Review of the 2017 Buick Cascada 

By Michele Spencer

Take Cascada in as you approach.  Her resplendent red body and clean lines are easy on the eyes.  You wish her top was down. Fifteen seconds later it is, and instantly her true beauty is revealed.  Open her door.  It swings out towards you, wider than expected, inviting you in.  Glide in to the cockpit, and you’re comfortable right away.  Turn her key and listen to her turbo enhanced 1.6 liter 4-cylinder engine come to life with a healthy purr.  Taking you down the road, her shift points are seamless, never jerky or sudden.  Surely, there must be a fault, but there isn’t one…she hugs the road on the turns, and she gives you power right when you demand it.  She’s a genteel lady, not a woman in a hurry.  Before you know it, you’re in love.  That’s the Cascada effect.

Buick introduced the Cascada in 2016 with very little fanfare, so little that most people don’t even know that this model exists.  Queen Cascada turns heads everywhere, even driving around town in car-jaded Southern California.   20-inch black gloss finished wheels look stunning against the Sport Red paint and black ragtop.

Just like a woman you should fall in love with and take home to mother, the exterior is just part of the Cascada charm.  Interior appointments are refined, with plenty of leather.   The tester had red leather stitching on the steering wheel, dash, doors, and seats, taking it to luxury level, as part of the no-charge option package.   Cascada in the Sport Touring model comes standard with heated and heat-reflective front and rear leather seats and heated steering wheel.   The infotainment system is run through a 7-inch touchscreen, with 7 speakers for optimum listening to XM radio, CD, or MP3.  Wind noise is minimal with the top up, which is yet another pleasant surprise.

She’s practical, too.

At night, Cascada’s articulating headlamps turn with you, showing you the road.  OnStar is standard and costs nothing for the first five years.  It comes with a built in 4G LTE wi-fi.  If there’s a disaster, or traveling with work is life, then Cascada’s got you covered – your computer and devices are seamlessly powered and connected.   The overall safety rating by NHTSA:  five stars, of course.

Fuel economy according to the sticker is 20 city and 27 highway.  In my week of combined city and highway driving, I averaged 23.1 mpg.

The Cascada has an “I’ve arrived” attitude, but in an understated way.  There’s no ridiculous makeup or big hairdo on this lady, but she is getting noticed by every guy in the place for her simple beauty and charm.  With an MSRP of $37,065.00 (plus destination fee of $925.00), you may find yourself free-falling hard.

http://www.buick.com/previous-year/cascada-luxury-convertible.html

Specifications – 2017 Buick Cascada Sport Touring

Vehicle Type:  Two door, 4 passenger convertible (mid-size sedan)

Engine:  1.6 liter turbo 4-cylinder internal combustion

Drivetrain:  6 speed automatic

Suspension:  Sport Tuned

HP/Torque:  200 hp / 207 lb-ft

Wheels (Sport Touring, Dark Effects Package): 20” black gloss finish

Convertible top:  Folding, acoustically and thermally insulated

MPG:  20/27/23 (city/highway/combined)

‘Dark Effects’ Option Package (no charge) includes front grille with black gloss finish, body color fog lamp accents, 20” black gloss finish wheels, mirror caps with black gloss finish, sport red exterior paint, body color rear accent molding, and red accent stitching on interior panels and seats