The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Brash, dynamic styling
- Top-notch interior quality
- Tech features ahead of the class
- Ride, handling and braking excellence
Dislikes
- Cabin can seem busy, glitzy
- In need of a weight-loss program
- Manual gearbox feels balky
- Sport seats need a rethink
- Tight back seats in coupe--and sedan
Buying tip
features & specs
It has a styling leg up, and the 2012 Cadillac CTS backs up its looks with good dynamics, good build quality and a competitive set of body styles and options.
It took a generation, but today's Cadillac CTS can truly bill itself as "world-class." When it bowed in 2003, the entry-level Caddy lacked a certain refinement in styling and materials--not to mention the coupes, wagons, and super-sport derivatives that Audi, BMW, Mercedes, even Lexus already had on tap.
Since it emerged in 2008, the second-generation CTS has pitched Cadillac, at long last, into the heated battle waged between the likes of the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, even the Infiniti G37 and Lexus IS. A truly sporty sedan, it now counts Coupe and Wagon models along with its Sedan stock and trade--and has a world-beating CTS-V lineup as its trump card.
Of all these cars, the CTS may be the most distinctive, and most attractive. It's flashy, yes, but the Cadillac Art & Science theme doesn't suffer from the me-too syndrome that endangers some of the cars in this class. There's no way you'd mistake its edgy, bladelike fenders and sparing use of chrome for anything but American, and those are just the big themes. Some details are mesmerizing, like the upswept headlamps on all versions, or the V-taper on the rear ends of the coupe and wagon. Of all the versions the Wagon is the most arresting--and that's an accomplishment. Every CTS shares an interior that's a great leap ahead for GM, if still a little cluttered and glitzy. Sharply delineated, with some functions and controls scattered around, subservient to the look, the CTS' cabin pretty much flips off the German less-is-more ethos, and goes for pure dazzle. It gets the contours right, but some of the plastic pieces still stand out a little too easily from the otherwise high level of trim quality. To be fair, that's more common across the luxury board these days.
Two engines, a choice of manual or paddle-shifted automatic transmissions, and an option for all-wheel drive allow drivers to configure their CTS in some interesting ways. Price is the reason to stick with the base 3.0-liter, 270-horsepower V-6 with direct injection, in sedans or wagons. It's smooth, relatively quiet, and puts out reasonably brisk performance. All coupes and other wagons and sedans get a revamped version of GM's 3.6-liter direct-injected six-cylinder this year; we haven't driven it yet, but the 318-hp six is sure to be our preference, with its 48-hp advantage over the base engine, and its close specs to the outgoing engine. Definitely give a pass to the balky manual six-speed transmission: it's only offered on base coupes and sedans, and in any case, GM's GM's six-speed automatic, with paddle shifters and sweet gear changes, is a better companion for sporty driving, anyway. All body styles have an option for all-wheel drive, and it extracts the usual weight and gas-mileage penalty--but makes the CTS more usable in the northern tier.
We've driven most of the available combinations of drivetrains, and in all, the CTS has some common traits, no matter how it's configured. Steering is a highlight, even crisper when a sport package with summer tires is added--the "FE3" setup on rear-drive models. Ride quality is well-controlled on sedans and especially on wagons, while the stubby coupe can feel a tad more busy. In the grander scheme, the CTS has finally hit its intended targets for ride and handling, just as Infiniti's done with the G37 lineup. All CTS vehicles are rated at 18/27 mpg except for the AWD sedans and wagons, which earn 18/26-mpg ratings, and manual rear-drive coupes, which are rated at 17/25 mpg.
Performance is very good, but like other cars in this segment, the CTS could use some more elbow room. The cabin is comfortable but snug, though the Wagon's longer rear door openings make it more useful, as does the extra 25 cubic feet of passenger space. The wagon also lets owners flip down the rear seats for a total of 53.4 cubic feet of room. The coupe doesn't lose much legroom compared to the sedan, but it's noticeably cramped, especially in rear-seat headroom. On all versions, sport sedans are inferior to the base ones, and have an odd concave padding down the middle of their cushions. There's a base "leatherette" upholstery, but most cars you'll see on lots will be outfitted with a fine grade of leather.
