Buick Cascada Not The Only Small Convertible Being Discontinued
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Earlier this year, General Motors confirmed the Buick Cascada will be phased out at the end of the 2019 model year, spelling the end of the line for the short-lived compact convertible.
Buick shouldn’t be too embarrassed by the Cascada’s underwhelming performance, however. Demand for this segment is quite low and the brand isn’t the only manufacturer to five up on it. This week, Audi also announced the A3 Convertible will no longer be sold after 2020. The A3 sedan will continue on and Audi buyers can still opt for the TT Roadster, but like the Buick Cascada, the A3 Convertible had small back seats and a more usable trunk space than a two-seat drop top. It had been on sale since 2013.
GM didn’t axe the Cacada due to its poor market performance – it had simply reached the end of its planned lifecycle. The American automaker’s sale of Opel to Groupe PSA also signalled the beginning of the end for any Opel/Vauxhall related products left in its lineup, with the French company announcing its demise shortly after the purchase was complete.
“The Cascada has played its role in the portfolio perfectly, outselling many other premium convertibles while bringing in buyers from outside GM,” a Buick spokesperson said earlier this year. “However, it has reached the end of its originally-planned lifecycle and 2019 will be the last model year offered.”
The Buick Cascada went on sale in the US in 2016 as a 2016 model year vehicle. The first year of sales was its strongest, when GM managed to move 7,153 examples. It sold 5,595 Cascadas in 2017 and 4,628 in 2018. It is also sold as the Opel Cascada in parts of Europe, the Vauxhall Cascada in the United Kingdom and the Holden Cascada in Australia and New Zealand.
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General Motors could have saved the Buick Cascada if the car got an engine transplant and while jumping to the LTG 2.0L DOHC-4v 4-cyl turbo would have been too great, there is a new alternative in the form of Cadillac’s LSY 2.0L DOHC-4v 4-cyl turbo that makes 240 hp; the extra 40 hp would have made the Cascada more fun to drive given that the Cascada weighs 3,979 lbs which makes it heavier than the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox CUV which weighs only 3,512; one wonders whether anyone at General Motors even consider doing an engine transplant with the Cascada or was it simply easier to cancel production because it’s an Opel made in Spain.
Cascada was made in Poland, not Spain.
GM drops the ball all the time. The Buick Cascada is not cheap. Why not put an adequate engine in it? GM seems to lag behind Ford and Dodge as far as amenities go. I am a die hard GM guy, and am always hoping that GM will catch up to the other auto makers.
Ever drive a Cascada? The engine is certainly “adequate”. My wife has had hers for 6 years. While not blazing fast, it is smooth and fairly responsive for the cruiser that it is. Very enjoyable car. Wish GM has something similar in their current lineup (besides the Camaro).
Read NOT MIA …..
If you wanted a Camaro you should have bought one. I bought a 67 GTO the night they came out and had it reworked I know what zip is. I’m in my 70s now and just like to go on relaxing drives with my wife the cascada is perfect for that although pulling a dual quad 440 Coronet in every gear was great.
Well..from the UK and purchased my 2017 Cascada (Vauxhall variant) brand new and bespoke with options. Still love the car with its 2.0 liter Whisper quite Diesel and if careful on the gas…54 to the gallon. Not yet done 9000 miles and fully serviced from the main dealer that it was ordered from. Total sweetheart and a Premium Cruiser that will be my last car.