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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2011 Cadillac CTS

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2014 Cadillac CTS

Overview

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2011 Cadillac CTS Review

By KBB.com Editors

When GM set out in the late 1990s to resurrect its once-proud Cadillac brand, the public process began with Evoq, the 1999 stealth-fighter concept sports car that eventually evolved into the production 2004 XLR. The car's sharp creased lines became Cadillac's new design language, and nowhere is this language spoken more clearly than with the entry-level CTS Sedan. Now in its second generation, the creases have been smoothed out a bit, and the car's interior-a sore point for many years-is now widely hailed as one of the best in recent Cadillac history. Most importantly, for the first time in a very long time, Cadillac is now a name comfortably tossed around in the company of such luxury giants and BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. For 2011, a sleek coupe joins the sedan and wagon (reviewed separately), bringing the CTS line into full competition with its European and Asian competitors.

You'll Like This Car If...

Cadillac was once the "Standard of the World," which was more than an advertising slogan. The competition is much deeper, wider and stronger today, but if you would like an unassailable reason to own, enjoy and be proud of a Cadillac again, this is it.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If nothing short of an import luxury brand will do, there are many fine alternatives from the likes of BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar, Lexus and Infiniti.

What's New for 2011

For 2011, a rear vision camera is offered on the sedan; models without navigation feature a view screen built into the rear view mirror. Also new for 2011 are an available heated steering wheel, a new front fender vent design and a new 19-inch wheel and tires package. All CTS models come standard with Cadillac's Premium Care Maintenance, which covers oil changes, tire rotation and engine and cabin air filter replacement for four years or 50,000 miles.

Driving the CTS

Driving Impressions Our extensive CTS driving experience began on a California race track and extended through many twisty two-lanes, fast freeways, urban congestion and mixed-speed suburban sprawl, most of it in a...

performance-package model with the strong-performing 304-horsepower V6. We expected the trade-off for its responsive steering, world-class road-holding and powerful braking to be an uncomfortably stiff rough-surface ride but found its suspension surprisingly supple even on the most troubled surfaces. We loved the posh, quiet cabin's cheerfully luxurious design, the multi-adjustable seats were uncommonly comfortable over the long haul and every control was easy to see, find and operate. This fine new mid-size Cadillac can compete on equal terms with anything in its class.

Favorite Features

Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround Sound
This sound system boasts surrealistic sound with 40-gig hard drive and iPod integration. It will download and store your CD collection and operate your iPod from the pop-up touch screen.

Advanced Navigation System
Offers real-time traffic and weather, expanded voice prompts and 3-D imaging of major landmarks. While its large center dash-top touch screen pops up fully on demand, the top portion peeks out to display key information even when stored.

2011 Cadillac CTS Details

Interior

The 2011 CTS imparts a dramatically different interior design theme for Cadillac, with emphasis on tasteful ornamentation and hand-crafted details. The instruments, vents and other elements are framed in chrome, the center stack blends seamlessly into the lower instrument panel and console and hand-cut, hand-sewn and hand-wrapped coverings with French stitching are used throughout. The heated and ventilated front seats use "thin-seat" technology for improved rear leg, knee and foot room. Available soft, white LED backlighting in the door-pulls, footwells and between the upper and lower instrument panels creates an effect similar to recessed lighting in contemporary homes.

Exterior

The defined look of the 2011 Cadillac CTS is characterized by a bold two-segment grille, chrome side air extractors and sculpted fenders emphasizing its wider tracks and more athletic chassis. Flanking the lower grille, below the vertical headlamps, are chromed wrap-around slots for additional air intakes and fog lamps. The fast-sloping roofline is nearly coupe-like in profile, the large vertical taillamps refine Cadillac's recent practice, the trunk-top center brake light doubles as an aerodynamic spoiler and an available double sunroof offers an open-sky view for both front and rear passengers.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The base CTS is powered by a 270-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 driving through a six-speed manual transmission and rolls on all-season tires on 17-inch aluminum wheels. Inside its cabin are dual-zone climate controls, an eight-way power driver's seat, a Driver Information Center, a rear-seat/trunk pass-through and an eight-speaker AM/FM/CD Bose audio system with SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio and MP3 capability. Standard safety and security equipment includes advanced front, side and side-curtain airbags, Stabilitrak stability and traction control, daytime running lamps, Twilight Sentinel auto lamps, programmable power door locks, a theft-deterrent system and one year of OnStar security and convenience service with turn-by-turn navigation.

