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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  Nice to Look At, Not So nice to Own - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Debbie - April 14 - 12:50 pm

  My 2008 CTS was shipped from the factory without grease in the axle, needless to say at 72 miles it was back in the shop. Cadillac told me that it may be a month before they had replacement parts (a new car shouldnt need replacement parts) well I insisted that they take one off the assembly line and ship it to me, which they did. There is a noise in the instrument panel (sounds like a fan running all the time) they say it is normal (the other 4 didnt have it!!!) Also I was told at the dealership that they found no insulation in the dash. There is a rattling noise in the sun roof. I am in the process of trying to get Cadillac to replace this LEMON!!!

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  Bad experience - 2007 Cadillac CTS
  By vbs - March 29 - 4:48 pm

  I havent had a very good experience with my CTS, I have had major repairs and the car is only 1 yr and 5 months. I love the look of the car and the features, But would like to try another CTS because I think I ended up with a defective model.

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  Not that good - 2007 Cadillac CTS
  By Paul - June 29 - 8:54 am

  I bought this car because it was American. At first I thought it looked cool, but after 3 months, the styling looks outdated and ugly. The engine is weak and could use some hints from BMW. The interior function is not impressive for the misplacing of buttons. I was going to look at the new CTS but it looks like a 70 year old would be driving it. I am ready to trade it in for a BMW 335, something that will acually make me feel under 60 years old.

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  Buyer Regrets.. Cadillac should only be leased.. - 2012 Cadillac CTS
  By Rita Richardson - April 5 - 8:38 pm

  We bought our son a cadillac there 10 years ago.. We took really good care of it with regular oil changes etc It only had 73,000. When we got it already had 13,000 so he really only drove it 60,000 and in June the engine quit. We took it to Banks and they said it would be like $7000 or more to fix it and it wasnt even valued at $7000. I really felt bad as there was absolutely nothing wrong with this car as far a rust or dents or scratches and the interior was in really great condition. I cant believe that Cadillac doesnt make a car that cant go more than 73,000. I have had an oldsmobile that went to 218,000, a blazer that went to 140,000 and I still have a Hyundai that has 115,000. These are all just regular cars, I really thought if we got a Cadillac..It was built to last. but I guess I was wrong. Last April 2016.. We bought a 2016 truck and 2012 Cadillac in the same week. Paid cash. We paid $21,000 for the Cadillac and I just took it to a dealer who now says that it is only worth $13,000. wow an $8000 loss on a car we have had a year and a half. It had 47,000 when we got it and it now has 57,000. It is in the garage most of the time now as I am afraid to use it to have happen to it what happened to the 2007. We had a Cadillac previous to these to that the head gasket went on as well. I guess I should have done more research on these cars and looked at reviews.. I really regret buying this car... These cars only meant to be leased I guess so you only have them for 2 years and get rid of them. I will be posting my reviews of these cars on all sites that I can. It is definately Buyer Beware. I wont EVER buy another Cadillac..nor will I tell anyone else to do so. Thank you for reading this Rita Richardson

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  2003 Cadillac CTS - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By FrankM - December 8 - 10:00 am

  The car is really fun to drive, but the cabin is extremely noisy. Noises are everywhere- dashboard, seats, windows, doors, you name it! Within the first three weeks I had the car, I had to send it back to the dealer for service. Other than these "little" problems, the car has a comfortable ride (although the rear has very little leg room), performance is fine, and the engine is really powerful. The dashboard controls are very easy to access, too, sompared to similar models.

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  Not too Great for a Cadillac - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Mike - October 11 - 8:18 pm

  It has been many years since I have had a new vehicle spend so much time in the shop. Almost immediately I had problems with the rear end. They performed a bulletin on it but it was back in the shop a few weeks after with the same problem. Then they replaced the whole rear end. Next it was check engine lights. Then they replaced the gas tank. Next the rear end problem came back. Then came more check engine light problems. And then less intrusive problems started happening like the finish chipping off the most used control knobs, problems with the drivers power seat, problems with the nav system. I was ultimately pretty disappointed in this great looking Cadillac.

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  2003 CTS Tire Noise - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Paul - August 31 - 5:41 pm

  Ive had problems with abnormal tire wear and very annoying tire noise. The dealership says theres not a problem. I replaced the original Goodyear tires with new Goodyears because the dealeship said tire noise & abnormal tire wear was due to my not rotating tires every 6,000 miles. The new tires have less than 6,000 miles on them and are already noisy. I think theres an alignment problem that GM needs to address.

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  My Lemon CTS - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By jefferdmann - August 26 - 10:00 am

  I loved my car at first but between 2000 and 6000 miles it has been in the shop 6 times, the last three for a coolant leak. Cadillac has refused to replace my car insisting that they can repair the cracked head. I have retained a lemon law attorney who assures me I have a very strong case. Bob Lutz seemed to be making a difference with GM and especially Cadillac, unfortunately their quality problems appear to me to be reminisent of the 80s. I am so disapointed. I just turned 40,and I bought my first cadillac. Next time I will go with the BMW or Lexus.

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  Very Disappointed - 2016 Cadillac CTS
  By Terry Gosser - May 28 - 3:26 am

  Found the new Luxury Cadillac CTS 4 (all wheel drive) disappointing. As usual still rides the same as 25 years ago. Noise from tires, exhaust, engine come right through with the stereo set on low, requiring music to be turned up. Lacks innovation, and technology, poor aero dynamics causing poor mileage. Very heavy for no obvious reason except theyre stuck in 90s. Mercedes comes out with touch shift, GM will have to copy it. Lexus are perfectly quiet on the inside, Cadillac has yet to copy. Just seemed like a poor performance from all angles with little innovation. I will go with Mercedes or Lexus over this manufacturers offerings. Priced at 65,000 and told it rides like a Cadillac. If you want poor quality still from a U.S automaker. Test drive after driving a lexus or Mercedes and you to will be disappointed in a Cadillac just as I was. Probably be another 15 years before I give them another chance with such poor planning and innovation.

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  Do Not Buy, Definitely Dont Lease - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By sawuscoming - March 14 - 10:29 am

  Obviously, most positive reviews are looks and fun. It does look good, but is only fun in optimal driving conditions. If sliding (from a stop at slow acceleration) on slightly wet pavement is is fun, its fun. Ive driven in Illinois winters for sixteen years this is the only car Ive ever slid off the road in. Interior looks good for awhile, but black finish on control buttons has chipped off. Interior lights dim off and on, and the cruise control has been disengaging--it only has 18,000 miles on the car. To this date, it has had three recalls. Dont waste money on a tired name when there are car quality companies producing luxury vehicles built with the driver in mind.