2014 Cadillac CTS 2.0L AWD & Vsport
As Cadillac continues on the comeback trail, getting the new CTS midsize luxury sedan right becomes critical.
Helping its case is that the CTS is now correctly sized to compete head-on with the Audi A6 and BMW 5-series, two of the class’ best. Outside, the Cadillac is more flamboyant, yet still refined looking. Inside, material quality surpasses the German’s in many areas, and the back seat is big and comfortable enough for taking the boss to lunch, though the trunk gives it up a bit to the others for usefulness. At least the reviled CUE infotainment interface is now less of an issue; software updates make it faster acting and slightly more intuitive.
Where the CTS really spanks the Continentals is in dynamics. BMW has been working hard to make its cars appeal to a wider audience, at the expense of feedback and response, while Audi has usually trailed BMW in this area anyway. Meanwhile Cadillac has reinvented itself as BMW circa-2005, with stunning steering feel and feedback and superb chassis composure—yet at no expense in refinement or ride quality. Much of the credit is due to rigorous weight management; the Vsport takes the scales almost 500 pounds lighter than its classmates, the rest to the brilliant magnetorheological damping.
The popular “entry level” CTS, motivated by a 2-liter, 272hp/295lb-ft four, is quite quick enough at just over six seconds to 60mph, with a deep vein of low-end thrust to tap, a very nicely tuned exhaust note and good economy. Now all it needs is a real transmission, as its six-speed auto just doesn’t cut it these days. That tranny is available in the new, Vsport model, intended to slot in between the upcoming CTS-V and more mainstream models. For now, however, Vsports are only rear wheel drive.
That said, the Vsport Cadillac struck me as an almost perfect blend of performance and all around usability. There’s 420 horses from its sonorous twin turbo V6, eight speeds in the ‘box to provide thrills and economy, and a chassis of unmatched ability in this class, yet it still serves up 85 percent of the basic model’s quiet refinement. And 60 takes only 4.4 seconds.
Ten years ago I could see where Cadillac was headed, and wanted to want one of their cars. Now that BMWs are almost common (being top-10 sellers in many states), the CTS comes across as one I’m less likely to loose in a parking lot, not to mention the more purist choice for a true driving enthusiast.
EPA ratings: 19/28mpg; 16/24mpg
Price as tested: $60,325; $70,990
Here is what Cadillac has to say.
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