2009 Cadillac CTS

Review

The 2009 Cadillac CTS is a superb entry-level luxury sedan that outshines almost every one of its Japanese and German competitors. The fit and finish of the CTS both inside and out will dazzle you, and the number of standard and available features will impress you. With the optional direct-injection V6 engine, the CTS is both powerful and quick and handles competently even in aggressive driving maneuvers. On the other hand, the curb weight of the CTS makes it less nimble than most other luxury midsize sedans. Read the full results of our 2009 Cadillac CTS road test in the following car review.

Improvements from the 2008 Cadillac CTS

Only one change appears on the 2009 Cadillac CTS—the inclusion of a Bluetooth option.

Performance

Although the Caddy CTS is not the fastest entry-level luxury sedan, car reviews still rave about its standout performance. Buyers have their choice of two 3.6-liter V6 engines: the base model that offers 258 horsepower and the direct-injection model that offers 304 horsepower. With the V6 DI CTS, road testers achieved a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds. The grip of the CTS is especially impressive with the all-wheel-drive option, and the handling is confident and accurate. Reviewers note that even though the CTS is primarily a zippy, tight-cornering sports sedan, it also works well as a comfortable daily commuter because of its pleasant ride. The one complaint reviewers voice about the Cadillac CTS’ performance relates to the manual transmission, which can feel stiff at times.

Exterior Features

The build quality of the 2009 Cadillac CTS is superlative, with very tight panel gaps. Critics appreciate how the sharply angled and creased CTS stands out in a class saturated with rounded, bubble-bodied sedans. Overall, the CTS has an athletic look with class-leading fit and finish. See our photos of the Cadillac CTS for a closer look. Standard on both models are 17-inch wheels. Cadillac offers the 2009 CTS in two trim levels, which are distinguished by their engines: the base V6 and the V6 DI CTS (direct-injection engine).

Interior Features

Cadillac has done amazing things with the once ho-hum interior of the CTS. Since 2008’s redesign, the interior boasts a sharp look and enough features to make your head spin. Auto reviews rave about the superb fit and finish of the cabin and love its roomy five-passenger capacity. The seats, however, could use a bit more bolstering for aggressive driving. Standard interior features include leatherette seating, dual-zone automatic climate control, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack, a CD/MP3 player, and an eight-way power driver’s seat.

Safety and Specifications

Because the 2009 Cadillac CTS offers standard stability control and earned perfect scores in all car insurance industry crash tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the sedan a “Top Safety Pick.” Standard car safety equipment on the CTS includes traction and stability control, OnStar communications, antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, and full-length side-curtain airbags. All of this means that you may be able to qualify for cheap car insurance, although this varies. An overview of the 2009 CTS’s specs is included below.

• Car pricing: $36,560 - $40,760 MSRP; $34,366 - $38,314 invoice
• Engine: 3.6-liter, 258-hp V6 base engine; 3.6-liter, 304-hp direct-injection (DI) V6 optional
• Transmission: six-speed manual transmission standard on base engine, six-speed automatic transmission optional. Direct-injection engine comes with the automatic as standard and the manual as optional.
• Acceleration: 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 accomplishes 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds

Upgrade Options

Individual options available on the 2009 CTS include a surround-sound stereo, a navigation system, and Bluetooth (when ordered with any major package). Most of the CTS’ available features, however, come in package form. The CTS’ option packages are summarized below.

• Luxury collection: upgraded alloy wheels, Bose stereo with CD changer, leather trim, upgraded power and heated front seats, and rain-sensing wipers
• Performance Luxury package: keyless ignition/entry, rear parking assist, power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, and a split-folding rear seat
• Performance Collection: foglights, sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch high-performance tires, leather upholstery, xenon headlights, heated front seats, and driver memory settings
• Premium Luxury Collection: all of the features in the aforementioned packages as well as a premium Bose surround-sound stereo, a large sunroof, iPod integration, additional wood trim, and a 40-GB hard-drive-based navigation system with real-time traffic updates

How the New CTS Compares to Other Upscale Midsize Cars

The 2009 Cadillac CTS leads the segment in fit and finish, interior features, and safety. The CTS is also priced competitively for the upscale-midsize class. The CTS’s fuel economy is good for an entry-level luxury sedan, with a 16/25 mpg city/highway rating. U.S. News and World Report ranked the Cadillac CTS second of 15 vehicles in the upscale-midsize segment. The competitors of the Cadillac CTS include:

• BMW 3-Series
• Infiniti G37
• Lexus ES 350
• Hyundai Genesis

New car guide websites estimate the Cadillac CTS’s Intellichoice 5 year cost of ownership for the 2009 model at $46,801, which is average for its segment. The 2009 Cadillac CTS received a strong score of 8.0 out of 10 on the J.D. Power and Associates Quality Ratings for predicted reliability. The 2009 CTS comes with an excellent four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a five-year/100,000 powertrain warranty, and roadside assistance for five years/100,000 miles.

Conclusion: Is the CTS a Smart Buy?

The one shortcoming that always held the Cadillac CTS back from leading luxury-midsize class was its lack of refinement, but Cadillac more than corrected that flaw with last year’s redesign. The 2009 Cadillac CTS is not the scruffy but powerful interloper it once was in the upscale-sedan market; now it is a class-topping luxury-mobile. The spacious, well-designed, and feature-packed cabin will win over even the harshest critics, and the confident handling will impress driving enthusiasts. Although the 2009 CTS may not be as agile as its smaller competitors, it remains one of the best luxury midsize sedans on the market.