All CTSs are loaded--it's really just a matter of how loaded, and which tech and audio upgrades are specified. The sedan comes with power doors, locks, and mirrors; cruise control; automatic dual-zone climate control; a power driver seat; a tilt and telescoping steering wheel; an AM/FM/CD/XM audio system with auxiliary jack; an air filtration system; and automatic headlamps. The Sport Wagon adds a power tailgate to that list. The major options include a panoramic sunroof; a particularly advanced, easy-to-use entertainment system with hard-drive music storage and memory to hold radio broad-casts; a navigation system with real-time traffic; ventilated seats; a pet cover for the wagon's cargo hold; and 18- or 19-inch wheels and tires, to go with different suspension packages and all-weather or summer tires. For the 2012 model year, Bluetooth is standard across the board.2012 Cadillac CTS Styling
In a class full of attractively styled cars, the 2012 Cadillac CTS continues to stand out with a unique look that will woo many.
For those not in love with the Art & Science design theme, the CTS may be a disaster. For everyone else, however, it's a head-turning combination of modern looks and classic proportions. The Coupe is probably the most polarizing, with its chunky rear fenders, creased center leading to a pointed tail, and large, spoiler-like center-mounted tail light.
The Wagon doesn't come up short on style either, though, with an intentionally off-angle rear pillar shape to set off its glass edge. Almost tailfin-like details on its rear remind of Cadillacs past, but with a completely contemporary look. Wherever your eyes fall on the CTS, be it wagon, sedan, or coupe, they are eventually drawn to the slab-like, sculpted sides and back up to the sizable, shapely rear--particularly in the Coupe and Sport Wagon.
Inside, the 2012 CTS is attractive, but again, won't be to everyone's taste: it's American, with flowing contours and smooth surfaces highlighted by polished wood and plastic, chrome-finish accents, and leather upholstery. Almost all of the controls are busily packed into the V-shaped center console area, from which the navigation screen rises and hides at the top of the stack. It's elegant, but Teutonic sparseness is not in its vocabulary.n, both stylistically and functionally.
2012 Cadillac CTS Performance
While the 2012 Cadillac CTS isn't downright quick until you step up to the V-series, it's quick enough, agile for its size, and engaging behind the wheel.
The Coupe, on the other hand, only offers the 3.6-liter engine, and is only available with a six-speed automatic transmission. Both rear- and all-wheel-drive models are available.
Looking beyond the hard numbers, the CTS family offers a lot of engagement for an avid driver. Both engines prefer to rev, gaining pep as they climb the tachometer; neither is downright quick, however, especially off the line. Still, in the upper one-third of the rev range, the 3.6-liter engine in particular is willing and able--and sweet-sounding--when pushed. All three versions click off a 0-60 mph run in about seven seconds--slightly less for the slightly lighter sedan.
The six-speed automatic is smooth-shifting and surprisingly capable in full-auto sport mode. Shifts can also be commanded directly, through buttons on the back of the steering wheel.
In all three models, which offer four different factory suspension setups, handling is generally comfortable but balanced with firm feel and body control. The FE3 suspension offers a great compromise solution, with the 19-inch wheels and summer tires providing a sharper feel to steering and more ultimate grip, while the dampers and tuning iron out the bigger bumps. Driven with spirit, the CTS feels firm and planted, though it will tend toward understeer when pushed very hard. It's even a willing companion on a winding back road, but it's most at home bombing down freeways Autobahn-style.
An upgraded Performance Package offers a firmer, sportier suspension tune, 19-inch polished aluminum wheels, and Continental ContiSport Contact summer tires, an upgraded cooling system, and beefier performance brakes. Even without the Performance Package, however, the CTS's brake feel is very good, and modulation is easy. With a heavy car, however, more heat absorption capability is a good thing.
