You can't call a set of wheels that costs $40,000 an "economy car," but you can call the 2008 Cadillac CTS a bargain. This redesigned luxury sport sedan offers more luxury and more sport than you would expect for the price. Cadillacs used to be cushy but boring. This ain't your daddy's Caddy.
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Photo by Cadillac
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Cadillac CTS
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ABOUT THE CADILLAC CTS:
Body style:
Mid-size sport sedan
Price:
Base MSRP $34,545; test vehicle MSRP $41,080
Drive:
Rear wheel, all wheel
Seating:
Two in front, three in back
Engine:
304-horsepower 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6
Transmission:
Six speed automatic, six speed manual
Miles per gallon of fuel:
17 city, 26 highway
WHAT'S SPECIAL:
An option you just have to have is the new 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 engine that delivers fuel directly to the combustion chamber to create a more complete burn. The result is more horsepower than the standard V-6 Ñ 304 vs. 263 Ñ with comparable fuel economy.
WHAT WE LIKE:
The CTS is a handsome automobile. Inspired by Cadillac's Sixteen design concept car, the lines strike a balance between aggressive and elegant. The interior is simply elegant, with a hand-crafted instrument panel.
WHAT ISN'T THERE:
The handling of a BMW. The steering of the CTS isn't quite as crisp and precise as that of the BMW 3 series, one of its major competitors. But the car feels rock solid during high-speed freeway cruising.
YOU OUGHTA KNOW:
Free the first year with the CTS is GM's OnStar service with Turn-by-Turn Navigation, which allows drivers to talk to a live adviser who sends step-by-step directions to the car. The audio directions automatically play through the car's sound system, triggered by the OnStar system's GPS. That way you can keep your eyes on the road.
EXTRAS:
There is no shortage of gee-whiz gadgets you can add to the Cadillac CTS, which was named car of the year by Motor Trend magazine. Among the upgrades is a 40-gigabyte hard drive audio system that allows you to pause and rewind live radio. You can also load tracks from compact discs. It pairs nicely with the optional Bose 300-watt, 10-speaker sound system. And, of course, you can just plug in your iPod.
COMPETITORS:
The CTS competes in a stylish and popular segment of luxury cars that includes the BMW 3 series and the Audi A4. Buyers in this fairly pricey segment usually are interested in the amenities these cars have to offer as well as some level of driving performance. Cadillac has long sought to match its European rivals in these areas. The Acura TL and Infiniti M sedans also compete in this segment.
ABOUT CADILLAC:
Cadillac just unveiled a new version of the CTS-V, a sport version of the car, that has a 550-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine and magnetic-controlled shock absorbers. "The CTS-V represents the full extension of our design, technology and performance capabilities," Cadillac general manager Jim Taylor told The Associated Press.
AND ANOTHER THING:
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety earlier this month named the CTS a Top Safety Pick for 2008.
