Cadillac CTS

Cadillac CTS: which version to buy and why

If you want the Cadillac CTS that does the most with the least extra mass, buy the 3 generation (2013-03-01–2019-06-30) 3.6 AT with 425 hp, RWD, 8-speed Automatic: 4.6 s to 100 km/h, 583 Nm, 1793 kg kerb — 4.22 kg per hp, the lowest weight-per-horsepower figure in the catalogue.

If you want the Cadillac CTS that does the most with the least extra mass, buy the 3 generation (2013-03-01–2019-06-30) 3.6 AT with 425 hp, RWD, 8-speed Automatic: 4.6 s to 100 km/h, 583 Nm, 1793 kg kerb — 4.22 kg per hp, the lowest weight-per-horsepower figure in the catalogue. If you want the cheapest-to-run four-cylinder Sedan with measured economy, buy the same generation 2.0 AT with 240 hp and RWD: 6.6 s, 240 km/h, 7.8 L/100 km mixed, 1656 kg. If you need AWD, the 240 hp 2.0 AT AWD costs you 64 kg and 0.3 s versus that RWD twin (1720 kg, 6.9 s, 8.4 L/100 km mixed). Skip 1 generation if 0–100 under 7 s is the test: its fastest cars, 3.6 MT 258 hp and 3.6 AT 258 hp, both take 7.0 s. Skip 2 generation (Coupe, 2007-07-01–2014-02-28) if ground clearance or kerb mass matter: several Coupe 3.6 AT versions sit at 120 mm clearance and 1773–1874 kg, versus 155 mm and 1640–1793 kg on 3 generation Sedan.

The catalogue lists 3 generations and does not give prices, so “what you pay extra for” here means extra horsepower, torque, seconds, kilograms, and litres — not money.

Which generation to buy: what actually changed

3 generation is the only Sedan in the set with Turbo four-cylinder 2.0 AT versions (240, 272, and 276 hp), an 8-speed Automatic on several cars, Euro 6 on three versions, and the 425 hp Turbo 3.6 AT. Ground clearance is 155 mm on every 3 generation version. Fuel tank is 72 L. Wheel sizes that are measured: 245/45 R17, 245/40 R18, 255/35 R19. Gross weight is not measured on any 3 generation version.

2 generation is the Coupe window. The generation record lists 18 versions; 12 appear in the data below. Peak power in those 12 is 322 hp (3.6 AT), not 425. Automatic is 6-speed on every listed 2 generation car. The only Manual in 2 generation is 2.8 MT 211 hp. Clearance splits: 120 mm on the 2009-11-01–2014-02-28 Coupe 3.6 AT cluster, 150 mm on the 2007-07-01–2013-02-28 / 2008-07-01 cluster, not measured on 2.8 MT. Tanks are 68 L or 66 L, not 72 L. Several versions finally list gross weight (2250–2425 kg). Rear brakes on many of these cars are Disc, not Disc ventilated.

1 generation (2002-01-01–2007-11-30, Sedan, 8 versions) is the only generation in which every listed car is RWD. It is also the only generation with 2.6 MT, 2.6 AT, 3.2 MT, 3.2 AT, and 3.6 MT. Peak power is 258 hp. Automatic is 5-speed. Manuals are 5-speed or 6-speed. Tank 66 L. Clearance 150 mm. Lightest kerb in the whole Cadillac CTS set is 3.2 MT 223 hp at 1628 kg. Boost on every 1 generation engine: No.

Overlap: 2 generation still runs to 2014-02-28 after 3 generation starts 2013-03-01. Body type in the data is Coupe for 2 generation and Sedan for 1 generation and 3 generation. Wagon, V8, and Blackwing names are not in this dataset; the performance peak that is here is the 425 hp Turbo 3.6 AT.

Cadillac CTS engine options and specs

Every engine in the data is Gasoline. Layout labels are Inline or V-shaped as given. Distinguish same names by hp, drive, gears, and dates.

3 generation Sedan (11 versions)

Power per litre (hp ÷ litres): 2.0 AT 276 hp = 138 hp/L; 2.0 AT 272 hp = 136 hp/L; 2.0 AT 240 hp = 120 hp/L; 3.6 AT 425 hp = 119 hp/L; 3.7 AT 341 hp = 93 hp/L; 3.6 AT 325 hp = 91 hp/L. The four-cylinder Turbo 2.0 AT 276 hp is the densest engine in the Cadillac CTS set. The 425 hp 3.6 AT is almost as dense as the 240 hp 2.0 AT (119 vs 120 hp/L) while making 185 hp more than that 240 hp car.

