Buick Cascada and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible

We have two guests who are either late to the party or came here for the very first time. One is somewhat Euro-American and the other is quintessentially British on the other side. So, let's meet up with the open-top slowpokes who came to the open-top party too late or too early.

2016 Buick Cascada

First, let's meet with the latecomer known as the Buick Cascada. Well, basically this is imported from Europe's Opel division and Australians can expect this as a Holden sometime. Anyway, when the Euro-sourced Cascada arrived in America, it seems that its welcoming party got cancelled. VW's Eos and Golf Cabriolet are long dead as are Chrysler's old 200 Convertible. Which means, this car is running unopposed you can't even compare this one to a Mazda Roadster because...that's too cheeky.

Anyway, while Buick's open-top newcomer came here on its own free will, let's get some answers while this car catches some fresh air. Like its European equivalent, the Cascada has the same underpinning as the Verano, meaning that its got some clever Euro-tuned dynamics for a sporty handling that gets the driver into grooves. Under the hood?a 1.6L turbocharged petrol engine generating 200HP of power and 206lb-ft of torque while delivering an EPA-estimated Fuel Economy Highway of 27MPG. Of course, it's mated with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Other features? Well, this open-top Buick comes with a host of tech such as Buick Intellilink, rear park assist, automatic headlamps, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, RainSense wipers, and so much more.

The price? It's 33,990 Dollars for the base 1SV while the top-of-the-range Premium costs 36,990 Dollars. Like I said, it's running unopposed because there are no front-wheel drive convertibles in the market that can compete against the Cascada in the North American market. It's a shame really because while it maybe late for the party, the Cascada tries to reinvent itself from the ground up. So, what about the newcomer who came to the party for the first try?

2017 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible

The world's first open-top convertible from Land Rover, called the Range Rover Evoque Convertible, and remember, you saw this one first because I'm not mentioning about the Cr_ssC_br__l_t (vowels blocked for search query reasons) from a distant past because the Evoque Convertible is the first of its kind and that's the end of it.

Based on the recently-facelifted Range Rover Evoque Coupe, the Convertible features similar stuff from the coupe with the clever Z-folding roof system which can be operated at speeds of up to 30mph. Think of this first-ever convertible crossover is a mixture of a visit to the Caribbean beach to the African safari because this crossover changes everything...well, sorta.

The Evoque Convertible maybe heavier than its hardtop equivalent but its offroad capability still works its charm even with the roof up, meaning this sport utility convertible loves to play rough, rain or shine. On the road, it looks pleasantly head-turning because despite being hunky, the Evoque Convertible still looks attractive, roof up or down. In rough terrain, drivers wouldn't mind getting muddy or wet while driving with the roof open. For a stylish, yet adventurous, luxury convertible, the Evoque Convertible is available with either a 2.0L TD4 diesel or a 2.0L Si4 petrol engine, all mated with the brand new 9-speed automatic gearbox as seen on the facelifted Evoque range. The petrol variant is capable of reaching 0-60mph at 7.8 seconds and onwards to 130mph.

The Evoque Convertible starts at £47,500 OTR and just like the Cascada from Buick, it's running unopposed. It's kinda shame really but when you are going to compare these guests who are either late to the party or came here for the very first time, it will be humorous enough to see the late bloomers edging out together. So, which of those late bloomers would you choose? These convertibles maybe late for the party but it would be a blast to give them a try.

Opel/Vauhxall Cascada

2013 Opel Cascada

2013 Vauxhall Cascada

Now let's talk about the Opel Cascada (or Vauxhall Cascada if you live in Blighty). This is a brand new convertible which is based on the current generation Opel/Vauxhall Astra J and the strange fact that this German-born machine was built by Polish. Uh-huh, it was made in Poland, which I think it's a country which is near the German border. Check the world atlas and you'll see...

So what's in the name? Well, originally this would be the additional lineup of the Astra range but Opel or Vauxhall managed to consider it a spin-off to the Astra J (which now consists of the GTC, a high-performance model, a 5-door hatch, a station wagon, and a sedan not available in right-hand drive markets) and they called it Cascada. Don't know why but it rhymes like cicada to me...

Anyway, it's like a normal Astra J hatchback but with the roof that can be opened or closed at the push of a button. You can still expect a host of engine choices such as a 1.4L Turbo Ecotec I4 petrol, a 1.6L Turbo Ecotec SIDI I4 petrol, or a 2.0L Turbo Ecotec CDTI I4 diesel engine. The 1.4 Turbo engine, equipped with a 6-speed manual, offers a combined fuel economy of 6.5L/100km, meaning this is the fuel efficient of the petrol range while the 2.0 CDTi engine with the 6-speed manual will have a combined fuel economy of 5.2L/100km, meaning this is the frugal of the diesel lineup as of now. Yes, most of the engine types come with a 6-speed manual but some models do come with a 6-speed automatic if you want something for a bit of easy-driving on the outdoors.

As for the pricing, the Cascada starts at around 29,545 Euros, which is about thousands cheaper than its main rival, the Volkswagen Eos. That makes it great value for money, meaning that if you can't afford a Volkswagen Eos should consider this. It's also much more good-looking than the Eos as well.

2013 Opel Cascada interior

2013 Vauxhall Cascada interior

In terms of being an everyday driver's car, the Cascada seems to be friendly to the driver. It's like being as posh as a large cup of caramel macchiato or when you're stressed, you might as well eat some chocolates to calm you down. On the open road, well when you set it on Sport Mode, the moment when you finished eating your chocolates at midnight is over and then your sugar rush kicks in and with the roof open, this would be an enjoyable feast.

2013 Opel Cascada

2013 Vauxhall Cascada

I know, it's an enjoyable open-top cruiser for a reasonable price but despite being a new model, I think the Cascada is not quite enough to change the image of Opel or Vauxhall because they still have a mountain to climb. The Cascada works well as a weekend car but sometimes, the Cascada might sometimes had a few chances to slip through the wrong path. If you are the kind of lover boy who use this on a date with a special someone, that's fine because the Cascada has the gentleman's manner but if you're a Sir Chief and then you park this car at the casino in Monte Carlo, I'm afraid that you're going to make an embarrassment out of yourself. Not quite as posh as other posh convertibles but the Cascada really shows how glamorous would be if some metro boys in pink shirts had one. Hmmm...

Photo: Opel/Vauxhall