Buick Excelle is a very classic family sedan. Even though it can no longer keep up with the current times, Buick has not discontinued it and continues to let it play a residual role in the entry-level family sedan market. As a car reviewer, in order to provide consumers with real vehicle reports, it is important to maintain an objective and impartial attitude at all times when evaluating vehicles. Below are some of my impressions after a deep test drive of the Buick Excelle. The test drive model is the 2020 15N CVT Luxury version.
Power Experience: This car is equipped with a 1.3L three-cylinder naturally aspirated engine, producing a maximum power of 107 horsepower and a maximum torque of 133 Nm. The transmission system is paired with a CVT gearbox, and this power combination comfortably meets daily driving needs. The car does not feel sluggish when starting off; in urban driving, starting at traffic lights, changing lanes, and overtaking are satisfactory, and smoothness is also excellent. The engine rarely exceeds 3000 rpm, maintaining this acceleration capability until about 80 km/h. Beyond this speed, obtaining a power boost requires pressing the accelerator pedal more firmly. Fortunately, the CVT gearbox is very responsive to the throttle, adjusting the transmission ratio to increase rpm. There's a burst near 4000 rpm, but it lacks sustained power, so adequate anticipation for high-speed overtaking is necessary. In our test, this car's 0-100 km/h acceleration time was 11.42 seconds, a performance better than some 1.5L engines.
The vibration of the three-cylinder engine is a frequently discussed issue. I specifically tested this, and indeed, the vibration of this engine at idle and high rpm is more noticeable than a four-cylinder engine, though it's mainly transmitted to the driver through the steering wheel. Other passengers in the car will not have a significant sense of this. The main issue with this three-cylinder engine is noise; the "tapping" of valves is prominent at idle, and at high rpm, the sound is rather harsh and unpleasant, affecting comfort to some extent.
Fuel Efficiency: We conducted a separate fuel consumption test on this car. Throughout a 117.2 km journey, the vehicle experienced traffic congestion, suburban roads, and highway driving. The average speed was 31 km/h, with a total fuel consumption of 7.64 liters, leading to an average fuel consumption of 6.52 liters per 100 km.
Chassis and Driving Experience: This car uses a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear compound torsion beam non-independent suspension. The suspension is calibrated for comfort, absorbing vibrations well, and effectively handling minor road surface vibrations. When passing speed bumps or consecutive pothole sections, the body has no significant sway, indicating good overall chassis integrity. However, the suspension provides insufficient body support, resulting in noticeable body roll during high-speed cornering. The steering system is clearly tuned for the family car market: it's light and agile, and directional accuracy is somewhat vague, making it easy for daily commuting but not ideal for sporty handling.
Space and Seating Comfort: The vehicle measures 4468mm in length, 1765mm in width, and 1469mm in height, with a 2611mm wheelbase. At a height of 175cm, when I adjusted the driver’s seat to its lowest and most comfortable position, there were four fingers' width of headroom. Keeping the front seat position unchanged and moving to the rear, there is nearly a two-fist gap for legroom and two fingers' width for headroom, feeling slightly cramped. The seats are wide and thick, though the padding is quite firm, and the rear headrests are fixed, greatly impacting comfort. The trunk has a standard capacity of 491 liters, capable of accommodating three suitcases of 20/24/28 inches, with room left for small items, which is adequate for daily family use. The only drawback is the rear seats cannot be folded down, limiting expansion.
Purchase Costs: The guide price for this 2020 15N CVT Luxury version is 99,900 yuan, with an average discount of around 25,000 yuan, offering a bare car price of 74,900 yuan. The purchase tax is 6401 yuan, vehicle and vessel tax is 420 yuan, compulsory insurance is 950 yuan, commercial insurance is 3528 yuan, licensing fee is 500 yuan, totaling around 86,600 yuan for a full payment.