2012 Cadillac CTS Comfort & Quality
The 2012 Cadillac CTS Coupe and Sedan can be a little tight inside, and the front seats aren't perfect, but the Sport Wagon makes great use of the footprint.
There's enough room for most, though leg and knee room are a bit snug. Too-flat, too-hard cushions in the front buckets, combined with a bump midway up the middle of the backrest, and a dearth of headroom in sunroof-equipped models, however, makes them less than comfortable.
The back seats, on the other hand, are surprisingly spacious and comfortable, even in the Coupe, which shares its wheelbase with the sedan. Headroom can be a bit short in the back, but is only a problem for taller occupants. Getting in and out of the back seat is the only draw back: small door openings make it difficult for large or lanky adults. The Sport Wagon, on the other hand, remedies this deficiency with longer, wider doors at floor level.
For cargo space, the Sport Wagon is the clear winner, with a massive 25 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, or 53.4 cubes with the seats folded flat. The power tailgate makes it convenient, and a roof-rack system adds even more capacity when the need arises. Under the flat cargo floor, there are trays, hooks, and tie-downs to help secure cargo.
The Sedan's cargo space isn't bad, with 14 cubic feet in the trunk; the Coupe is a bit less spacious, but the rear seats are split-folding to open up quite a bit of room.
In general, the details--materials, panel fit, and feel--are well-executed. Some of the panels don't fit quite as well as you'd find in a BMW or an Audi, but they're close, and still very good. Soft-touch plastics, rubber-coated steering wheel shifters, and cut-and-sew leather on the dash and doors all give a premium feel. Ergonomics are generally good, too, though the location of the trip meter button makes it a blind operation while driving.
Cabin noise is also very low, which is perhaps expected in the Coupe and Sedan, but may surprise in the Sport Wagon. Wagons, crossovers, and hatchbacks (as well as SUVs) are known for their boominess, but there's very little in the CTS wagon. Road, wind, and engine noise are also very low.
2012 Cadillac CTS Safety
Excellent safety scores and a strong set of standard safety equipment make the 2012 CTS a top choice, but rearward visibility may be an issue for some.
In addition to the strong crash-test ranks, the 2012 CTS also comes with a healthy set of standard and optional safety equipment, including: six airbags; traction and stability control; optional all-wheel drive (which is standard on the Sport Wagon); optional adaptive lighting; available parking sensors; and an optional rearview backup camera.
In any CTS, but especially the Coupe, rearward visibility can be compromised by the chunky rear roof pillars. The sedans suffer the least from this issue.
2012 Cadillac CTS Features
Once you've upgraded from the base upholstery, the 2012 CTS offers plenty of surround sound, navigation, infotainment, and comfort options to compete with, and occasionally beat, the best in class.
The base sedan offers power door locks, windows, and mirrors; cruise control; automatic dual-zone climate control; a power driver seat; a tilt and telescoping steering wheel; an AM/FM/CD/XM audio system with auxiliary jack; an air filtration system; and automatic headlamps. Base models also come with "leatherette" vinyl seats, a disappointing fact, but common to most of the European alternatives, too. The Sport Wagon adds a power liftgate to the standard list.
The Performance Package adds the FE2 suspension, 18-inch wheels, and HID headlamps. Opting for the package on the larger V-6 models brings surround sound and a USB/iPod interface, too. A panoramic sunroof, 40-GB hard drive navigation/infotainment system, heated seats, and Bluetooth connectivity are also available. Beware the sticker price, however, as throwing all of these at a CTS can quickly push the price toward $50,000--though even then, it's competitive with the likes of the Audi A4 Avant.
2012 Cadillac CTS Fuel Economy
The 2012 Cadillac CTS line's gas mileage just isn't all that green.
The Sport Wagon also returns similar figures, with the 3.0-liter engine rating 18/27 mpg and the 3.6-liter V-6 returning 18/26 mpg.
While those figures won't break the bank, they're on the lower end of cars in the class.
