Buick Excelle

Generations: what actually changed between the two

Buick lists four catalogue blocks and two generations. 1 generation ran 2003-01-01 to 2007-12-31 as Sedan with 6 versions. Its restyling (2009-01-01 to 2013-12-31) is still 1 generation, Sedan, 4 versions. Restyling 2 (2013-12-01 to 2016-12-31) is still 1 generation, Sedan, 2 versions. 2 generation starts 2018-01-01, stop not measured, Sedan, 2 versions.

Buick lists four catalogue blocks and two generations. 1 generation ran 2003-01-01 to 2007-12-31 as Sedan with 6 versions. Its restyling (2009-01-01 to 2013-12-31) is still 1 generation, Sedan, 4 versions. Restyling 2 (2013-12-01 to 2016-12-31) is still 1 generation, Sedan, 2 versions. 2 generation starts 2018-01-01, stop not measured, Sedan, 2 versions. Body type never leaves Sedan; FWD never leaves FWD. There is no wagon, GT, XT or HRV row in these specs.

What restyling bought, in arithmetic: peak naturally aspirated 1.6 power rose from 109 hp (80 kW) at 5800 rpm to 115 hp (85 kW) at 6000 rpm — +6 hp, +5 kW. Torque on that 1598 cm³ Inline 4 rose from 150 Nm at 4000 rpm to 155 Nm at 4000 rpm. Compression on the non-Turbo 1.6 went from 9.5 to 10.8. Eco class went from Euro 3 to Euro 5. Front brakes on the restyling are Ventilated disc on every version; 1 generation mixed Disc and Ventilated disc at the front. Rear suspension on the restyling is Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem; 1 generation and restyling 2 use Independent, spring at the rear. Tank fell from 60 L to 56 L. Ground clearance rose from 160 mm to 165 mm. Then restyling 2 dropped displacement to 1485 cm³, cut power to 114 hp (84 kW) at 6000 rpm and 143 Nm at 4400 rpm, cut kerb weight to 1225 kg on both 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT, and restored Independent, spring at both ends. 2 generation cuts displacement again, to 1300 cm³, 106 hp and 133 Nm, switches injection to Direct injection (direct), and is the only generation with a Variable gearbox (1.3 i CVT).

Engine specs: every named version

Specific output (hp per litre of the stated displacement): 1.6 AT 180 hp restyling is 180 / 1.598 ≈ 112.6 hp/L — the outlier, because Turbo is present only there. 1.3 i MT / 1.3 i CVT are 106 / 1.300 ≈ 81.5 hp/L. Restyling 2 1.5 MT / 1.5 AT are 114 / 1.485 ≈ 76.8 hp/L. Restyling 1.6 MT 115 hp is 115 / 1.598 ≈ 72.0 hp/L. 1 generation 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT 109 hp are 109 / 1.598 ≈ 68.2 hp/L. 1.8 MT / 1.8 AT are 118 / 1.799 ≈ 65.6 hp/L — the largest engine is the least specific. Valves per cylinder are 4 on every version that states them. Engine location is Front, transverse where measured (restyling 2 and 2 generation); not measured on 1 generation and its first restyling. Stroke/bore is 79 × 81.5 on every 1598 cm³ engine that states it, and 81.6 × 86 on both 1799 cm³ engines; not measured on 1485 cm³ and 1300 cm³.

Performance and mpg: where the seconds actually differ

Fastest 0–100 in the file is the lighter restyling 1.6 AT 180 hp at 9.0 s (1370 kg). The heavier twin 1.6 AT 180 hp is 9.2 s at 1470 kg — 0.2 s and 100 kg apart, same 230 Nm, same 6-speed Automatic, same FWD. Next cluster is 1 generation manuals: both 1.6 MT 109 hp and 1.8 MT 118 hp are 10.7 s. The 1.8 does not buy a quicker sprint; it buys 7 km/h of top speed versus the 1180 kg 1.6 MT (194 km/h vs 187 km/h) and 8 Nm (158 vs 150). Automatics of 1 generation are 11.5 s for every 1.6 AT 109 hp and for 1.8 AT 118 hp — the 4-speed Automatic costs 0.8 s versus the matching Manual. Top speed on those automatics is 175 km/h (1.6 AT) and 184 km/h (1.8 AT), 12 km/h and 10 km/h below their manuals.

Restyling 1.6 MT 115 hp: 11.7 s at 1320 kg (188 km/h) versus 11.9 s at 1400 kg (193 km/h). The heavier manual is 0.2 s slower but 5 km/h faster at the top — the extra 80 kg does not explain a higher vmax from power, which is identical at 115 hp; the catalogue simply records both figures. Restyling 2 1.5 MT is 12.3 s and 180 km/h: 1.6 s slower than the 10.7 s 1 generation 1.6 MT, and 0.6 s slower than the slower restyling 1.6 MT. Restyling 2 1.5 AT, both 2 generation cars: 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured.

Mpg (L/100 km) is measured only on some 1 generation and restyling cars. Combined: restyling 1.6 MT both 6.6; restyling 1.6 AT both 7.2; 1 generation 1.8 MT 6.2; 1.8 AT 6.8; 1.6 MT 109 hp with figures 7.1; 1.6 AT 109 hp with figures 8.1. City: restyling lighter 1.6 MT 8.3, heavier 1.6 MT 8.7, both 1.6 AT turbo 9.9; 1 generation 1.6 MT 9.1, 1.8 MT 9.5, 1.8 AT 10.7, 1.6 AT 11.2. Highway: both restyling 1.6 MT 5.3, both turbo 1.6 AT 5.6; 1 generation 1.6 MT 6.0, 1.6 AT 6.2, 1.8 MT 9.8, 1.8 AT 12.5. The 1.8 highway figures are higher than that engine’s combined figures in this file; they are recorded as given. CO2 is not measured on any version. Fuel consumption is not measured on restyling 2 1.5 MT, 1.5 AT, 2 generation 1.3 i MT, 1.3 i CVT, and on the 1 generation 1.6 MT 1180 kg / 1.6 AT Disc-front pair.

