2019 Buick Cascada Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

Buying a slick four-seater convertible is not a cheap affair. A brand new drop-top might normally cost you somewhere upward of $60,000. The 2019 Buick Cascada, however, makes owning a four-seat convertible affordable and enjoyable at the same time. This classy dame of the convertible world offers a respectable price tag on all of its trim levels, but the one that might appeal to you the most is the base 1SV trim.

All three of the Cascada's trim levels come equipped with a standard 1.6-L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. A six-speed automatic transmission gets matched up with this engine, and together the powertrain puts out 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. There are also quite a few other pieces of equipment that come standard across the entire Cascada line-up. Of course, the Premium and Sport Touring rope in more advanced features, hence their higher price tags.

So, which 2019 Buick Cascada should you buy? Which trim level has the most of what you need for the most reasonable cost? Let us break down the Cascada's three trim levels and look at what sets them apart from each other. By the end of this comparison review, you should have a clearer idea of which Cascada trim is the best choice for you.

Compare the 2019 Buick Cascada 1SV vs Premium Trims. What is the difference?

The base Cascada is known as the 1SV. This trim level is considerably well-equipped for a base trim. Aside from the powertrain that we already mentioned above, the Cascada has a good array of mechanical features. These features include 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, an electronic parking brake, a front-wheel drive drivetrain, a Sport suspension, StabiliTrak (which is made up of electronic stability control and traction control), front Hi-Per struts, and compound cranks on the rear. Also, the car comes with electronic power steering and a stainless steel exhaust decked out in a bright tip. The Premium trim level shares these features.

On the exterior of the 2019 Buick Cascada 1SV, you will find 20-inch diamond graphic twin spoke wheels laid out in a bi-color finish and that come with all-season blackwall tires. The HID headlights are automatic on/off, and there are LED daytime running lights and taillights. The convertible soft top system comes standard, and an ebony convertible top is available as an option. All of the glass is solar absorbing, and there is a silver-finished grille on the front fascia. Front intermittent windshield wipers come equipped as well.

The Premium's exterior looks fairly similar, but there are a few differences that should be noted. The Premium leaves open up the option for equipping the 1SV's 20-inch wheels, but its standard wheel design is upgraded 20-inch diamond twin-spoke wheels. Air deflectors get added to the front and rear of the Premium, which reduces the amount of wind flow through the vehicle while you ride around with the top down. The automatic on/off headlights gain tunnel detection as part of the standard Driver Confidence Package. This package also gives the Cascada Premium lane departure warning, front and rear parking assist, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a forward collision alert system. Additionally, you can opt to equip either the Sweet Mocha or Malbec convertible top.

The interior of the Cascada's 1SV is also pretty well-adorned with standard features. Both front seats are 10-way power-adjustable with 2-way power lumbar support.The seats are clad in leather that has a heat reflective coating to help control the temperature of the seats. The cabin has two 12-volt power outlets (one up front and one in the rear). The 1SV is 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot capable, a 7-speaker premium audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, a 7-inch touchscreen display that accompanies the Buick Infotainment System with built-in navigation, cruise control, a driver information center, heating for the front seats, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, connectivity with OnStar and Buick Connected Services, a passenger-sensing system, a rear-view camera, and remote start with keyless entry. Also, QuietTuning (one of Buick's exclusive technologies) helps reduce the amount of noise that makes its way into the cabin. In addition to all of that, you get a trial subscription to SiriusXM Satellite Radio, a tilt-and-telescopic steering column, and plenty of controls mounted onto the steering wheel.

The Premium has everything that comes on the 1SV's interior and then some since the Driver Confidence Package bundles more in. Also, the Premium opens up options for all-weather floor mats, jet-black leather seats, and light neutral leather seats. Otherwise, you can expect to find that the interiors of the 1SV and Premium look pretty much the same.

As far as safety features go, the 1SV has a fairly sufficient amount. Standard safety features on this trim level include a full airbag system, rear park assist, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Of course, the Premium packs in a lot more with the addition of the Driver Confidence Package.

Compare the 2019 Cascada Premium vs Sport Touring Trims. What is the difference?

At the top of the 2019 Buick Cascada line-up is the Sport Touring trim level. This trim comes equipped with all of the same mechanical features that you will find on he 1SV and Premium, so do not expect any major changes in terms of performance. With the same 14.3-gallon fuel tank that comes on the lower trim levels, you will get identical fuel efficiency: 24 mpg combined (21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway).

On the outside of the Sport Touring, you will find a few noteworthy alterations that set it apart from the two lower trim levels. First of all, the Sport Touring gets upgraded wheels, as it rides atop 20-inch dynamic twin spoke aluminum wheels that have sporty blacked-out pockets. Like the Premium, it comes with auto on/off headlights that have the tunnel detection feature, and the same convertible soft top system comes standard. There is a Dark Effects Package available, which lets you add gloss black mirror caps, a matching gloss black grille, body-colored accents on the fog lamps and rear accent moldings, and red stitching on the seats, doors, and instrument panel. It also puts Piano Black trim on the instrument panel, doors, and center console. As with the Premium trim, you can opt for the Ebony, Sweet Mocha, or Malbec convertible tops.

An added degree of sportiness is slapped onto the Sport Touring's interior as well. The standard pedals get swapped out in favor of upgraded alloy sport pedals, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel from the lower trim levels gets traded out for a seriously stunning three-spoke sport steering wheel that is wrapped in leather and ergonomic, providing even more comfort for your hands while on long drives. Again, if the standard leather upholstery does not suite your tastes, you can swap it out for either the light neutral or jet black perforated leather seats. Either way, these colors look fantastic on the Sport Touring, and the optional sanguine stitching really works well at enhancing the contrast for an edgier appeal.

In terms of safety features, all of the features that come standard on the Premium trim level are also included on the Sport Touring. This means that you get the same automated roll-over pop-up bars, airbag system, Buick Connected Access connectivity, front and rear parking assist, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, OnStar services, StabiliTrak, and the rear-view camera. Of course, with this being the line-topping trim, it would be nice to see a few more standard and optional safety features (especially those awesome advanced driver aids) get tacked onto the list. After all, if you are going to pay a few thousand dollars more for a vehicle, shouldn't it have even more safety features to offer?

Final Thoughts

With that being said, we have come to the end of our comparison review of the 2019 Buick Cascada. By now, you probably have a better idea of which trim level you should test drive. The one you choose is really going to depend on just how sporty you want your convertible to look. No matter which trim level you choose, you will get the same performance and a good amount of the same standard features.

That is why we cast our vote for the base 1SV trim. It is a well-rounded, well-equipped base trim that puts in a solid overall performance. You are left with enough options to customize the 1SV to your liking, but there are not so many options that you will end up feel overwhelmed by all of the choices. Balance is key when buying a new vehicle, and the 1SV is a great representation of balance. A good amount of standard features, a modest amount of optional features, plenty of power, and a strong fuel economy for a convertible are all facets of the 1SV trim level that make it worthy of being purchased.

In fact, the 2019 Buick Cascada 1SV trim is probably the ultimate convertible trim in its price range. There really is no need to look at any other makes and models.