Cadillac CTS (2008-) Review

Overview

• Next: Reliability and Quality

General Motors hasn't had much success with its Cadillac brand in the UK to date. A few footballers and attention-seekers are guzzling gas in the superfluously huge Escalade pick-up, and a handful of rebadged Saabs (the BLS) has found homes, but by and large, British affection for the brand is solely the preserve of lovers of vintage Americana and be-finned '50s and '60s classics.

GM has decided not to go the retro route with its latest CTS, though this large family-sized saloon (around the length of a BMW 5-Series or Mercedes-Benz E-Class) incorporates traditional Caddy details such as the vertically-stacked tail-lamps and an expansive grille; there's even a vestigial trace of a tail-fin along the side of the boot.

The angular outlines of the previous model have been softened a little, the track widened and wheelarches enlarged, and more chrome added to the grille and exterior trimmings.

It's unmistakably American, GM clearly targeting saloon-car buyers determined not to go for the obvious German options. However, it lacks the charm - and arguably, the irony - of the Chrysler 300C.

In true Yank-tank style, the rear-wheel-drive CTS comes with a choice of large petrol engines: a 2.8 V6 (208bhp) and a 3.6-litre V6 (307bhp), both in combination with a six-speed automatic gearbox. A diesel - the new GM Europe 247bhp 2.9-litre V6 - joins the range late next year.

The CTS isn't quite the luxury car Cadillac claims it to be; best think of it as a more mainstream counterpart to the Vauxhall VXR8, perhaps, or a modern-day Omega. Hottest version will be the CTS-V - with the Corvette's 6.2-litre V8, it's set to be one of the world's fastest saloons, doing 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds. Also on the way are estate and coupe models, coming to the UK next summer.

Prices for these revised V6 saloons, on sale September 2008, start from £26,995 (2.8 V6) and £32,995 (3.6 V6).