Overview & Reviews

Blending all-American style with European-inspired handling, the Cadillac CTS has been a popular choice with luxury sedan consumers for more than a decade. Within that period, there have been three generations. Despite shortcomings in terms of interior design and quality, the first CTS is still a fair choice for a used luxury sedan. The second-generation CTS, which featured substantial improvements to its interior, is a much more appealing car. The most recent generation of the CTS has grown in both size and sophistication, and we feel it's the first CTS to truly be on equal footing with its European and Japanese competition.

Current Cadillac CTS
Debuting for 2014 and representing the model's third generation, the current Cadillac CTS sedan is larger and now competes more directly against midsize luxury sport sedans, leaving the compact sport sedan fight to its smaller ATS brother. The CTS coupe, wagon and CTS-V sedan carried over unchanged for this year. Improved in every way over its already respected predecessor, the latest CTS sedan has the looks, the power and the luxury required to go tire-to-tire against the world's best in this segment.

There are six main trim levels: Standard, Luxury, Performance, Premium, Vsport and Vsport Premium. Three engines are offered but trim level determines availability. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 272 horsepower starts things off, and it's matched to a six-speed automatic transmission and either standard rear-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive (AWD). Next up is a 3.6-liter V6 good for 321 hp -- it comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It's also available with AWD, though that version gets the six-speed auto. The Vsport comes with an exclusive turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 packing 420 hp, along with rear-wheel drive and the eight-speed automatic as the sole drivetrain setup.

Equipment on the CTS Standard trim includes keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats, leatherette premium vinyl upholstery, an 8-inch touchscreen display and an 11-speaker Bose sound system. Upgrading to the CTS Luxury trim gets you xenon headlights, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats and added safety features. The CTS Performance is highlighted by its adaptive suspension, panoramic sunroof, head-up display and heated rear seats. The Premium trim is similar but adds adaptive cruise control and upgraded front seats and upholstery. Besides its engine, the Vsport is differentiated by its sport-tuned mechanical hardware.

The cabin of the CTS offers solid build quality and rich materials. Overall, there's a very luxurious vibe inside, and we think it's one of the most stylish designs you'll find in this segment. However, even though the latest CTS is larger than before, its interior space is essentially the same. As such, it's lacking a little for backseat and trunk space compared to its rivals. Another minor downside is the CUE ("Cadillac User Experience") infotainment system, which can be difficult to use and slow to respond.

We've only driven the high-performance CTS Vsport model thus far, so we can only comment on that version. As expected, acceleration is indeed impressive, as is the eight-speed automatic, which provides gearchanges that range from silky smooth to sports car rapid depending on the selected driving mode. Handling is sharp, composed and rewarding as well, providing the driver with an uncommon level of tactility.

Used Cadillac CTS Models
The second-generation Cadillac CTS sedan was produced from 2008 through 2013. Compared to the original CTS, it was notably more refined and powerful. In addition to the sedan, a coupe, a wagon and high-performance CTS-V variants (all reviewed separately) were also available. Overall body dimensions were similar to the first CTS, but wider-set wheels gave it a more powerful stance. The previous CTS's lackluster interior was remedied by a more attractive design, up-to-date electronics and the use of better materials.

Prior to the 2010 model year, the base engine was a 3.6-liter V6 with 258 hp. After that, the standard engine was a 3.0-liter V6 generating 270 hp. A more powerful 3.6-liter V6 was optional all along, and produced 304 hp until 2012, when output increased to 318 hp. That marked the last year that a six-speed manual transmission was available with the base engine. Subsequently, a six-speed automatic was the only transmission offered. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) being optional.

Standard features included dual-zone automatic climate control and satellite radio; much later versions even came with heated seats and a rearview camera at no extra cost. Options included keyless ignition and entry and a navigation system with digital music storage capability. Two sport suspension packages were also available and we'd recommend noting if a used CTS is so equipped. Handling will be improved as a result, but the trade-off is a rougher ride.

Overall, the upgraded interior and spirited powertrains pushed this CTS into top-tier status for a luxury sport sedan. Highlights include a roomy cabin, an elegant interior design and capable handling. Besides the potentially rough ride, downsides included poor rearward visibility and for some drivers, an awkward driving position.

Notable changes made throughout this generation's run included, for 2010 only, the Eco Lux Collection option. Available only on the base 3.0-liter V6, it included tweaked aerodynamics and special tires that allowed 30 mpg on the highway -- a gain of 3 mpg. There was also a slight styling tweak for 2012, but otherwise changes were minimal.

