2012 Cadillac CTS Review

Overview

A five-passenger midsize luxury car, the 2012 Cadillac CTS comes in 3.0 base, 3.0 Luxury, 3.0 Performance, 3.6 Performance and 3.6 Luxury trims with a variety of standard and optional features. The CTS is available in sedan and wagon body styles. Fuel-saving 3.0L direct injected V-6 is standard. The all new CTS Sport Wagon is also in the lineup.

Power and performance

A new direct-injection 3.0-liter V-6 is the CTS' base engine. It produces 270 hp and 223 lb ft of torque and delivers 18/22 mpg city/highway. A 304-hp 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 is optional (18/27 city/highway mpg). Rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual are standard while a six-speed automatic and all-wheel drive are separately optional. The trunk has 13.6 cubic foot area for storage.

Body and styling

A sport luxury sedan, the 2012 Cadillac CTS is available in both RWD and AWD configurations. Automatic headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, premium vinyl "leatherette" upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and an eight-speaker CD stereo with an auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio are the standard equipment of the 3.0 trim. The base Sport Wagon 3.0 has the same equipment plus a standard power tailgate. The 3.0 Luxury gains heated front seats, driver memory functions, eight-way power passenger seat, leather upholstery, a wood-and-leather steering wheel, interior ambient lighting, Bluetooth, and a six-CD changer. The Eco Lux Collection (Available on the 3.0 Luxury Sedan only) changes aerodynamics to achieve 30 mpg highway. The CTS 3.0 Performance is meant for luxury and includes adaptive HID headlamps 18-inch wheels, upgraded FE2 sport-tuned suspension, performance brakes, and a limited-slip rear differential (sedan only). The 3.6 Performance gets a bigger V6 engine and a 10-speaker surround-sound stereo with digital music storage and a USB/iPod audio interface.

Safety Features

Antilock disc brakes, traction control, stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and GM's OnStar emergency communications system are standard on the 2012 Cadillac CTS.