Optional Equipment

The available "Luxury Package" includes upgraded seats, sound system and additional luxury features. The "Performance Package" adds 18-inch wheels and tires, FE2 Sport Suspension and High-Intensity Discharge headlamps with adaptive forward lighting, while the "Premium Package" offers wood trim, a 10-speaker Bose 5.1 premium audio with a 40-gig hard drive and radio rewind and pause, iPod integration, GPS navigation and EasyKey keyless entry and ignition. Major stand-alone options include a six-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, Ultraview roof, Bose premium audio (with or without navigation), rear vision camera (with or without navigation), the FE2 Sport Suspension and FE3 Performance Suspension on high-performance "summer" tires.

Under the Hood

The 2011 CTS offers two levels of 24-valve, direct-injection, double-overhead-cam, variable-valve-timing V6 power. The standard 3.0-liter V6 is good for 270 horsepower, while the optional 3.6-liter engine pushes output to an impressive 304 horsepower. The 3.0-liter comes standard with a six-speed manual, while a six-speed automatic is optional. Cars with all-wheel drive can only be equipped with the automatic transmission.

3.0-liter V6
270horsepower @ 7000 rpm
223 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5700 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/27 (automatic, RWD), 16/26 (manual, RWD), 18/26 (AWD)

3.6-liter V6
304 horsepower @ 6400 rpm
273 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/27 (automatic, RWD), 16/25 (manual, RWD), 18/27 (AWD)

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2011 Cadillac CTS Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.6

Out of 10

Based on 229 Ratings for the 2008 - 2014 models.

Review this car

Value

8.7/10

Quality

8.7/10
Reliability

8.8/10

Performance

9.0/10
Comfort

8.8/10

Styling

9.2/10

Best car I've ever owned

By Bobp (MO) on Wednesday, July 24, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 52,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Too many to list"

Cons: "Jealous people..."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Never had a problem. Bought the car with 16,000 miles and I paid for the Certified package. Fast, quick, stunning looks (my opinion)."

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Don't even think about purchasing......

By Fun in FL (FL) on Friday, July 19, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 12,000

10 1.0

overall rating 1 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 1/10
Value: 1/10
Reliability: 1/10
Quality: 1/10
Performance: 1/10
Styling: 1/10
Comfort: 1/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"This car has a defective transmission/torque converter. Please reference GM bulletin #PI0700B: Shudder Feel While Driving in 40-50 MPH Range - (Feb 20, 2013). Models include 2102 Cadillac CTS & 2012 Chevorlet Camaro. Cadillac has been unwilling to assist with the problem because they claim that it is not a recall, just a service bulletin. Please consider this when thinking about purchasing this car."

9 people out of 11 found this review helpful

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Very happy 2013 cts awd coupe owner

By 2013 black raven coupe (NJ) on Sunday, June 30, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 4,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 7/10
Comfort: 4/10

Pros: "comfort, sense of safety, polished rims."

