I'd driven--and reviewed--the CTS is pretty much every permutation. But I'd yet to sample the new-for-2005 2.8-liter V6, non-V six-speed manual, base suspension, or standard vinyl upholstery. So when a dealership nearby ordered a car with no options so they could advertise a low price, I jumped at the chance to test drive it.
Styling
I continue to like the CTS' exterior styling because it looks like nothing else and makes a strong statement. It's not the most beatiful car, but it's interesting. The many sharply intersecting planes recall those of the stealth fighter, and thus one of the things America does best.
I like the interior more than most people for the same reasons--at least it has a strong theme, in this case a PC. Critics correctly charge that the materials aren't the best, and look cheaper than they are, with soft touch materials that appears hard. The bits of wood that come in the Luxury Package help liven things up; they were absent in this car.
Like that used by German competitors, the soft vinyl upholstery feels close enough to leather that many people's first impression will be that it is leather. It does not in any way look or feel cheap.
Accommodations
When I first saw photos of the CTS I feared that the high cowl would yield a bunker-like forward view. Not so. While the instrument panel is high, so is that in many competing cars. It's at the high end of my personal tolerance level, but not above it. Like that in many GM cars, the non-telescoping tilt wheel has widely-spaced detents.
The front seats are very comfortable and provide good lateral support. The base car lacks a lumbar adjustment, but it isn't needed.
The rear seat remains a bit tight for a car over 190 inches in length. Adults will fit, but won't have much room to spare. The seat isn't as low as some past GM sedans, but could still stand to be higher off the floor.
Trunk space is about average for the class, and a folding rear seatback is optional. That's one thing I wish they hadn't copied from the Germans. But at least it's available. The Japanese in this segment don't offer this feature at all.
On the Road
The 210-horsepower 2.8-liter DOHC V6 is related to the 255-horsepower 3.6 I've driven a couple times before. Like the larger six it possesses the refinement expected at this level, but the difference in power feels even larger than the stats suggest. Even with a manual transmission acceleration is just adequate; if you want a shove in the back get the 3.6.
GM has turned out some awful manual shifters in the past. So I was very pleased to find the CTS' lever smooth and solid. Throws could be shorter, but it feels the way a shifter in a premium car should. I suspect a heavy knob has been employed to help deaden vibrations. If only the shifter in the CTS-V felt this good.
This is the first time I've driven a CTS without the sport suspension. I expected the base suspension to be fluffy, like American luxury sedans of yore. It's not. Instead, the CTS' ride is nicely composed and doesn't bob or float. Road noise is fairly low. Lean in turns is moderate. The sport suspension feels sharper and better restrains lean, but the difference is not huge. I'd like to see a harder core sport suspension. With any of the suspensions the CTS feels balanced the way only a rear-wheel-drive car can. Even on snow-covered roads with no stability control--this safety feature remains available only with the Sport Package for some odd reason--I had no trouble at all controlling the car. Rear-drive was not an issue in light snow. If only the steering provided more feel and the wheel itself were smaller in diameter; the Sport Package doesn't help here.
Cadillac CTS Price Comparisons and Pricing
The two most popular comparisons (base to base, without rebates, adjusted for feature differences):
Infiniti G35: $2,800 less at MSRP, $3,000 less at invoice
Acura TL: $2,900 less at MSRP, $3,300 less at invoice
These price comparisons include the CTS 3.6. The 2.8 is a bit less expensive, but its performance is no match for that of the G35 and TL.
Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)
TrueDelta's page for the CTS:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/CTS.php
Last Words
I fully expected the base CTS to embarrass itself. But it did not. Performance is not thrilling--there are other variations for that. But it's strong enough and tight enough to warranty comparison with the Germans. Put another way, it's certainly no Lexus ES.
Still, I'd get the 3.6. It's much stronger and not much more money. You'll also then have to get the leather, but most people will want it anyway no matter how good the vinyl is.
A note on Cadillac CTS Reliability
I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.
Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy a CTS rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Cadillac CTS reliability comparisons.
Before I can report results, I need data on all cars--not just the CTS--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive
free access to the site's reliability information. For non-participants, this access will cost $24.95.
For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.
A link to this website and alphabetized links to
my other vehicle reviews can be found on my
profile page.
If you're a member, and you want to receive an email when I post a new review,
click here.
Some of my reviews of related vehicles:
Acura TL review
Audi A4 2.0T review
BMW 3-Series review
Infiniti G35 review
Lexus IS review
Lincoln Zephyr review
Mercedes C-Class review
Saab 9-3 review
Volvo S60 R review
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