Auto review: Cadillac CTS-V makes big impression with speed, power, comfort
The 2016 Cadillac CTS-V is stunningly fast — it goes zero to 60 in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 200 mph — but that's just the beginning of the super sedan's accomplishments. The CTS-V also brims with advanced safety and convenience features and offers surprising comfort.
Cadillac's V-series line of high-performance models exists to challenge the peak of Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz's model lines. The CTS-V competes with the Audi RS 7, BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 for the most exquisite combination performance and luxury the auto industry can attain.
Prices for the 2016 CTS-V start at $83,995. A supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 delivering 640-horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque is standard, as is an 8-speed automatic transmission. The CTS-V only comes with rear-wheel drive, while competitors like the RS7 and E63 have all-wheel drive to deliver power to the road.
I tested a well-equipped CTS-V that had leather and suede Recaro performance seats, front collision alert, Apple CarPlay, voice recognition, backup camera, a 4G LTE hotspot, automatic high-beam lights, a carbon fiber hood and more.
The CTS-V cost less than comparable models of the RS7, M5 and E63 S-line. Other luxury brands like Infiniti, Jaguar and Lexus don't build midsize sedans powerful enough to compete with those super cars. Don't be surprised if Jag adds a 500-horsepower plus version of its new XF sedan next year, though.
The engineering expertise that went into the CTS-V is nearly overwhelming, but the car makes a powerful impression before you even push the start button. The CTS is bigger and roomier than the two generations of CTS that preceded it. The passenger compartment has more space than the RS7, about the same as the E63. The M5 has more passenger and luggage room. The hatchback RS7 has the largest cargo compartment in the group. The Mercedes E63's trunk is smallest.
The CTS-V's interior is appointed with carefully crafted materials. The optional Recaro front seats provide both comfort and deep bolsters to hold you secure in fast maneuvers. The front seat could use more storage for glasses, smartphones and the like. The rear seat is comfortable, with plenty of headroom.
The bin behind the center stack climate and audio controls seems a bit less accommodating than in previous CTS versions.
The center stack's annoying flat-panel capacitive touch controls for audio and climate controls are unchanged. It'll be a welcome change when Cadillac returns to a few buttons and dials for those functions.
Cadillac's voice recognition and touch screen work well. The addition of Apple CarPlay for iPhone users makes the CTS-V the clear leader in super sedan connectivity.
The CTS-V uses the new third generation of Magnetic Ride Control. It changes the shocks' response to changes in road surface and driving, adapting for every inch of the road at 60 mph. The system delivers a smooth and comfortable ride over rough surfaces and in steady driving and firms up nearly instantly to keep the CTS-V stable and level in very fast turns and under heavy braking and acceleration.
The supercharged V-8's 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque make the CTS-V the most powerful engine in Cadillac history.
