Cadillac has managed to keep General Motors moving in the right direction when it comes to the luxury segment. The new 2010 Cadillac CTS is evidence of just that, having evolved into a desirable luxury sports sedan (or coupe or wagon).
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Making way onto Car and Drivers “10 Best list” is no easy task, but that is the just the challenge that the Cadillac CTS has taken head-on for 3 years straight and making rank each time. When the CTS was first introduced in 2002 as a 2003 model, there was not much to jump up and down about but it was a staple for GM that was headed in the right direction.
The CTS boldly set its sights on rear-wheel-drive European models when it was first introduced and now for 2010 it continues to duke it out with sportiness and a refined luxury.
We drove our CTS test vehicle like we stole it at times and it never ceased to amaze us. Our rear-wheel-drive CTS Performance Collection was equipped with a direct injection 3.6-liter V6 that produces 304 horsepower and 273-ft-lbs. of torque. Power is directed to the rear wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission. Shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel were part of the performance luxury package on our test car. The feel from the enhanced power steering was spot on providing just enough feedback as to not keep us isolated from the road. The turning radius on our 2010 CTS is among the best in the industry (curb to curb turning circle: 35.0 feet).
The V6 engine had quite a thrust only averaging about 22 mpg during our spirited city driving. On the highway we saw an average of 25mpg, which is a couple of miles per gallon shy of the EPA estimate of 27. Aside from fuel consumption, the CTS rides and drives like a dream. The CTS is very stable at legal speeds and beyond. The sport tuned suspension on our test vehicle begged for a bigger engine and some more power. Of course Cadillac offers a solution for that and it is called a 556hp CTS-V.
Outside of the CTS you will find sheet metal that is very pleasing to the eye. Not to mention the optional 19-inch wheels which can be found on the CTS-V to complete the total package making the CTS look aggressive and sporty. The integrated HID adaptive headlights are a nice touch when you want to take a back-road at night and you need the extra lighting when going into a turn at speed.
Upgraded brakes, keyless access, heated/cooled Recaro seats, upgraded cooling system and remote start were all notable additions as part of the performance luxury package on our test vehicle. Inside the cabin of the CTS we very nice looking Recaro seats that are supposed to provide good lateral support but it took a lot of tweaking of the positioning to make that happen. With a lot of experience in making seats for performance vehicles, I could see Cadillac’s logic for choosing Recaro for the front seating.
Instrument controls are well laid out but more viable at night than at daytime. The LED ambient lighting adds a nice touch at night. The available panoramic sunroof is also a nice touch that we would have loved to play with if our test vehicle had it installed. Most of the controls are where they should be with an iPod-esq feel to them. Although I do not like the fact that the scroll wheel in the center of the stack is disabled when driving most of the time with most vehicle functions. The choice for materials is also rather confusing in choosing a treated plastic to cover majority of the center console. That just does not go with your simulated wood accents Cadillac!
The rear seats are supportive providing the same alcantara inserts as the front buckets. Front seat cooling is also a major plus, included with the performance luxury package. 92 degree Florida weather and black leather do not work well together most times. My back-side thanks you Cadillac!
The optional navigation system with the Bose 5.1 surround sound 10 speaker system with an included 40GB hard drive and XM nav traffic service was a nice addition to our test vehicle. The touch screen provided enough options and user-friendliness to find our way around town and even avoid traffic from an accident on the interstate. A birds-eye-view would have been a nice touch but the straight-forward layout worked just fine. One thing we have been spoiled with on majority of cars that we have driven is a back-up camera. Unfortunately our test vehicle did not come equipped with the optional camera. We just had to make do with the rear park assist audible beeps to let us know that we were about to hit the Corvette parked behind us.
It floats like a Cadillac, yes, it really does. Driving the CTS on the highway reminds us that we are in a Cadillac. Although Cadillac has come a long way in terms of the old-school Caddys that literally floated due to some poor shock rebound design and an overweight body, the new CTS still rides smooth yet giving the driver enough confidence to push it to the limit.
The competition is thick in the CTS’s segment. There is the Infiniti G37, Audi A6, Lexus ES 350, Benz E-Class, Volkswagen CC, Jaguar XF and so on. The CTS holds its own very well and is a worthy contender in our book. Not only has GM managed to keep up with the premium-midsized market, but they are in the rakings of benchmark setting vehicles. The price starts at $35,165 for the base 3.0-liter V6 RWD CTS and topping far over $50 grand for a well equipped CTS Premium AWD model. The CTS gives you wide range of configurations that can please the budget minded shopper or make the got-to-have-it enthusiast happy.
Our CTS Performance Collection 3.6-liter V6 test vehicle base price started at 41,565 and as tested with $10,000 of options came out to $52,390 including destination charge.
Get clearance pricing on the Cadillac CTS from a network of dealers to get you the cheapest price. Use a simple form to select the make and model and start saving. Remember to get quotes from the maximum number of dealers to give you the upper hand. Get a Free Quote on the Cadillac CTS or other vehicles now.
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Price: CTS Performance Collection Base $41,565 As-Tested $52,390
Type: Midsize Sedan
Where Built: United States
EPA Class: Midsize Cars
Dimensions
Exterior
Length: 191.6 in.
Width: 72.5 in.
Height: 58 in.
Wheel Base: 113.4 in.
Curb Weight: 3874 lbs.
Interior
Front Head Room: 38.8 in.
Front Hip Room: 55.1 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 56.7 in.
Rear Head Room: 37.2 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 54.7 in.
Rear Hip Room: 54.1 in.
Front Leg Room: 42.4 in.
Rear Leg Room: 35.9 in.
Luggage Capacity: 13.6 cu. ft.
Maximum Cargo Capacity: 14 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5
Performance Data
Base Number of Cylinders: 6
Base Engine Size: 3.6 liters
Base Engine Type: V6
Horsepower: 304 hp
Max Horsepower: 6400 rpm
Torque: 273 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 5200 rpm
Maximum Towing Capacity: 1000 lbs.
Drive Type: RWD Turning Circle: 36 ft.
Fuel Data
Fuel Tank Capacity: 18 gal.
EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway/Combined)
Automatic: 18 mpg / 27 mpg / 21 mpg
Range in Miles:
Automatic: 324 mi. / 486 mi. / 378 mi.
