What model is the Excelle?

[VanIvan]

Excelle is the Buick Excelle model, a premium mid-size car launched by SAIC General Motors. The car's dimensions are 4609mm in length, 1798mm in width, and 1486mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2640mm. It features a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link independent rear suspension, with a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. In terms of power, the Buick Excelle is equipped with a 1.4T DVVT turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 163, a maximum power of 120 kW, and a peak torque of 230 Nm, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

[CharlesLynn]

I remember driving my friend's Excelle, this car has been quite successful in our domestic market for many years. As a compact sedan under the Buick brand, it has been domestically produced since 2003 and is considered a veteran in the family car segment. The driving feel is quite comfortable, especially with the well-tuned chassis that filters out vibrations nicely when going over speed bumps. The 1.5L naturally aspirated engine paired with a 6AT transmission delivers a fuel consumption of around 7-8 liters per 100km. Although the new model was discontinued after 2016, you can still find quite a few in the used car market. The seat support is solid, making it comfortable for family trips without too much fatigue.

[Steve]

The Buick Excelle can be considered one of the most down-to-earth joint-venture cars. There are three parked in the parking spaces near my apartment building. With typical compact car dimensions, its trunk can fit three large suitcases. I've studied its configurations—the base model comes with a manual transmission and fabric seats, while the higher trim adds a sunroof and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Many complain about the vibration of the 1.3L three-cylinder engine, but the 1.5L four-cylinder version delivers adequate power. A particular mention goes to the dashboard design—the air conditioning knob is placed in an ergonomically awkward position, requiring you to bend over to adjust the temperature. GM definitely loses points for this design.

[Richardson]

From an engineering perspective, the Buick Excelle is built on GM's Delta II platform. After the 2013 model year refresh, the rear suspension was changed from a twin-link setup to a torsion beam, which reduced costs but increased body roll during cornering. The body structure uses ultra-high-strength steel for only about 30% of its composition, barely meeting passive safety standards. The engine and transmission pairing is quite intelligent, though the valve cover gasket is a common failure point - most vehicles over five years old develop oil leaks. The brakes have noticeable dead travel in the initial pedal movement, requiring extra adaptation for new drivers. Overall build quality falls slightly short of Japanese counterparts, but the advantage lies in affordable repair parts.

[ElleAnn]

The Excelle was everywhere on the streets ten years ago, and Buick used it to break into China's family sedan market. Positioned half a tier below the Excelle GT, its pricing strategy was clever, with new cars back then costing just over 100,000 yuan out the door. Space design was a highlight—even at 183cm tall, I had a fist's worth of knee room in the back seat. With 15cm of ground clearance, higher than its peers, it handled rough roads without worrying about scraping the undercarriage. The engine tech was ordinary—cast iron block sturdy but heavy, and the electric power steering felt light as a toy car. Nowadays, you can find well-maintained used ones for around 30,000 yuan, making it a very cost-effective commuter car.

[MarianaAnn]

The Buick Excelle is really cheap to maintain. It was one of the most durable customer cars I've seen when I ran an auto repair shop. The maintenance interval is every 7,500 kilometers, with minor services costing just 300 yuan. Parts are interchangeable with Baojun models - for example, replacing a bumper only costs 400 yuan. Fuel consumption is average, around 9L/100km in city driving with AC on. The main downside is poor sound insulation, especially noticeable tire noise on concrete roads. Its resale value is actually decent, retaining about 40% of its value after five years - much better than French cars. The engine bay layout is very tidy, allowing DIY air filter replacement in just five minutes.