What are the performance differences between Volkswagen Bora and Buick Excelle?
3 Answers
The differences between Volkswagen Bora and Buick Excelle are as follows: 1. Different engines: Volkswagen Bora is equipped with a 1.5L L4 engine; Buick Excelle has a 1.0T L3 engine. 2. Different rear suspension types: Volkswagen Bora uses a torsion beam non-independent suspension; Buick Excelle adopts a multi-link independent suspension. 3. Different exterior designs: The front face design of the Volkswagen Bora incorporates Volkswagen's new design language, integrating continuous lines into the front face design. Precise and bold lines connect the headlights with the chrome-plated grille. The contour lines of the headlights perfectly match the internal styling lines, complementing the chrome grille to form Volkswagen's iconic front face. The Buick Excelle features the brand's new family-style winged chrome grille, giving its front face a sharper and more rugged appearance.
I really enjoy studying the driving feel of different cars. Although both the Bora and Excelle are considered family cars, they have completely different personalities when driven. The Bora comes with a 1.2T or 1.5L engine paired with a dual-clutch or 6AT transmission, delivering a particularly crisp start, especially when following traffic in the city. The Excelle's 1.5L with 6AT is much gentler, accelerating as smoothly as gliding, but you need to step on the gas earlier for highway overtaking. The chassis differences are even more pronounced—when going over speed bumps, the Bora produces two clean 'thud' sounds, while the Excelle makes muffled 'thump' sounds with more body roll but less harshness. The steering wheel feel of the Bora is heavier, with quicker front-end response in turns; the Excelle's is light enough to turn with one hand, making it ideal for moms shuttling kids around. Last time I drove a friend's Excelle on mountain roads, the body roll in corners was more noticeable than in the Bora, though the seats were indeed softer. For a sportier feel, the Bora definitely has the edge.
As someone who frequently drives long distances, I pay special attention to highway performance. I've driven both cars multiple times. The Bora has more power reserves after exceeding 80 km/h, especially the 1.2T model which can still deliver a bit of acceleration kick when you floor it. The Excelle's engine noise becomes noticeably louder after 3000 rpm, but its wind noise control is actually better. The most crucial factor is chassis stability - driving the Excelle at 110 km/h in heavy rain feels a bit floaty, while the Bora at the same speed feels glued to the road. Surprisingly, their fuel consumption is quite similar - my actual tests showed the Bora 1.5L automatic at 5.8L/100km on highways, while the Excelle managed 5.6L/100km. The transmission logic differences are quite interesting: the Bora downshifts very aggressively, often automatically blipping the throttle on descents; the Excelle is more sluggish, hesitating for half a second before downshifting even on inclines. If you frequently drive on highways, I'd choose the Bora.
