Review: Holden CJ Cascada (2015-17)

Overview

Released in Australia in April 2015, the Holden CJ Cascada was a four-seat convertible with a power-operated, soft-top roof. Manufactured in Gilwice, Poland, the front-wheel drive CJ Cascada was powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine that was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

A16XHT ‘SIDI Ecotec’ engine

The 1.6-litre A16XHT ‘SIDI Ecotec’ turbocharged engine had a cast-iron block, an aluminium cylinder head, direct petrol injection, chain-driven double overhead camshafts with hydraulic tensioners, variable intake and exhaust camshaft phasing, four valves per cylinder actuated by roller cam followers, twin balance shafts and a compression ratio of 10.5:1.

Unlike the A16XHT engines with manual transmissions, as used in the Holden Astra GTC , models with automatic transmissions did not have a Start/Stop function that would shut down the engine when the vehicle was stationary in traffic to minimise fuel consumption.

Dimensions and roof

Underpinned by General Motors’ Delta II platform, the Holden CJ Cascada was 4697 mm long, 1840 mm wide, 1482 mm tall and had a 2695 mm long wheelbase; kerb weight was 1744 kg. Inside, the Cascada’s front seats would automatically slide forward to give access to the rear seats (‘Easy Entry’) and there was a powered front seatbelt extender.

The Holden Cascada had a triple-layered acoustic soft-top roof that could be operated via a remote control on the key fob; the roof took 17 seconds to fold down and could be operated at speeds of up to 50 km/h. Boot space was 380 litres with the roof up, though this decreased to 280 litres with the roof stowed.

Suspension

The Holden Cascada had MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension with Watts linkages. The Cascada’s front suspension featured HiPerStruts (High Performance Struts) which had reduced kingpin inclination and a shorter spindle length to reduce camber loss while cornering (thereby reducing torque steer reactions and improving traction).

Steering

The Cascada had rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Holden CJ Cascada included dual front airbags, front side airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, traction control, active front seat head restraints, front seatbelts with double pretensioners and rear seatbelt pretensioners. In the event of roll-over (or other impacts), pyrotechnically activated spring-loaded high-strength bars will automatically deploy from behind the rear seats.

Features: Holden CJ Cascada

Standard features for the Holden Cascada included 18-inch alloy wheels, a seven speaker sound system with a digital radio tuner (DAB), MP3-compatible CD player and auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB/iPod), Holden’s MyLink infotainment system with a seven-inch colour display and satellite navigation, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, perforated ‘Siena’ leather seats, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, cruise control, front fog lights, a rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, 50/50 split rear seat backs, a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, remote central locking, power adjustable and heated mirrors, power windows, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, an electric park brake, alloy sports pedals, a trip computer and an immobiliser.

Features: Cascada Launch Edition

The Cascada Launch Edition was distinguished by its 20-inch alloy wheels, premium Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, bi-xenon headlights with adaptive lighting, LED daytime running lights and a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel. Only fifty (50) Cascada Launch Edition vehicles were delivered to Australia.

Paint colours

The Holden Cascada was available in the following paint finishes:

• Summit White;
• Carbon Flash Black;
• Phantom Grey;
• Deep Sky Blue; and,
• Nitrate Silver.

Brochure

• Brochure: Holden Cascada (May 2015)

Related links

• Holden Media: Holden Cascada Convertible to Debut in Australia in 2015 (May 2014)
• Holden Media: Holden Astra and Cascada Launch (April 2015)
• Behind the Wheel: 2016 Holden Cascada Convertible Review
• Holden.com.au: Holden Cascada
• Wikipedia.org: Opel Cascada