Cadillac CTS Coupe 3.6 V6 Sport Luxury Automatic 3dr Car Review - February 2012

Enter the cabin and you’ll find the top part of the dash trimmed with leather and the rest of the materials used for trim look elegant too. However, the centre console is decorated with a hard silver coloured plastic which looks a bit cheap on such a car.

The adjustment on the steering wheel and electric seats allow the driver to find the ideal driving position easily. The central console appears a bit cluttered with the amount of buttons mounted on it, so much so it can be confusing trying to find what you need at first glance. The satellite-navigation system fitted as standard comes with a nifty touch-screen – so no more buttons thankfully.

The 3.6 litre, 24valve, V6 engine is fast; 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds if you rev it, which is faster than its rival rear-wheel drive luxury counterparts; the Jaguar XF and M Sport BMW 5. The V6 produces a maximum power of 322bhp and 274lb-ft of torque giving it plenty of pulling power and it tops out at 150mph, just a bit less than a BMW M Sport 5 series. The engine is smooth when it’s cruising along and has a nice sporty note to it when revved hard. Sadly, the 6-speed automatic gearbox has a habit of changing when it isn’t required which is a bit annoying.

The Cadillac’s body control on twisty roads is good but it’s maybe not as flexible as it should be due to the slow response steering. This 3.6 model has sportier suspension than the 3.0 litre version and sometimes the ride can feel a touch too firm especially over rough surfaces.

At speed, there’s not much wind noise on the motorways or fast roads, but road noise increases over any rough surfaces.

Its distinctive looks set it apart from its more predictable competitors and it looks every inch the luxury sports car it is. The CTS comes loaded with luxury goodies such as metallic paint, electric leather seats, electric windows and mirrors, alloy wheels, climate and cruise control, Stabili-Trak stability control, rear-parking sensors, automatic wipers and an excellent surround-sound CD system with MP3 connectivity, and satellite-navigation system as standard.

Up front there’s ample space, but rear space is a bit disappointing considering its overall length. Legroom is adequate and better than the Jaguar, but headroom is limited for taller passengers. Rear centrally seated passengers may feel a little cramped for space due to the large transmission tunnel. Boot space is not impressive, being smaller than both the Jaguar and BMW.

In terms of safety the CTS is competitive; all versions get twin front, side and curtain airbag systems along with electronic brake-force distribution system and Stabili-Trak stability control. Automatic locking doors are a nice touch, and an alarm and immobiliser come fitted as standard.

Reliability is yet to be proven here in the UK, as Cadillac is still relatively new here. The CTS comes with Cadillac’s 3 year, 60,000 mile warranty. However, Cadillac dealers are not so abundant in the UK yet, so servicing may not be as convenient as some other options.

While the Cadillac CTS has all the credentials of a luxury saloon, it is way more expensive at £52,046 than its rivals, and even though it comes stacked with nice extras as standard, you can be sure its resell value won’t be as good as its Jaguar or BMW equivalents.

The engine is thirsty and you’ll need deep pockets to fill it up as fuel economy of 25.9mpg is quite poor for its class at. Sadly, there’s no diesel option available at the moment. CO2 emissions are also not very impressive (255g/km) and much higher than its rivals at, putting it in VED band M for Road Tax.

All in all its an interesting alternative to the well established luxury saloons , with decent performance and handling for its class – but its expensive to run, and doesn’t have the reputation here in the UK to support good resell prices.