2009 Cadillac CTS Review
America's best sports sedan.
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Summary
The Cadillac CTS looks great and is relatively roomy inside. It's got lots of poke for the performance enthusiast with the more powerful V6 engine and available all-wheel drive. For those who don't need or want the extra stuff, there's lots of style with the standard V6 and rear-wheel drive. But we recommend checking the box for the all-wheel-drive system regardless of where you live because it adds so much more to the safety margin and it's more fun to drive, even if the car is heavier for it. We could find ourselves infatuated with the awesomely impressive CTS-V but, in actuality, we could be perfectly happy with the CTS and its optional 304-hp Direct Injection V6.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Jim McCraw test drove the CTS in Northern California and the CTS-V near White Plains, New York; with Mitch McCullough reporting on the CTS-V from Sonoma, California.
Model Line Overview
| Model Lineup: | Cadillac CTS ($36,560); AWD ($39,760); Direct Injection RWD ($37,560); Direct Injection AWD ($40,760); CTS-V ($58,575) |
| Engines: | 3.6-liter dohc 24-valve Direct Injection V6 |
| Transmissions: | 6-speed automatic |
| Safety Equipment (standard): | frontal airbags, side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags, ABS, EBD, Stabilitrak electronic stability control with traction control |
| Safety Equipment (optional): | all-wheel drive |
| Basic Warranty: | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Assembled In: | Lansing, Michigan |
Specifications As Tested
| Model Tested (MSRP): | Cadillac CTS Direct Injection AWD ($40,760) |
| Standard Equipment: | leather seating surfaces, dual-zone air conditioning, power steering, power disc brakes, keyless entry, power windows, remote keyless entry, power locks, power mirrors, cruise control, trip computer, fog lights, AM/FM/CD sound system |
| Options As Tested (MSRP): | AM/FM/CD/DVD/MP3 Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround Sound with 10 speakers and navigation system ($3,145); Luxury Collection ($2,755) |
| Destination Charge: | 825 |
| Gas Guzzler Tax: | |
| Price as tested (MSRP) | 47485 |
| Layout: | all-wheel drive |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm): | 304 @ 6400 |
| Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm): | 273 @ 5200 |
| Transmission: | 6-speed automatic |
| EPA fuel economy, city/hwy: | 17/26 |
| Wheelbase: | 113.4 |
| Length/width/height: | 191.6/72.5/58.0 |
| Track, f/r: | 61.8/62.0 |
| Turning circle: | 36.0 |
| Seating capacity: | 5 |
| Head/hip/leg room, f: | 38.8/55.1/42.4 |
| Head/hip/leg room, m: | |
| Head/hip/leg room, r: | 37.2/54.1/35.9 |
| Cargo volume: | 13.6 |
| Payload: | |
| Towing capacity: | 1000 |
| Suspension, f: | independent, single lower arm, coil springs, stabilizer bar |
| Suspension, r: | independent, multi-link, coil springs, stabilizer bar |
| Ground clearance: | |
| Curb weight: | |
| Tires: | P235/55R17 |
| Brakes, f/r: | disc/disc with ABS, EBD |
| Fuel capacity: | 18.0 |
• For more information such as specs, prices, and photos of the 2009 Cadillac CTS, click here: 2009 Cadillac CTS.