Dimensions and weight: kg per horsepower

Kerb / hp, where kerb is measured: restyling 1.6 AT 1370 kg / 180 hp ≈ 7.61 kg/hp (best); 1.6 AT 1470 kg / 180 ≈ 8.17 kg/hp. Restyling 2 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT 1225 / 114 ≈ 10.75 kg/hp. 1 generation 1.8 MT 1210 / 118 ≈ 10.25 kg/hp. 1.6 MT 1175 kg / 109 ≈ 10.78; 1.6 MT 1180 / 109 ≈ 10.83. Restyling 1.6 MT 1320 / 115 ≈ 11.48; 1.6 MT 1400 / 115 ≈ 12.17 (worst among measured). Kerb not measured: every 1 generation 1.6 AT and 1.8 AT, and both 2 generation cars.

Gross: restyling turbo 1.6 AT 2005 kg (1470 kg kerb) and 1940 kg (1370 kg kerb); restyling 1.6 MT 1945 kg and 1890 kg; 1 generation 1.8 1695 kg, 1.6 Disc-front 1675 kg, ventilated-front 1650 kg. Restyling 2 gross not measured. Payload from measured pairs: restyling 1.6 MT 1400/1945 = 545 kg; 1.6 MT 1320/1890 = 570 kg; turbo 1.6 AT 1470/2005 = 535 kg; 1.6 AT 1370/1940 = 570 kg; 1 generation 1.6 MT 1180/1675 = 495 kg; 1.6 MT 1175/1650 = 475 kg; 1.8 MT 1210/1695 = 485 kg.

Tank 60 L on 1 generation, 56 L on restyling (−4 L), not measured later. Clearance 160 mm then 165 mm then not measured. Wheel sizes not measured on any version.

Which version to choose

If you want the most power and the lowest kg/hp: 1 generation restyling 1.6 AT 180 hp, 1370 kg (9.0 s, 211 km/h). The 1470 kg twin is the same engine and gearbox with 100 kg more, 0.2 s slower, 2 km/h faster (213 km/h). Combined mpg 7.2 vs 6.6 on the 115 hp manuals — 0.6 L/100 km for +65 hp and +75 Nm. Fuel grade on the turbo 1.6 AT is not measured; eco class is Euro 5.

If you want a late 1 generation car without Turbo: restyling 2 1.5 MT (114 hp, 5 Manual, 12.3 s, 180 km/h, 1225 kg, Euro 5, 95 Gasoline, Front, transverse). 1.5 AT is the same 114 hp and 1225 kg with 6 Automatic; 0–100, top speed and mpg not measured. Versus restyling 1.6 MT 1320 kg: you save 95 kg and 113 cm³ and lose 1 hp, 12 Nm, 0.6 s and 8 km/h of measured vmax.

If you want the lightest 115 hp manual of the restyling: 1.6 MT 1320 kg (11.7 s, 188 km/h, city 8.3). The 1400 kg 1.6 MT is the same 115 hp / 155 Nm with 80 kg more, 11.9 s, 193 km/h, city 8.7; combined 6.6 on both.

If you want 1 generation (2003–2007) and a measured sprint: 1.6 MT 109 hp at 10.7 s, or 1.8 MT 118 hp also at 10.7 s. The 1.8 does not cut 0–100; it adds 201 cm³, 9 hp, 8 Nm, 7 km/h (194 vs 187) and, where mpg is filled, combined 6.2 vs 7.1 on the 1175 kg 1.6 MT. Prefer the 1175 kg 1.6 MT if you want Ventilated disc up front and a filled mpg row; the 1180 kg 1.6 MT is Disc front, mpg not measured, +5 kg. Automatics of this generation are 4-speed, 11.5 s, Euro 3; kerb on 1.6 AT and 1.8 AT is not measured.

If you want 2 generation from 2018: only 1.3 i MT (Manual 6) and 1.3 i CVT (Variable). Same 106 hp, 133 Nm, 1300 cm³, 92 Gasoline, 4 Inline, Direct injection (direct), FWD, Front, transverse. They are the only 92-fuel cars. They are also the least documented: boost, compression, 0–100, top speed, mpg, tank, CO2, eco class, kerb, gross, clearance, wheels, suspension and brakes are not measured. Specific output is high (≈81.5 hp/L) because displacement is the smallest; without a kerb or a 0–100, that ratio does not tell you how the car moves.

Reliability / problems: this file has no failure rates. What it does have: Euro 3 on all 1 generation versions, Euro 5 from the 2009 restyling through restyling 2, eco class not measured on 2 generation. Injection is Distributed injection (multi-point) until 2 generation Direct injection (direct). Boost is No until the restyling Turbo 1.6 AT, then not measured on 2 generation.

Buy the restyling 1.6 AT 180 hp when the catalogue’s own seconds and kg/hp are the test. Buy restyling 2 1.5 MT when you want the lightest measured late sedan and will accept 12.3 s. Buy 1 generation 1.8 MT when you want the highest naturally aspirated top speed (194 km/h) at the same 10.7 s as the 1.6 MT. Buy 2 generation 1.3 i MT or 1.3 i CVT only if 92 Gasoline and the 2018-on Sedan matter more than figures this catalogue has not measured.