Cons: "back up camera-radio use-paint scratching"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"First let me say I really like my cts coupe. It is a 2013 performance model awd with sunroof, nav and polished wheels. I am ocd about the car when it comes to keeping it clean and very picky so I will give you my honest review. I have owned the car since january (5 months) and have only logged 4000 miles in that time. I have taken it on two long trips of 400 miles each and have done plenty of town and highway driving. It took about two weeks of driving to really fall in love with the cars characteristics and get comfortable with it. I used meguires leather conditioner and I feel it really made the seats more comfortable. I am 5-9 and think the seats and the car drive like sitting in an easy chair in front of the tv. First car my leg has not cramped up on a long drive. The gas mileage was horrible(16mpg) for the first 2000 miles. Now I get consistent 19+ between city/hwy and 22+ hwy alone. The car handles great in rain and when I had it out in snow. Highly recommend the awd. The car drives much bigger than it is and compared to the sedan I really like the way the coupe rides. Comfortable yet sporty. The looks are great, you will get plenty of compliments and I think the interior finish is great. I definitely recommend the polished rims, and navigation system, which I use all the time now that I am searching for a house. Plus the backup camera is very useful backing out of a parking space. It enables you to see cars coming towards you from the left or right when parked in a row of cars. Now the cons. The car should have power folding mirrors. I have to hand fold them when I go to a carwash or park in the street. The back up camera, while useful should have lines indicating/guiding you as to where you are backing. I have almost smashed into something on the rear quarter panel looking into the backup camera. The side mirrors must be used when backing and using the camera. The hard drive for storing music and then later selecting discs is very hard to use and does not make sense. The directions in the manual do not work for storing music. Dual zone heating should have dual zone fan adjustments. Kinda pointless to set two different temps yet only have one fan setting for both driver and passenger. My final issue is with the paint. I have the black raven. I have never seen paint scratch as easily as on this car. I have put several scratches in it just washing it and I am very careful. Once the clearcoat scratches I have not found a polish yet that can remove the scratches by hand. Also- the roadlamps are next to worthless other than looking nice. There is very, and I mean very little difference between the normal headlights without the driving lights on vs when they are off. Lastly, I am not sure why the shifter on the center console is not illuminated at night. Doesn't make sense to me. With all that said, I really enjoy driving this car. I would recommend it to a friend and it does not drive like a traditional coupe. It drives like a much larger car and really gives you a sense of safety and comfort. It is not a nimble sports car, it drives similar to my 2007 corvette on the hwy, yet is way more forgiving during around town driving than the vette was."

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Louds of power great value

By Runner (NJ) on Thursday, May 30, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 25,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Cons: "None"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"Bought car new,dusted vehicles that cost twice as much,great value,sharp looking,handles great for a sedan,never drove car in snow or icey conditions so no opinion.Only gripe is cost of rubber $2000.00 after 22000 miles was a surprise"

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The most sporty sedan on the market !

By CTS FL (FL) on Wednesday, May 15, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 58,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 7/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "looks, HP, interior , ride style"

Cons: "oil changes, motor ticks, handeling"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"A very smooth driving sedan but yet very sporty and the looks are next to non, I bought this car after I sold my 92K Mercedes sl500. The CTS has a lot of get up and go and the transmission is a lot of fun, drive mode into sport mode into shift able mode. If you come from a sports car be careful when turning swiftly as it handles nice it's not a true sports car, it's a family sedan. It sounds very nice while in sport mode and has a lot of get up and go which is nice. Fits 4 people with no problems even with the front seats all the way back. Drives very smooth and has lots of air bags for the family. The exterior is very nice looking from 2008 to the present. The lights are very bright which is great at night. Just a great all around sedan that doesn't look like grand pa's car."

5 people out of 5 found this review helpful

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Is the CTS made by German Motors?

By Gio (VA) on Thursday, May 02, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 19,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Super comfortable and very responsive"

Cons: "back seat leg room is tight"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"The CTS is simply a great luxury car and when you compare it to the BMW 3, Audi A4 or Mercedes C class, I can honestly say the CTS takes them hands down. I've had my car for two years and have never had an issue and love driving this machine. Its quick and nimble and best of all, the interior is done right. Not too flashy or too gimmicky like a lot of GM models. For the money, I'm not sure what else you can get that can compete."

5 people out of 5 found this review helpful

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