2008
Cadillac CTS V6 DI Performance Sedan
Entry level becomes more luxurious
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SPECS
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There's no better recommendation than Motor Trend Car of the Year to make consumers want to walk back into a Cadillac showroom and give the new CTS a try. I remember the days when owning a Cadillac was the end-all, be-all. I also remember just a few years ago when the folks from Cadillac made promises to the media that the Cadillac brand was going for it and would again, be the premiere luxury vehicle to drive.
Seems GM has held true on its promise. Cadillac is surely rising again and it's noticeable in their new offerings, particularly the all-new and redesigned CTS luxury sports sedan. Miles above its predecessor, the CTS is a carefully tuned, well-oiled machine. The design somewhat resembles Cadillac's 2003 concept vehicle, the Cadillac Sixteen; on a much smaller scale, of course. Compare the two, though and you can surely catch the resemblance.
The 2008 CTS sports a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine, with 304 horsepower and 25 percent lower hydrocarbon emissions. Optional all-wheel-drive is included for the first time and is teamed with traction control. CTS' rear wheel drive gets assist on slippery surfaces from the standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control system. Seventeen-inch aluminum wheels and tires are standard and help to provide a smooth, quiet ride.
Cadillac's hard-drive entertainment system is capable of storing audio files and can also function as an in-car digital recorder. When the system is muted, all radio broadcasting is quieted. The Smart Remote Starter is a nice feature but not one we used often during our test drive. In fact, when attempting to lock the vehicle, we found it wasn't locking with the key fob. Not sure what we were doing wrong. The Smart Remote not only starts the engine for you, it can also turn on and adjust settings for climate control and heated/cooled seats.
The junior of the Cadillac sedan lineup, CTS gets a new, more refined interior with updated features and upscale hand-sewn leather trim. Responding to complaints of "cheap" interior materials, Cadillac has taken extra steps to provide a richer feel to its CTS.
The new V6 engine is more powerful and the widened track adds a comfortable ride. This is a very quiet sedan and riding on the highway is a pleasure. The power wasn't too overwhelming when driving in city traffic; and it was more than adequate when highway driving. Teamed with Cadillac's
The optional leather seating, although expected, isn't as comfortable as we would have liked. There isn't a lot of extra interior room for say, a 6'5" driver or rear seat passenger, and the steering wheel doesn't tilt high enough to accommodate a big belly. We found the seats to be low (even though they can be hiked up a tad) and not as substantial as they could be. A long trip in these seats wouldn't be comfortable for me. The lumbar support didn't do much to change that either.
All these amenities don't come cheap and the CTS' price has been upped to a base of $34,290, from $31,870. Well, I guess if you're going to compete with the big guys, you've got to charge those prices. Even so, the changes in the new CTS are noted and appreciated, making this performance sedan a true contender when looking over the field.
After five years, Cadillac has gotten it right with CTS; the refinements were needed and with a few tucks and smoothing of lines, this is a good-looking vehicle. However, we're not sure it will necessarily turn any heads, only because the shape isn't that different, or new.
Six-speed manual transmission is standard faire, and all-wheel-drive is available with of course, automatic transmission. This transmission shifts seamlessly and adds to the quiet feel of the car. The driver opting for the automatic gearbox may be glad to know there is a manual feature too. Driving through the mountains, one can gear down for maximum handling. And the CTS handles well on the curves.
Additional options available include 18-inch polished wheels, Limited slip differential, Summer tire performance package, heated and ventilated seats, LED ambient lighting, pommele wood, "Ultra-View" double sunroof, 40-gig hard disc drive, USB port for iPod integration and battery charging, adaptive forward lighting that follows vehicle steering, with LED light pipes.
The new 2008 CTS competes with such competitors as the Lexus GS, Infiniti G35, Audi A4, BMW3 and 5-series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars.
Reviewed by Susan Frissell, Womenwithwheels.com