2016 Cadillac CTS: What to Know Before You Buy

The 2016 Cadillac CTS represents a popular choice among upscale mid-size luxury sedans. Customers enjoy several options for interior and exterior trim packages. The vehicle displays a sleek, stylish conformation contributing to its utility as a premium executive-quality automobile.

Size and Trim

Cadillac manufactures the CTS with a variety of sophisticated trim options. Exterior paint shades include either the standard Black Raven or Radiant Silver Metallic, or available Crystal White Tricoat, Red Obsession Tintcoat, Silver Coast Metallic, Stellar Black Metallic, Moonstone Metallic, Phantom Gray Metallic, Dark Adriatic Blue Metallic or Cocoa Bronze Metallic. The vehicle promotes an ambiance of understated elegance, with smoothly sculpted contours and a prominent central chrome-plated grille displaying the Cadillac logo.

Customers select from a variety of interior trim levels. Choices encompass different combinations of wood, hand-sewn leather and carbon fiber. The packages vary from light platinum or light cashmere tones trimmed in wood to combinations of rich browns and blacks with burgundy-like morello red highlights.

The instrument panel sits behind the padded steering wheel, and a central touch screen permits the use of advanced computerized navigational and infotainment technologies. Stylish features such as concealed cup holders, full ambient interior lighting, and uniquely plush seats displaying a remarkable 20 adjustable points round out the distinctive cabin.

The interior trim in the 2016 Cadillac CTS includes some other opulent elements, too. You possess the ability to fully tailor the information appearing in the 12.3″ LCD instrumentation panel display, so while driving you can pay attention to mileage, vehicle speed and infotainment playlist information effortlessly without scanning a variety of displays.

Cadillac enables front and rear seat passengers to separately control temperature levels, an innovation designed to appeal to individual preferences. One feature will especially appeal to drivers in colder climates: a remote start function allows automatic seat heating and ventilation controls to begin operating from distances of up to 100 yards. In frigid weather, you won’t suffer the sting of a frosted automotive interior in this luxurious sedan!

Base Features

Cadillac offers standard features permitting a high level of responsive vehicle performance. The base model offers a turbocharged 268 horsepower with rear wheel drive, plus a fashionable, prestigious appearance. Many standard design features contribute to the high quality craftsmanship and engineering of the distinctive Cadillac CTS brand.

For instance, a total of ten standard airbags (including an airbag designed specifically to protect the driver’s knees) and steel-frame construction enhance the vehicle’s durability. Use convenient paddle shifters in the steering wheel to select the driving mode, enabling easier traction during snowy or icy roadway conditions. Elegant and exceedingly comfortable, the standard version of the CTS offers amenities most buyers expect in attractive executive-grade mid-sized sedans. Customers with compatible smart phones possess the ability to purchase data plans to access built-in technology from Google and Apple, such as Apple CarPlay. A standard rear-view camera enhances your perspective, promoting easier travel in reverse gear.

Luxury Options

Not surprisingly considering its sporty features, the 2016 Cadillac CTS offers many available upgrade options, also. These range from available engine upgrades and available all-wheel drive, to a host of advanced technology automations promoting easy Internet connectivity and navigational interactivity.

You’ll appreciate the ability to select available OnStar features with an impressive 4G LTE capability, for example. Sedans equipped with this service enable the vehicle’s occupants to use up to seven different mobile devices. An available surround-sound system from Bose furnishes up to 13 speakers.

Competitors

Potentially, every mid-sized luxury sedan offers competition to the 2016 Cadillac CTS. The two most significant competitors include the 2015 BMW 5 Series and the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E Class. These three vehicles offer many of the same standard features and warranties, except the Mercedes-Benz E Class lacks the remote keyless start option. The 2015 BMW 5 Series supplies marginally greater fuel efficiency under both city and highway roadway conditions, plus unlimited roadside assistance (as opposed to a 70,000 mile limit for this service in the CTS and a 50,000 mile limit in the Mercedes-Benz E Class.

The 2016 Cadillac CTS begins at a base price of just $45,560 and compares favorably (including freight charges) with comparably equipped competitors at a total of $51,780 versus $53,100 for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E Class and $60,475 for the 2015 BMW 5 Series. (These prices include some standard Cadillac CTS options that competitors treat as extras, not basic amenities.)

High Performance Aspects

You’ll notice that the supremely sculpted CTS possesses distinctly sporty qualities. Cadillac designed a highly responsive vehicle capable of rapid acceleration and deceleration. In fact, the company notes on its website that it tested this sedan under race car track conditions.

The 2016 Cadillac CTS boasts an impressive 8-speed automatic transmission. The standard 4-cylinder 2.0L Turbo engine achieves 268 horsepower, but available upgrades exist to increase the horsepower to 335 horsepower with the use of a 3.5L V6 engine or a supercharged 420 horsepower through the selection of a Twin Turbo V6 engine in the CTS V-Sport model. You can customize your powertrain components to meet your individual driving expectations.

Pros and Cons

You’ll likely discover several pros associated with the 2016 Cadillac CTS. These advantages include price, unique features relating to engineering and design, and the vehicle’s elegant, appealing contours. People searching for a reliable mid-sized luxury sedan enjoy some significant benefits by choosing a Cadillac. In the past decade, for instance, versions of this distinctive vehicle garnered six appearances on the prestigious Car and Driver “10 Best List”. Motor Trend named the Cadillac CTS its preferred “Car of the Year” on two consecutive occasions.

Negative aspects of this model may include the fact that purchasers interested in using built-in smart phone options must verify individual phone compatibility carefully. Connectivity differences do exist limiting the options for specific phone models. Additionally, some drivers might prefer a slightly larger central touchscreen panel.