Cadillac's new CTS

What is it?

A new Cadillac, which to most of you probably means very little. The American firm has been quietly selling cars in the UK for several years now, and it's hoping its new CTS will tempt a few people out of BMWs, Audis and Mercedes models. It's Cadillac's most convincing effort to date too, it certainly a striking looker thanks to Cadillac's 'Art and Science' design philosophy. Even so Cadillac is realistic in its sales ambitions, it only expecting to sell hundreds rather than thousands in the UK, ensuring it will remain a relatively rare sight on our roads.

Is it any good?

Cadillac has taken to heart the criticisms that European customers made of their cars with its new CTS. So it's more sporting to drive than ever and the interiors have been given a significant boost in quality and style. The CTS will always be an individual choice, the small volumes Cadillac intends on selling ensuring that if you do choose one you'll stand out from the more normal German opposition. Cadillac highlights Audi's A4 and A6, BMW's 3 and 5 Series and Mercedes C and E-Class models as key rivals, but we'd also add other individual large saloon choices like Citroen's C6 and Honda's Legend to the list.

Cadillac claims that in customer clinics against its German rivals the CTS was highlighted as having the nicest interior. Materials are a huge improvement over the American luxury car norm, but there are still some brittle, scratchy feeling plastics that cheapen the overall effect. The steering wheel centre and area around the interior door releases lack the quality feel and look of its competition. The fascia is pretty fussily styled too. On the road the 3.6-litre engine feels rapid, its 6.3 second 0-62mph time underlining that, but the automatic six-speed unit is slow to kick down – even when driven via the wheel-mounted shifters. The ride in the 3.6-litre is slightly unsettled, the steering weighty but lacking in any feel the CTS feeling neither particularly sporting or luxuriously cosseting.

Should I call the bank manager?

The reason the Cadillac spans the traditional categories against its German rivals is simply its pricing. The 2.8-litre V6 costs £26,995 and the more powerful 3.6 V6 £32,995, each coming absolutely loaded with equipment as standard. So it's massively specified and sensibly priced, but residual values are a bit of an unknown quantity, what is sure is that the CTS will not hold its value as well as established rivals.

Summary

The new CTS is a striking looking, hugely equipped, sensibly priced alternative to the all too obvious established premium rivals. Cadillac is promising that dealers will give Lexus levels of service too, that an attractive proposition in itself. The firm has clearly taken European criticisms of its previous cars seriously, too, the CTS featuring the best quality interior we've seen from the marque. Despite what Cadillac says it's still not quite up to its European rivals here, yet. Similarly the driving experience isn't as polished as the BMWs, Audis and Mercedes Cadillac is aiming to take sales from. The ride rather compromised – without the pay off of a particularly sporting drive. Better than ever though, if you want something a bit different the CTS is well worth a look.

Kyle Fortune