Buick, along with other brands under the General Motors umbrella have decided to kill off many of their passenger cars. At one point, Buick had a pretty diverse vehicle lineup, now the brand is only making SUVs. The discontinuation of many of Buicks models stemmed from low sales. Some cars were plain bad, others just couldn’t beat out the competition. Let’s take a look back at some of Buick’s fallen stars. 

Cascada 

2013-2019

The Cascada may have looked adorable and sporty, but it wasn’t. It was first introduced in 2013 and production stopped in 2019. In its six-year existence, the overall style of the model felt outdated: the seats weren’t comfortable, fuel economy was poor, and the engine was weak. 

Even without these obvious flaws, the Cascada didn’t have much of a chance against other models in its class like the Audi A3 convertible as well as the Ford Mustang. Some say that the Cascada did help attract new customers to the Buick brand. Still, you just really shouldn’t buy the Cascada used. 

Rendezvous

2002-2007

The Buick Rendezvous was marketed as an all-around family crossover SUV in the early 2000s. It may look particularly familiar because it shared the same assembly line as the popular Pontiac Aztek model. What was ultimately the downfall of these models was the “awkward” styling, cheaper materials, and poor visibility. The Rendezvous was also presented as a versatile off-roading option but it didn’t live up to that claim. 

Rainier 

2004-2007

So the Rainier SUV wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t that good either. It was handsome and sporty on the outside and this model was actually decent for off-roading. Another plus was that the cabin was comfortable and quiet. But while it was plush on the inside, the interior still felt really cheap. The available V8 engine option made it more appealing, but it failed to compete with other models in its class that offered more luxury.

After sunsetting the Rainier, Buick introduced the Enclave SUV, which proved to be the right decision. Now, the Enclave is Buick’s top-selling model. 

LaCrosse 

2005-2019

The LaCrosse was actually one of the good ones. This sedan delivered more on Buick’s luxurious claims. The LaCrosse was at its best from 2016 through 2019.  Its interior was upscale, the handling was dynamic, and the technology features were also impressive. Even with all the recent improvements to the LaCrosse lineup, Buick thought it would be better to just focus on their SUV offerings in the U.S. It’s still worth looking into the LaCrosse If you are looking for a good used-car option that’s also family-friendly.

Terrazza 

2005-2007

Way back when Buick had a minivan. The Terrazza was actually the only GM minivan that featured a special suspension system which made for a smoother ride. The leather interior and faux wood trimmings also made this van feel more luxurious. Aside from the large cabin size, the Terrazza was also seen as a decent family-friendly option because of its standard rear-seat entertainment system. The Terrazza was also fairly reliable, it just wasn’t a standout in its class.