Autocar - First for car news and reviews

What is it?

A replacement for Cadillac’s BMW 5-series alternative, and spearhead of GM’s latest campaign – this is the third – to establish Cadillac as a credible premium marque in the UK.

A big, rear-drive saloon, the CTS initially comes with a choice of two V6 engines, the smaller 2.8 making 208bhp, the direct injection 3.6 307bhp. Both can be had with either manual or automatic six-speed transmissions, and four-wheel drive will eventually be an option. So might a potent,...Read the full article

Test drove the new CTS in the States.  A very nice car!  This car is much more stylish (interior and exterior) than it's competition and drives just as well.  Very refined, very nice. 

There always seems to be some bias against American cars that "they don't quite match the class leader".  Well, they generally cost significantly less than the class leaders in any category and are terrific value for the money.

Really sets one apart from the common Merc's and BMW's.  Make mine silver. I love it!
 

tommy3:

 

Well said Tommy, that exactly how I feel about American cars coming over here

I agree. A distinctively styled executive saloon that's rear wheel driven and great value. Not much more one could ask for.

Jon Hardcastle:

tommy3:

 

Well said Tommy, that exactly how I feel about American cars coming over here

You made me spit tea out my nose!

The fact Autocar has identified it as "too stiff" makes me fear for my verterbrae. Can it really be worse than an Audi?

What would really put me off is the depreciation and (so far) complete lack of diesel engines. Again.

Half way between between a 3 and 5 series?

           CTS    5 Series    3 Series
Weight     3861     3660        3594
Length     191.6    191.1       178.2
Width      72.5     72.7        71.5
Height     58       57.8        55.9

91fairladyz:

Half way between between a 3 and 5 series?

           CTS    5 Series    3 Series
Weight     3861     3660        3594
Length     191.6    191.1       178.2
Width      72.5     72.7        71.5
Height     58       57.8        55.9

That's what i thought!!. We all know this car is an exec class car and rivals the 5-Series, E-Class etc.

It was a tough call when I was looking for a premium vehicle.  The CTS is beautiful in the flesh and the interior design (separate HVAC screens/controls on each side of the centre console), fantastic.  The best bit was that even its direct injected engine could run on regular petrol over in North America, which is at least 10 cents cheaper per liter than premium fuel.

Alas, I ended up with a Lexus IS - yes, it needs premium fuel but everything else about the car is on another (higher), level.

PS the speedo is not overcalibrated - the digits are fixed so when switching from kph to mph the needle itself shifts; and in a car that will do a claimed 240kph plus I guess you need the scale to go to 270...

Kudos to Cadillac for realizing there is a market for quasi-luxury cars which are not dominated by rappers and the like.

This new CTS does have a few things going for it although I doubt it will win over any Mercedes, Audi or BMW owners in Europe.  In my opinion, it's a step in the right direction for Cadillac if they are ever going to establish themselves as an international brand again.  The interior of this new CTS looks far more tasteful that what I have seen in other American cars to date.

Cadillac are also being realistic about the immediate sales potential for this car especially given current economic conditions.  For their efforts, I do hope they are successful in selling the cars they send to Europe and the UK.

I hope they change the awful tail lights though. Given that the Cadillac's styling is 'vertically inclined' (not sure what to call it, frankly) both front and rear, having clear tail light lenses may confuse the unfamiliar whether they are looking at the face or the ass of the car.

I don't know how they can justify developing a RHD model with UK sales hovering around the 500-unit-per-year number.

Maybe other markets are more tempted, or perhaps this is just another GM stab in the dark.

I sat in one at the BMS and thought it was well screwed together - without driving you can't tell much else - something GM has failed to do for decades, so if you fancy something different...

For the same money I'd go for a used 530d, but then again, I enjoy getting at least some money back for my initial cash outlay.

First thing about the Cadillac Division, I hope there not using Canexpo as a distributer as they are just likely to pull out with poor sales like they did when they sold through Vauxhall 3.6 motor. Can be very rough running. The 6 speed automatic is a dog changes up and down when you least expect it, not a smooth tranny at all. To get sales anywhere near the 300C wait for the diesel