2010 Cadillac CTS: America’s Luxury Car for Under $40,000

By Mike Blake, Carlisle Events

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

When Cadillac replaced the Catera with the CTS in 2002, the alphabetically named vehicle breathed new life into the line. Eight years later, CTS has completed a three-year run as a Top-10 luxury mid-size on many car-of-the-year lists.
Combining luxury, technology and power, the 2010 CTS has replaced its old 3.6-liter V-6 engine with a new a 3.0-liter direct-injected V-6, and also offers a muscular 6.2-liter supercharged engine that explodes out 556 horsepower. Continuing its legacy as an electronics leader, CTS has turned its cabin into a tech powerhouse as well, with a pop-up navigation system, adaptive forward lighting that swivels in concert with steering, an air filtration system with automatic cabin odor filtration and stat-of-the-art driver information center.
Built at GM’s Lansing Grand River Assembly plant in, Lansing, Michigan, the CTS showcases the classic Cadillac look, from its signature grille to forward-sloping front end, and an unparalleled America luxury demeanor. CTS fills the mid-size bill as it measures 191.6 inches in length, 72.5 inches in width and 58 inches in on a 113.4-inch wheelbase. Construction is Cadillac solid with a unitized welded steel body, direct-mounted front cradle and rubber-isolated, multi-link independent rear suspension. My Tucson Bronze Chroma Flair CTS test car was elegant, but I think it looks awesome in Black Raven paint, accenting its halogen headlamps, twilight sentinel, heated exterior driver mirror, flash to pass feature, headlamp washers and spoiler (an option).
The 4090-lb. 4-door sport luxury sedan is available in RWD or AWD models and my test ride was the all-wheel version, with a six-speed automatic transmission. My CTS was powered by the 270 horsepower, 223 lb.-ft. of torque V-6 and it supplied enough punch to maneuver with confidence on the highway and around town.

Acceleration was compliant and steady and test runs earned a 7.2-second zero-to-60mph time with the quarter-mile accomplished in 15.4 seconds, making for a substantial luxury performance. If luxury lightning is more your style, the CTS-V version, with its 556-hp 6.2-liter supercharged engine could beat 4 seconds in the sprint and 12 seconds for the quarter.
Shift points were set well, and the torque curve was strong in low through high speeds. The suspension works with precision and smoothes out most road irregularities, creating a soft, elegant ride. Credit Stabilitrak traction control and superior 4-wheel independent suspension for a lavish ride.

Steering is responsive and while it isn’t auto-cross agile, most quick moves are taken and accepted with aplomb. Most road noise and engine noise are absorbed before they reach the cabin and the ride experience is one that fits the luxury genre in high style.
EPA rated at 18 miles per gallon in town and 27 mpg on the highway, my test CTS performed as advertised and gave me an average of 22.7mpg covering nearly 500 miles of mixed use driving.
With seating for five, Interior dimensions show 38.8 inches of front headroom with 37.2 in row two, a roomy 42.4 inches of front seat leg room with 35.9 in the back and 56.7 inches of row one shoulder room with 54.7 behind.
The cabin whispers Cadillac with suede-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob and the instrumentation is easy to read and well positioned. The CTS dash is adorned with analog speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, oil pressure gauge, and engine water temperature gauge and the interior is outfitted with 10-way power driver seat with memory. CTS also provides an autodimming inside rearview mirror with OnStar controls, one year OnStar, and a power rake steering wheel that is telescopic and comes with mounted audio and HVAC system controls
The CTS interior also includes dual-zone climate control, rear window defogger, cruise control power programmable door lock, rear child door locks, audio system with navigation, AM/FM stereo with CD/DVD player, MP3 playback, Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround Sound 10-speaker system and HDD-based navigation with XM NavTraffic/Real Time Weather, 8-inch pop-up screen, Radio Data System, 40GB Hard Drive Device, USB with audio connectivity with steering wheel controls, XM radio, Bluetooth for phone and a cargo convenience net,
Regarding safety, CTS’s crash test rating showed 4 stars out of 5 in all categories except for rear passenger ratings which garnered a perfect 5. Safety items include Brembo 4-wheel ABS/TCS disc brakes, child restraint seat system, tire pressure monitor, theft deterrent system, dual-stage frontal driver, dual-depth frontal passenger with passenger sensing system, driver and right-front passenger side impact and front and rear outboard head curtain
The CTS rear wheel drive version starts at $35,165 while my all-wheel drive test CTS started at $38,365. Additions to my test package included a Spoiler ($510), Sunroof ($1450), Highway safety kit ($75) that included first aid kit, PVC tape, cotton cloth, fuse kit, bungee cord, cotton gloves, flashlight, rain poncho, screwdriver, booster cables, pliers and Need Help banner, and also added on was destination and freight costs ($825). That resulted in a sticker price $39,325.
All of that and what may be arguably America’s quintessential luxury car for under $40,000 and it is no wonder CTS has been a Top-10 luxury car for three years running … looking to make it four.

Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

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