2008 Cadillac CTS Salt Lake City UT

November 18, 2009   By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor



2008 Cadillac CTS

DriverSide Overview
As the car declared to have revived the Cadillac nameplate in 2003, we expected great things from the second generation CTS . Luckily, it seems the Cadillac engineers and design teams weren’t about to lay waste to the acclaim and have produced an even better version of their definitive American luxury sedan. Cadillac has done away with the underpowered 2.8-liter V-6 and added a direct injection 3.6-liter V-6 to the line up. We think it’s not a bad trade. Other new features for 2008 include an interior and exterior redesign and an all-wheel drive option. The finely appointed cabin features one of the best available navigation systems in the class and technology throughout the car tops its German rivals.








What's to Like
The responsive new direct injection engine has a reported 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds. Navigation system is state of the art and other tech features give the German competition a run for their money. 

What's Not to Like
Passengers will only fit in the rear via shoehorn application. Rear visibility is poor out and the side mirrors are too small to be very useful. Storage space within the cabin is at a premium, especially in the center console and glove box.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
Without hesitation, we can say that the CTS drives better than any Cadillac we’ve ever driven – though that list regrettably doesn’t contain the monstrous 2009 CTS-V. The direct injection V-6 produces loads of power, giving you a slight head snap if you floor it off the line. At speed, the sedan feels solid with non-existent wind noise, though if you opt for the 18-inch wheels, you’ll hear the whirr of the road. The agile chassis controls the car in corners and does a fine job of restricting body roll. The CTS features independent front and rear suspension, which smoothes over the worst America’s roads have to offer. Rack-and-pinion steering is the only issue with this setup; it’s too light for tight cornering and feels a bit floppy at the end of turns. The other engine, a 3.6-liter with port fuel injection, isn’t nearly as fun as the direct injection. We feel it is marginally equipped to handle the CTS’s weight. Then again, at 263 horsepower, it can’t help but look puny next to the DI engine’s 304 horsepower.

Engine and Drivetrain
The CTS sports two V-6 engines. The first, a port fuel injected 3.6-liter V-6 gives you 263 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque. The other (and the one we’d take home) is a direct injection 3.6-liter V-6 that delivers 304 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Each is available with all-wheel drive in addition to the standard rear-wheel drive, and each is mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. 

Interesting Vehicle Features and Options
The double moonroof is an ...

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