The rebirth of Cadillac
A few weeks ago I had to choose a vehicle to drive into the city for the New York auto show. I looked at the key board and saw that the cars from the March sports sedans group were all available. It's not an awful day when you get to choose between a BMW 328i, Cadillac CTS, Mercedes-Benz C300, and Saab 9-3. Still, with all that available European hardware, I choose the CTS.
Who would have thought a car nut like me would take a Cadillac? But, when you think about it, the state of Cadillac has come a long way in five years. For example, in our test of the first-generation CTS, we praised its handling, comfortable ride, and quick acceleration. But we thought that the car lacked some features found in others in this competitive category, such as a telescopic steering wheel and adjustable lumbar support. Plus, it had uncomfortable seat-mounted seat belts. Certainly it was better than the old Catera but it wasn't among the best of the best.
The DTS is really the last "old style" Cadillac; it's a big, luxurious sedan aimed at buyers looking for a quiet and coddling ride. The DTS is typical of what many of us think of when we think of Cadillac: Not a sports car. Not now…not ever. Still, its score is good enough to be recommended. However, over the past five years or so, Cadillac has been greatly improving their cars. The SRX is a nice but cramped SUV. The STS has improved considerably but is still not in the same league at some of the top European models. The XLR lacks the quality needed in its market place. And although the Escalade has been a commercial success, it’s hardly one of my favorite modes of transport.
And that brings us back to the CTS. Most of us here at the Auto Test Center came of age when Cadillac's famed "standard of the world" moniker had long worn off. I'm sure someone could write a book about how Cadillac came to be the "aspirational" car, and then quickly morphed into GM making its cars bloated and overstuffed. The division’s rebirth with the CTS can bode well for the future, but it hinges on whether or not it proves reliable. This is, perhaps, the first time I'd consider putting a Cadillac in my driveway.
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