The first-generation Cadillac CTS was sold from the 2003-'07 model years. When it debuted, the CTS was one of Cadillac's first cars to fully emphasize the brand's modern, angular styling themes. It was also a significant departure from traditional modern Cadillacs because of its rear-wheel drive, available manual transmission, stiff body structure and sport-oriented handling dynamics.

The car's larger-than-average exterior dimensions translated to a roomier cabin that could accommodate five adults. A fair number of features came standard, including antilock brakes and side curtain airbags. Upscale features were typically bundled as part of optional packages. Common options included a premium Bose audio system, a DVD-based navigation system, xenon headlights and a sunroof. A Sport package provided a sport-tuned suspension, bigger wheels and tires, and stability control.

In its first year, the Cadillac CTS came only with a 3.2-liter V6 good for 220 hp. This was joined in 2004 by a more desirable 255-hp 3.6-liter V6. At the time, the base V6 was available with a five-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic. The larger V6 came with the automatic only. In 2005, however, the 3.2-liter engine was dropped in favor of a smaller, 210-hp 2.8-liter engine. Cadillac also upgraded the manual transmission to a six-speed unit and made it available for the 3.6-liter V6 as well.

User Reviews:

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  Wow - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By teresa - March 6 - 2:20 am

  Great car all around. Ive been looking for 4months, BMW, MB, Lexus and this one beats them hands down! Performance, quality, and value. This is my first Caddy and Im proud

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  Loving It - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By Little Caddy - March 5 - 9:19 pm

  I absolutely love everything about this car. It is very durable, dependable and has power to it. The only negative factor is the rear seats do not fold down and passenger seats are not power.

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  Excellent Car for Intl Market - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Johnmitchel12 - March 3 - 10:00 am

  Lincoln LS first, now Cadilac have both convinced me American engineers can lead the world on price/luxury/performance/cost of ownership curve. Its also interesting to find the BMW 7 Series designed by an American. We will see how my service is beyond the first year, but so far GREAT.

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  great car annoying problems - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By bru - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I have the luxury sport model with NAV. Overall the car is fun to drive but has been in the shop many times for (3 times )a coolant leak which they cant seem to find, and just recently I was 200 miles away from home and the check engine light came on and the car wouldnt go over 55 mph. So I called onstar through the safe and sound deal in the car and they diagnosed it over the phone while I was driving. It turned out to be a fuel pump sensor failure. It wasnt recognizing the speed of the engine to supply the right amount of fuel to the engine. The onboard computer finally compensated the problem and I made it home.

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  04 CTS w/3.6 litre VVT - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By MB man - February 20 - 2:00 am

  Bought this as a return to Cadillac after 10 years of Mercedes. Still have one but thought I would give the CTS a try. I am very pleased with the handling and performance of this vehicle. I do not have enough miles to give a reliability rating but it finally feels like Caddy got this right. It wanders a little more than a real german car at high speeds and does not feel quite as solidly stuck to the ground, but for 40 grand I am so far pleased.

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  Reliability Less Than Expected - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Alan - February 15 - 6:47 pm

  As soon as I reached the end of the 4 year warranty, my CTS has been nothing but trouble. I have been to the repair shop so often, the customer service reps recognizes my voice and asks "What now?". Since the 1st of October the right engine gaskets failed at 48,000 miles. Then in November and December there were electrical problems with OnStar and the brake and tail lights. In January 07 it was the left side engine gaskets. Now in February the air bag service warning light is on. GM will go bankrupt fixing these cars with the longer warranty period. All I can say to prospective buyers is "BEWARE".

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  Nice Car, but Still Some Things to Improve - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By r41866 - February 14 - 2:55 pm

  The CTS has a small turning radius and good traction, even in rainy days. It also has very good braking performance. Its acceleration is not very impressive, but maybe it is due to the heavy weight. Its fuel efficiency is so so. Its ride is comfortable, except that the engine noise is quite loud. Its quality is OK, except for a problem with the automatic window.

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  Excelent Car - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By JBL - February 13 - 10:00 am

  This is the first caddy in 50 years to have manual transmission!!..lol anyways, it has good acceleration, great comfort and great value...what more could you ask for

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  My Moonstone 05 "Ecstacy" - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Goofa - February 8 - 10:00 am

  What a value! For the price, this vehicle has it all. Performance, handling, safety, quality build, and of couse "Eye Appeal". This car loves to be driven.

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  Luv My Caddy - 2007 Cadillac CTS
  By Jim Smith - February 7 - 8:10 pm

  This is my first caddy. I love this car! I test drove a BMW and a then I drove this car. I would buy this over any BMW! I drove over 12 different makes and models and then I bought my caddy.