Car review: 2016 Cadillac CTS Sedan

The popular sedan makes a re-entry into the market this year - with positive mechanical and infotainment gains

he fight for bragging rights in the premium mid-size segment rages on between the American and German automakers, and it has been the Cadillac CTS at the blue, red and white corner that has been throwing full-fisted punches at the established European bunch. So this week we turn our focus to the quartz-inspired CTS.
The CTS, after more than a decade of vacillating the line between compact and mid-size, has matured after growing over 4 inches in length over its predecessor. Recently, we took for tour this improved variant of the 3rd generation CTS, one that is powered by GM's celebrated 3.6-litre V6, and we jotted down the highs and the low of the most "German" American car.

DESIGN & AESTHETICS
The Cadillac CTS was first introduced back in 2002; the letters C-T-S stand for Catera Touring Sedan (once an Opel-based sedan). The 3rd generation model borrows deeply from Cadillac's 'Art and Science' theme, first exposed to public eye with the provocative Evoq concept, displayed at the 1999 Detroit Auto Show. Before we click the remote starter button on the key fob, here is what we think of primo American aesthetics.
Every plane, every edge, seems deliberate and exudes the sharpness of personality that the CTS possesses. And even after grafting more metal to the body, Cadillac claims that the current CTS is the lightest rear-wheel drive car in its class and near-100 kg lighter than the last one - thanks to lightweight construction and aluminium doors, which are 33 per cent lighter than steel equivalents.
There is no doubt that the CTS shares a visual majesty that the German equivalents can only be envious of. Upfront is a broad and bold grille embellished with Galvano-satin chrome surrounds and integrated in it is an ingenious piece of technology called active aero grille shutters that maintain optimal aerodynamics and open up if and when the engine requires additional cooling.
The highlight of the headlamp clusters, besides the HID projector lens, is the two-part vertically stacked LED daytime running lamps - a signature Cadillac look. These strips stretch into the front-side fender too, making the car about as subtle as some presidential candidates... but in positive way!
As we walked around the CTS, we felt as if the last generation was a compact and this one a casual limousine with its long stretches of sheet metal. The steep rake windshield and the lower overall height of 1,454mm advertise some serious sportiness for the CTS. However, a lengthy cantilever-like rear overhang - reminiscent of old Cadillacs - takes some of that away. In comparison, the smaller ATS, a car that shares the same DNA, has better proportions. Adding to the CTS's aesthetic impact is a beautiful set of 5-spoke 18-inch rims, which you can have in a polished, machined-finished or painted look.
Overall, the Cadillac CTS is a sharp-looking sedan with more facets than a crystal and even in the company of the voguish Europeans, this American screams for attention in the most elegant and tasteful way. As for paint schemes, for 2016, they have added cocoa bronze metallic, and metallic black and silver to the current range of mature colours.
Beauty, in the case of the CTS, is more than skin deep. The CTS has one of the most futuristic and charismatic cabins in the segment. It takes the cabin, what is essentially a table, a few controls and a bunch of seats and makes a sophisticated seating enclosure by integrating materials like soft leather, black laquer and satin-finish metal trims etc. The contrasting stitching details extend to the leather and alcantara on the dashboard, door and even centre of the well-bolstered 3-spoke steering wheel too. Those habituated to mood lighting will love the ambient cabin lighting.
Keeping the interior as cutting-edge as the exterior is a customisable 12.3-inch diagonal LCD display that digitalises the instrument gauges and sends some of its competitors back to the Atari age. It's even got a reconfigurable head-up display that is quite informative.
We found the leather upholstery to our liking: soft, supple and allows you to slide into the seats easy; the many power-adjustability options allow you to adjust the seat structure to match your body contours. Plus, the heated and ventilated front seats turn this mid-sizer into pure luxury. There are eight colour options for the cabin: you can go basic with black, or frosty grey, a darker grey, an almost-navy blue; the youth choice is maroon, regular beige and a natural brown to go with the genuine wood, authentic aluminium or real carbon-fibre trim.
Being premium also means making everything motorised, including the tray that covers the twin cup-holders - although they could have sounded less clamorous. There is also reduced NVH levels, thanks to the good use of insulation that keeps external and engine noises at bay and Bose® Active Noise Cancellation speakers that eliminate unwanted frequencies.
The general qualm we had about the CTS is about space. Firstly, it isn't so much bigger than the ATS. And being RWD, space for the rear-centre passenger is hindered by a driveline tunnel. The youngest in any family will have to settle for that spot, I suppose. Sure, even 6-footers can be seated in rear cabin due to the angled seats, but there are general spatial constraints. Privacy, however, is first-class courtesy of the retractable window shades.

POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
If your love for naturally aspirated engines trumps new-age turbo power, opt for the 3.6-litre V6, like our test car, over the base car's turbo 2.0-litre 4-cylinder. And man, does this V6 motor love to rev without sounding like a washing machine! For 2016, the new V6 puts out beefier max output figures. It makes as much as 335bhp at 6,800rpm and 386Nm torque - some 14bhp and 13Nm greater than the 2015 model.
Cadillac has done away with the 6-speed and now all motors get a new 8-speed automatic. The new 8L45 has a smaller, overall diameter and length, and weighs approximately 15kg less than the 8L90 eight-speed - a transmission that was already lighter than the previous 6L80 six-speed automatic.
The V6 is no pushover in those racy moments on the streets; it is a legitimate performance machine for the sensible man. It will zip past the 100 km/h mark in 6.1 seconds and top out at over 230 km/h. Folks with a thirst for greater forward propulsion can opt for the twin-turbo version of the 3.6-litre V6. There is one issue though: the turbocharged 2.0-litre is cheaper, almost as quick and more fuel efficient than the V6.
And while we are on the topic of economy, Cadillac claims the V6 consumes petrol at only 8.8L/100km but on the road we were estimating a figure between 12 and 14L/100km, which is respectable. For 2016, they have added fuel-saving technologies like cylinder deactivation and Stop/Start technology. The best part is the V6 can be enjoyed with just regular unleaded. no need for fancy, more expensive Super 98! Also, the CTS's 72-litre tank is as large as it gets in any mid-size luxury car.
On the road, the CTS challenges the corners with good traction and predictability without compromising ride quality much - making it a Beemer-equivalent, if not a beater. The ZF electric steering is direct, and there is real sense of communication between driver, car and tarmac.

FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
Good news is Cadillac's interface or CUE - one we loathed earlier for its lack of responsiveness - has been improved too. This futuristic touch panel sends BMW's iDrive and Merc's COMAND straight to the past. And the touch screen allows for smart phones gestures like 'swipe' for switching menus and 'pinch and pull' to zoom in and out. However, the panel is a bit of a fingerprint magnet and needs a regular wipe down to remain pristine.
Cadillac's long association with Bose means the CTS get a class-act of a 11 or 13-speaker system - depending on the trim - that will do a good job of engaging your ears' senses engaged. With 2016, Cadillac has also introduced wireless charging for your phones. Keeping the car up to date with technology, the 2016 CTS now comes with phone integration capability - with Apple CarPlay (compatible with iOS 7.1, or higher) and Android Auto (Android Lollipop 5.0, or above). This allows you to talk to Google, and send messages via voice.
The CTS is equipped with every safety feature known to man. If ever you slack at the wheel, electronic and sensory gadgetry will attempt to keep you safe. The car is equipped with Front/Rear Automatic Braking, that will brake to prevent you from crashing into something like a pillar or a post. You also get Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Lane Departure Warning System, Forward Collision Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and, new for 2016, a Surround Vision 360-degree camera system. You can also get Adaptive Cruise Control, and seat belt pretensioners. These are priced options, but can you really put a price on safety?
The tri-zone climate control meets the cooling load requirements of a hot summer day and it wasn't lacking in chill or draft either. Last, but not least, all that wedge-shaped exterior geometry has sacrificed some boot space, leaving owners with only 388-litres to stow stuff. You can drop the rear seats but the pass-through is a bit of a pigeonhole.

VERDICT
The 2016 Cadillac CTS is, and remains, a genuine sports sedan with a definitive conspicuity rendered by its elegant crystalline form. And with premium fixtures and luxury application, Cadillac has managed to elevate its profile amongst luxury car buyers. If they could add a tad of space in the rear cabin and some 100-litres to their trunk, it would be amongst the best buys out there!
wknd@khaleejtimes.com

• On The Road