Category: Compact Executive 
Price Range: No data available
Striking looks; high equipment levels; decent sound system; a lot of car for the money.
Unforgiving suspension; cabin quality unconvincing.
A bit of an oddball, but might just make sense if you hang on for the diesel engine - or alternatively, the CTS-V.
The Cadillac CTS can't run with the likes of the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class or Audi A6, but its handling is actually reasonably adept, its suspension tautened and tightened to fit European roads and driving styles. Its steering is heavily assisted but offers a good degree of feel, its body roll is well-contained on cornering, and it's surprisingly agile. All this bodes well for the CTS-V, which promises to be a riot.
So far so good with the chassis, but the direct-injection 3.6 V6 engine (307bhp/276lb-ft) is not impressive. It's quiet at low speeds and when gently touring, but under harder acceleration, the six-speed gearbox is slow to react and kick down, and the engine sounds harsh.
It can be hurried along using the sequential-shift facility (the 3.6 comes with steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifts) but despite a 150mph top speed and claimed 0-62mph acceleration in 6.3 seconds, it's best suited to long-distance highway cruising.
The 2.8 V6 (208bhp/181lb-ft, with variable-valve timing) is considerably more appealing. Though its outright acceleration is slower (0-62mph in nine seconds) and top speed lower (127mph), it feels livelier at lower engine speeds, and it seems to work better with this gearbox. For everyday driving in the UK, it's the better option, and it's perfectly pleasant when left in fully-automatic mode and left to self-shift.
The diesel's probably going to be the option that makes most sense, however - though the CTS-V will have a certain appeal, no doubt.
