2018 Cadillac CT6

Overview

The sleek and sporty CT6 is the crown jewel of Cadillac’s lineup. Despite being smaller and cheaper than flagships from BMW and Mercedes, its halo status compels a comparison with those well-established rivals. Ultimately, the Caddy lacks their superior craftsmanship and mighty powertrains, so reclaiming the company’s Standard of the World slogan will require more. Still, the CT6 has a remarkable ride and handles more like a sports car than a limousine. Its engine selections are competent but unremarkable compared with those of some competitors. A plug-in hybrid version is also available in the Cadillac. While the mack-daddy CT6 lacks the wow factor of high-end rivals, it offers elegant styling and singular driving dynamics at a more affordable price.

What's New for 2018?

The CT6 enters year three of its current design with the addition of the new Cadillac Super Cruise semi-autonomous driver-assistance feature but otherwise has mostly minor updates. Using a combination of cameras and radar, Super Cruise can pilot the CT6 for prolonged trips at highway speeds without driver input. While Super Cruise can’t change lanes or negotiate intersections, and the driver must maintain attention, it’s impressive nonetheless. Cadillac has also adopted the General Motors Teen Driver mode, which allows parents to monitor their children’s driving habits, and the CT6’s revised self-parking feature now eliminates driver involvement. The lineup also adds an optional automatic heated steering wheel, a lens washer for the backup camera, and revised paint-color choices.

Pricing

Original MSRP:

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The engines of the CT6 get better, as you might expect, the higher their rated horsepower goes. That leaves the base turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder as the least satisfying of the bunch and the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 as the best. Sprinkle the naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V-6 and the plug-in hybrid somewhere in between, but note that the eight-speed automatic transmission bolted to each gas engine suffers from a lack of low-speed smoothness. Cadillac desperately needs more powerful engines to better line up with its competitors. For example, in our testing the twin-turbocharged V-6 CT6 barely edged out the base six-cylinder BMW 7 Series to 60 mph, despite an 84-hp advantage and lighter weight. Of all the CT6’s powertrains, only the V-6 engines sound good; the four-cylinder and hybrid models sort of moo their way up to speed. The CT6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) can charge at either a 120-volt or a 240-volt outlet. A full charge requires at least nine hours on standard 120-volt house current but only four-five hours on 240 volts. Handling and braking are top-notch, delivering excellent driver satisfaction, if not ultimate numbers at the test track. Although the top-spec twin-turbo CT6’s acceleration is objectively quick, among its lofty competitors it’s strictly mid-pack. Unfortunately, that and a fussy transmission hold it back a bit. Still, the CT6 is a most satisfying large sedan to drive, even if its actual performance numbers fall short of the competition’s. Cadillac offers both passive (standard dampers) and adaptive (magnetorheological dampers) suspension setups.

Fuel Economy

EPA fuel economy testing and reporting procedures have changed over time. For the latest and most accurate fuel economy numbers on current and older vehicles, we use the U.S. Department of Energy's fueleconomy.gov website. Under the heading "Find & Compare Cars" click on the "Compare Side-by-Side" tool to find the EPA ratings for the make, model, and year you're interested in.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

What is most notable about the CT6’s interior is what is missing: You can’t get the same fully adjustable rear seats as you can on other full-size luxury sedans. However, the Platinum model does get “articulating” back seats, and a rear-seat entertainment system is available. Next to its in-between size and smallish engines, the most glaring evidence that the CT6 isn’t a full-blown flagship model in the vein of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series is its mediocre interior. We’d call it unimaginatively styled, but someone put a lot of effort into cramming wood, carbon fiber, metal trim, and layers upon layers of different types of leather, vinyl, and cloth coverings onto the dashboard. The instrument panel comes across as plain, with simply shaped air vents and a straightforward center stack. Look closer, and that befuddling smorgasbord of materials glares forth and suggests Cadillac equates luxury with quantity, not quality. The CT6 may be a bit smaller than other full-size luxury sedans, falling somewhere between them and mid-size offerings, but it’s still quite a large car. As a result, it is spacious inside, even if its rear-seat legroom trails that of similar BMW and Mercedes models, as well as the Lincoln Continental. Despite its dimensional disadvantage and small trunk volume relative to larger rivals, the CT6 can hold a class-competitive amount of luggage. The CT6’s trunk measures in at 15 cubic feet, just shy of BMW and Mercedes.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system is straightforward to use. But the standard touchpad on the center console is fussy and imprecise in its operation, so you’ll likely spend more time using the screen and the touch-sensitive controls that surround it. Cadillac doesn’t skimp on the CT6’s infotainment features, loading every version with a 4G LTE data connection that powers a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone integration, wireless phone charging, and a trio of USB ports are also standard. Navigation is optional only on the base CT6; it's standard on the Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Platinum models. Cadillac also offers a 34-speaker Bose Panaray audio system that should please audiophiles, although they might want to take a listen before buying. It’s a pricey option on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims and standard on the Platinum.

Safety Features and Crash Test Ratings

For more information about the Cadillac CT6’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

Warranty

Some older vehicles are still eligible for coverage under a manufacturer's Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. For more information visit our guide to every manufacturer's CPO program.