a competitor to the A5. It's about the same as that model, although the smaller A3 might be a price competitor. I think it will sell well but I was checking the Buick website and the color selection is limited. No red? The Opel has a beautiful tan interior that doesn't seem available on the Buick either. Audi has done a great job with the family look, Buick should follow suit and use the Verano Regal front end and glue port holes on the hood or better yet the Avenir front end.
I like most everything about the Cascada except for its two primary deficiencies when compared to the A3 -- weight and drivetrain. This little 2+2 coupe has no business weighing in at 4,000+ lbs w/ FWD ONLY. Honestly, I'd be disappointed if adding AWD pushed it over 2 tons, but for it to outweigh its competitor by 500+ lbs is very discouraging.
I want to like the Cascada but it just isn't special. Looks like a VW. Doesn't Cascada mean waterfall in Spanish yet no waterfall grill?
Can't sell the Verano? Try it as a Cascada.
Seriously, how many of these do you think Buick can sell? 500 a month?
Love to see the sales projections and profit margin projections. Cuz this brand is tanking - other than trying to drive some showroom traffic - here's a convertible just in time for winter.
Genius.
It's sold everywhere else in the world, it's not like it's an entirely new concept just for the US. Plus how is Buick tanking? It's set two consecutive records for 2013 and 2014. I'm curious as to how 1.2 million cars sold in 2014 is "tanking".
Check 2015.
Minus 18.09% through June, year-on-year.
Enclave -16%. LaCrosse - 44%. Regal -12%. Verano -41%.
Encore's up 33%. So Buick US is on track to sell a little over 200,000 in the US.
As for China, "In May, Buick's sales dropped 13 percent to 62,601 units". Shanghai GM is 51% owned by the Chinese - I leave the math up to you; maybe 'tanking' is an overstatement? But their mostly-sedan lineup is hurting, and the Enclave is inexplicably not selling.
Granted, sales are down this year, the small fuel efficient motors in Buicks are overlooked by the large SUVs when fuel prices are down. Buick just doesn't have its own badge engineered version of the Tahoe and Suburban. So it's not Buicks fault, or GMs fault. Its consumers, especially Americans, we will buy large SUVs over anything if gas is cheap enough.
Too bad it cant shed some weight. I really hope they put the Buick styling elements to it before it goes on sale. Even as it is I think it looks better than its Audi competition.
Well here is the deal.
Buick is the last line to really receive a lot of new product. This one was fast and easy to bring here but it is already an old model in Europe.
The only reason it is here it to draw attention to Buick, buy some time for them to get the new product out and also to sort out the Opel Holden deal as they move forward.
This car is to serve the same service as the SSR did at Chevy. It will only be around for a couple years and replaced with a newer model along with other models that are just around the corner at Buick.
If you had not noticed they only have 3 models of cars and all are old. They needed a little pump up to buy time till the new Lacrosse, Regal, Verano and other models arrive. Once they start coming we will see a lot done but to by a year or two time this one gave them something to talk about.
As for the 3.8 it will be back around the time Pontiac comes back. Don't hold your breath.