There was a time when reasonably priced and reasonably practical convertibles were everywhere – but now, there’s just one: the 2017 Holden Cascada. A spiritual successor to cabriolets like the Peugeot 306, Saab 9-3, and naturally Holden’s own Astra, the Cascada now offers a really unique package. This is a stylish drop-top with a premium European feel, it will seat four people pretty easily, and it’s just over $40,000 – immediately, that sounds like good value. Couple all those benefits to the fact that convertibles are just feel-good cars, the Holden Cascada is easy for us to recommend if you’re looking for a fun summer car that surprisingly, demands very few compromises.
The 2017 Holden Cascada in brief:
With sexy European lines, a luxurious interior and solid build quality, the Holden Cascada feels much more premium than its price tag suggests. Unlike most affordable convertibles, the Cascada has four usable seats, and a decent-sized boot. Though some parts of the interior are dated, the Cascada is, overall, a very attractive and likeable car.
The Cascada has a peppy 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine which sounds good. Fuel economy is only average. The Cascada is front-wheel-drive and, as convertibles often are, is relatively heavy. However, the handling is sportier than expected. In particular, the Cascada corners well and is fun to drive.
There is just one model for $42,990, but it comes with plenty of luxurious features, including heated leather seats and a heated steering wheel, navigation, and digital radio. The only option is metallic paint for $550.
