By Darlene Donloe
THE CAR: 2018 BUICK CASCADA Sport Touring
So, I’m driving down the street in the 2018 BUICK CASCADA Sport Touring looking mighty snazzy. My hair, my makeup, my clothes, and my smile are all on point.
The more I drive, the more heads turn in my direction. My first thought is that I’m clicking on all cylinders. Imagine my deflation when one of the men whose head I had turned, asked me what kind of car I was driving and how was the mileage.
Huh? Wait! What? You’re not stopping me to give me a compliment?
Imagine my surprise when I realized the Buick Cascada, in carrageen with a neutral/jet black interior, was “catching” more looks than me.
I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. Just look at the car. It’s very attractive. It’s sleek. It’s sophisticated. It’s reasonably priced. It’s a great looking car, it handles well, it’s enjoyable, an easy drive and it’s popular. The car is spacious and the dash is pretty cool. There are lots of buttons to push, but it only takes a minute to figure out what does what. You can thank me later. There is, however, some sluggish acceleration. The weight of the car harms the fuel economy.
VEHICLE AT A GLANCE: Engine, 1.6L Turbo 4-cylinder transmission, 6-speed automatic, suspension, sport-tuned, StabiliTrak-stability control system includes traction control, brakes, 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc, Large trunk, airbags, driver and passenger frontal, knee and side-impact, tire pressure monitor with display, electronic parking brake, theft deterrent system, rear vision camera, windshield wipers, rain sensing, auto on/off headlamps with tunnel detection, front and rear parking assist, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, remote vehicle start includes remote keyless entry, 8-way power driver and passenger sport bucket seats with power lumbar and easy entry system, front and rear heat-reflective leather-appointed seats, air conditioning, dual-zone automatic w/ individual driver/front passenger controls, XM radio + service subscription sold separately by SiriusXM after three months, front fog lamps, power dual outside mirrors, heated, wheels, 20” alloy with black pockets, convertible roof-folding, acoustically and thermally insulated, ONSTAR services capable.
MSRP: $37,065
FUEL ECONOMY: 21/29
THE DRIVE: Enjoyable!
Darlene Donloe is a seasoned entertainment and travel journalist whose work has appeared in People, Ebony, Essence, eurweb.com, This Stage, LA Stage Times, LA Watts Times, The Compton Herald, Black Meetings and Tourism, Los Angeles Sentinel, Emmy, The Hollywood Reporter, Rhythm & Business, Billboard, Grammy, BlackVoices.com and more. Contact her via ddonloe@gmail.com
