Used 2015 Cadillac CTS

Totally revamped just last year, the 2015 CTS is Cadillac’s formidable entry into the midsize luxury sport-sedan segment. Like its European competitors the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the Cadillac CTS offers a fine blend of style, comfort, technology and performance. Three engines are available, from a turbocharged 4-cylinder that achieves up to 30 mpg to a twin-turbo V6 that outputs 420 horsepower. For drivers requiring enhanced traction, all-wheel drive can be had in lieu of the standard rear-wheel drive. For 2015, the CTS will be sold as a sedan only, with the wagon and coupe no longer offered. Taking the year off is the CTS-V sedan while a new version of the high-performance Cadillac is developed on this latest CTS’ acclaimed platform.

Based on a stretched version of the sophisticated Alpha platform that also underpins Cadillac’s smaller ATS, the 2015 CTS sedan boasts superior control and agility under all conditions. This is especially true on models equipped with Magnetic Ride Control, which complements the enhanced dynamic character with Cadillac-level comfort and even more advanced driver-focused technology. Smooth and capable in rear-drive or all-wheel-drive models, the 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 offers a good blend of performance and efficiency, but we found still-powerful and more-efficient 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder an enticing alternative. And while hardcore enthusiasts will have to await a new CTS-V sedan, Cadillac’s new 420-horsepower V6 Twin Turbo in the CTS Vsport offers plenty of exhilaration in its own right.

The 2015 Cadillac CTS’ 5-passenger cabin boasts nearly as much style as the sedan’s angular exterior. Plenty of padded panels and plush seating – leatherette in lower models, real leather in other versions – create an inviting interior. The standard 8-way power front bucket seats are comfortable, but rear-seat legroom is on the tight side. Prominently displayed in the center stack is the CUE infotainment system. The 8-inch touch screen and touch-sensitive controls beneath it are impressive to look at but frustrating to use. The screen’s response time lags in some situations and the controls beneath can be finicky, potentially leading to driver distraction.

With sharp angles at every corner, a rippled hood and prominent grille that sports Cadillac’s new crest, the CTS stands out even among its talented competitors in the luxury sedan segment. Details range from the pragmatic – grille shutters that close to improve aerodynamics – to pretty, such as the seamless aluminum trim around the side windows. At the rear, all 2015 CTS sedans feature dual exhaust outlets. Models with the "CTS4" markings designate all-wheel drive. The limited-edition 2015 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe uses the last-generation body design with unique touches such as dark grille, satin graphite wheels and red brake calipers.

TECHNOLOGY OFFERINGS
Cadillac has been quick to realize that just because we’re in a car we needn’t be disconnected from our devices. For 2015, the Cadillac CTS luxury sedan is now even savvier by offering its own wireless connection, DockSpot wireless phone charging, and text-message alerts via the CUE infotainment system.

3.6-LITER V6 TWIN-TURBO
Excusive to the rear-wheel-drive Vsport CTS, this tech-rich force-fed stormer makes an exhilarating 420-horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac is quick to note that this twin-turbo engine only shares about 10 percent of its components with the naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 offered in other CTS models.

The 2015 Cadillac CTS sedan is available with three engines and four trim levels (Standard, Luxury, Performance and Premium), which all amount to a wide selection of features. Spend the least on a CTS 2.0L and you’ll still get a midsize luxury sedan that includes a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, 11-speaker Bose premium audio with three USB inputs, push-button start, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control, voice command, and the CUE infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen and GM’s OnStar communications system with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Surprisingly, a rearview camera is not standard on base models.

Adding options or stepping up trims brings amenities such as navigation, leather seating, wood trim, heated/ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise control, a sunroof, and tri-zone automatic climate control. If you have a large CD collection, you’ll want to opt for the glovebox-mounted disc player. Performance and safety enhancements include all-wheel drive, Magnetic Ride Control, blind-spot monitoring, Automatic Parking Assist, and a Driver Awareness Package that includes features such as a seat that vibrates to warn the driver of dangers such as drifting out of a lane or getting too close to an object when parking.

Three engines are available for the 2015 Cadillac CTS sedan. The base is a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that puts out a stout 272 horsepower, while the mid-tier engine is a 3.6-liter V6 that’s good for 321 horsepower. Both of those engines are offered with the standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). At the top of the pack (at least until the next-gen CTS-V sedan arrives) is a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 in the Vsport that pumps out 420 horsepower and is rear-drive only. The 4-cylinder CTS uses a 6-speed automatic transmission, while V6 versions utilize an 8-speed automatic. Carrying over one final year is the limited-edition, rear-drive CTS-V Coupe that packs a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 good for 556 horsepower that’s mated to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
272 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700-5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/30 mpg (RWD), 19/28 mpg (AWD)

3.6-liter V6
321 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
275 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/29 mpg (RWD), 18/26 mpg (AWD)

3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6
420 horsepower @ 5,750 rpm
430 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/24 mpg

6.2-liter supercharged V8 (CTS V-Sport Coupe)
556 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm
551 lb-ft of torque @ 3,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/19 mpg (manual), 12/18 mpg (automatic)