Category: Compact Executive 
Price Range: No data available
A unique proposition, distinctive from the usual (German) contenders, high-performance CTS-V model and its sharp handling
Quality not quite what it should be, not much rear legroom, unforgiving ride, no diesel option
Hugely amusing CTS-V is a credible sports saloon, and well worth a look; V6s are less convincing
The CTS is built at GM's Lansing Grand River plant, Michigan, which has won a number of US industry awards for the quality of its output. The cars seen so far have been a little off-pace, however, in terms of the cabin fit, finish and attention to detail: one had badly loose trim around its interior door handles and windows, and sharp edges to plastic items. The control levers and switches do not feel as reassuringly solid as those in, say, a BMW or Audi, and the fake wood trim in the V6 models also looks very cheap and nasty - almost like that of a budget Far Eastern car, especially in combination with the rather dated fascia and interior décor. Still, it is a massive improvement over the STS we saw over here in the late 1990s, and its basic structure should be bolted together well. It uses a lot of well-proven GM components, so should be mechanically reliable, though GM has been forced to make record numbers of recalls in the US in recent years.
