The Second Coming: The Cadillac CTS
Stephen Hughes
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Features
The Cadillac CTS is the entry level sedan from the most luxurious General Motors nameplate, Cadillac, and could be a game changer for the brand. The Cadillac CTS first debuted in 2002 and has been totally redesigned for the 2008 model year. Although the CTS has enjoyed success in the marketplace, it has never really threatened the leader of the segment, the BMW 3-series. In 2007 Cadillac sold 57,000 units placing it 5th in the entry level luxury sedan segment behind the BMW 3-series, Lexus ES, Mercedes C-Class, and Acura TL, which sold 142,000, 82,000, 63,000, and 58,000 respectively. However, if the December 2007 sales are indicative of the public's response to the new Cadillac, the CTS could be poised for a banner year. In December 2007, the CTS tied for 3rd most sales in the segment with over 6500 vehicles sold!
The redesigned CTS is a great car. We got to experience the fully loaded CTS4 which featured among other things, all-wheel drive; previously, the CTS was only available in rear-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive ability allowed us to confidently plow through the ice and snow that Mother Nature has so graciously bestowed upon Ann Arbor during our week. I remember driving back after class on M-14 in a mixture of snow and sleet and was worried because of the rear-drive bias of the CTS, but the car took it all in its stride without breaking a sweat. Later, when it was dry, we took the car to my own piece of twisty track in Auburn Hills where you can pretend you are Schumacher (or Danica Patrick for the female fans) at Indy. Body motions were very well controlled with damping that was firm but not harsh. Turn-in was quick with excellent steering feel. Harshad keenly noted that automatic transmission shifted very smoothly, and the car even matched the revs when downshifting should you opt to use the manual mode!
If the hard edged exterior styling of the CTS doesn't win you over, then the interior will. Gone are the plastics that adorned the last generation CTS and in their place is the work of Draexlmaier, which specializes in interior design and component manufacturing. When you consider that Draexlmaier clients include Maybach, Mercedes, and Bugatti you begin to understand the level of refinement this new CTS embodies. Our test car was fully outfitted. The infotainment system included Bose audio, a hard-drive navigation system, and even had an iPod docking station in the center console. The navigation touch screen was the first of its kind we had encountered and was a welcome change from the irksome i-drive of BMWs. The favorite option had to be the ultra-view moonroof. This option replaces the traditional roof structure with glass and in the process allows for nearly 70% of the space above you to be open to natural light, which alone could be a reason to buy. What was really cool is the electronic sunshade which can be used to completely cover the Ultra-View moonroof. We thought this was a classy touch.
What we found perplexing about this car is that, even though it is grouped amongst the entry level luxury sedan segment, it is actually the same size (overall length) as the BMW 5 series and the Mercedes E-Class. The CTS measures in at 191 inches, which is over a foot longer than both the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C-Class. Thus if you consider the CTS in the same segment as either the BMW 5-series or the E-Class the CTS is a great value, as a comparably equipped 5 or E will cost you nearly $15K more than our CTS. Because of this, we suggest that Cadillac start comparing themselves to the 5-Series and the E-Class and push value as its "dynamic variable".
The redesigned CTS is a great car. We got to experience the fully loaded CTS4 which featured among other things, all-wheel drive; previously, the CTS was only available in rear-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive ability allowed us to confidently plow through the ice and snow that Mother Nature has so graciously bestowed upon Ann Arbor during our week. I remember driving back after class on M-14 in a mixture of snow and sleet and was worried because of the rear-drive bias of the CTS, but the car took it all in its stride without breaking a sweat. Later, when it was dry, we took the car to my own piece of twisty track in Auburn Hills where you can pretend you are Schumacher (or Danica Patrick for the female fans) at Indy. Body motions were very well controlled with damping that was firm but not harsh. Turn-in was quick with excellent steering feel. Harshad keenly noted that automatic transmission shifted very smoothly, and the car even matched the revs when downshifting should you opt to use the manual mode!
If the hard edged exterior styling of the CTS doesn't win you over, then the interior will. Gone are the plastics that adorned the last generation CTS and in their place is the work of Draexlmaier, which specializes in interior design and component manufacturing. When you consider that Draexlmaier clients include Maybach, Mercedes, and Bugatti you begin to understand the level of refinement this new CTS embodies. Our test car was fully outfitted. The infotainment system included Bose audio, a hard-drive navigation system, and even had an iPod docking station in the center console. The navigation touch screen was the first of its kind we had encountered and was a welcome change from the irksome i-drive of BMWs. The favorite option had to be the ultra-view moonroof. This option replaces the traditional roof structure with glass and in the process allows for nearly 70% of the space above you to be open to natural light, which alone could be a reason to buy. What was really cool is the electronic sunshade which can be used to completely cover the Ultra-View moonroof. We thought this was a classy touch.
What we found perplexing about this car is that, even though it is grouped amongst the entry level luxury sedan segment, it is actually the same size (overall length) as the BMW 5 series and the Mercedes E-Class. The CTS measures in at 191 inches, which is over a foot longer than both the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C-Class. Thus if you consider the CTS in the same segment as either the BMW 5-series or the E-Class the CTS is a great value, as a comparably equipped 5 or E will cost you nearly $15K more than our CTS. Because of this, we suggest that Cadillac start comparing themselves to the 5-Series and the E-Class and push value as its "dynamic variable".
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