Fuel 95 and Direct injection (direct) on all 11. Compression 9.5 on every 2.0 AT; 11.5 on 3.6 AT 325 hp and both 3.7 AT; 10.2 on 3.6 AT 425 hp. Bore × stroke 86 × 86 on 2.0 AT; 94 × 85.6 on 3.6 AT; 95 × 85.8 on 3.7 AT. Engine position Front, longitudinal; 4 valves per cylinder on all 11.

The 272 hp and 276 hp 2.0 AT cars share 400 Nm with the 240 hp 2.0 AT, so the extra 32–36 hp is not extra torque. What changes is rpm window: 276 hp versions hold 400 Nm from 1700–5500, versus 3000–4500 on 240/272 hp. Gearbox is the other split: 276 hp cars are 6-speed; 240 and 272 hp cars are 8-speed.

2 generation Coupe (12 versions in the data; generation count 18)

On 2 generation 3.6 AT, 309 vs 322 hp does not change 0–100: both AWD cars are 6.7 s and 225 km/h; both RWD cars are 6.3 s and 241 km/h. The 13 hp gap is not a sprint gap in this table. AWD vs RWD is: +16 km/h and −0.4 s if you drop AWD on the 322 hp pair (1780 vs 1874 kg = 94 kg). The 311 hp AWD at 1958 kg is 100 kg heavier than the 311 hp RWD at 1858 kg and 0.4 s slower (6.7 vs 6.3).

Do not buy 2 generation 3.0 AT for pace: 8.1–9.0 s, 290 Nm, 88 hp/L (264/2.999). The 2007-07 AWD 3.0 AT is the slowest 2 generation car in the table at 9.0 s and 205 km/h.

1 generation Sedan (8 versions)

On 1 generation, Manual vs Automatic on the same engine: 2.8 MT 8.2 s vs 2.8 AT 8.4 s (0.2 s); 3.2 MT 7.4 s / 238 km/h vs 3.2 AT 7.7 s / 230 km/h (0.3 s and 8 km/h); 3.6 MT and 3.6 AT share 7.0 s, but the Manual is 8 km/h faster (241 vs 233). 2.6 MT and 2.6 AT share 9.7 s and 206 km/h; the Automatic is the one with measured economy (14.4 / 8.6 / 10.7).

Performance, mpg (L/100 km), and horsepower: who actually wins

Fastest 0–100 in the Cadillac CTS data: 3.6 AT 425 hp, 3 generation, RWD — 4.6 s. Next: 3.7 AT 341 hp RWD — 5.2 s (0.6 s slower, 84 hp less, 197 Nm less: 386 vs 583). Then 3.7 AT 341 hp AWD and 3.6 AT 325 hp RWD, both 5.7 s. The AWD 3.7 AT is 0.5 s slower than its RWD twin at +76 kg (1775 vs 1699). 3.6 AT 325 hp AWD is 6.1 s — 0.4 s slower than the RWD 325 hp car, which also has 8 speeds versus 6.

Among 3 generation fours, RWD 240 hp 2.0 AT at 6.6 s beats the 272 and 276 hp 2.0 AT cars at 6.8 s, and the AWD 240 hp 2.0 AT at 6.9 s. Extra 32–36 hp does not buy a faster 0–100 in this table; RWD and the 8-speed do more than the 276 hp rating.

Highest measured top speed: 263 km/h on 3.7 AT 341 hp AWD and 3.6 AT 325 hp RWD (3 generation). 3.6 AT 425 hp top speed is not measured. Slowest measured top speed in the whole set: 205 km/h on 2 generation 3.0 AT 264 hp AWD (2007-07-01–2013-02-28).

Measured mixed economy, best to worst among those that have a number:

• 7.8 — 3 generation 2.0 AT 240 hp RWD
• 8.4 — 3 generation 2.0 AT 240 hp AWD
• 9.4 — 3 generation 3.7 AT 341 hp AWD
• 9.9 — 2 generation 3.0 AT 264 hp RWD
• 10.6 — 2 generation 3.6 AT 311 hp RWD and the 2008-07 3.6 AT 311 hp AWD
• 10.7 — 1 generation 2.6 AT 185 hp
• 10.9 — 2 generation 3.6 AT 309 hp AWD and 309 hp RWD
• 11.0 — 1 generation 3.2 MT 223 hp
• 11.2 — 2 generation 3.6 AT 311 hp AWD (2007-07, tank 66)
• 11.7 — 1 generation 3.2 AT 223 hp
• 11.8 — 2 generation 2.8 MT 211 hp and 2.8 AT 215 hp
• 12.0 — 1 generation 2.8 MT and 2.8 AT 215 hp

Not measured (do not treat as “no consumption”): all 272/276 hp 2.0 AT; both 325 hp 3.6 AT; 425 hp 3.6 AT; 3.7 AT 341 hp RWD; 2 generation 3.6 AT 322 hp both drives; 2 generation 3.0 AT AWD both date windows; 1 generation 2.6 MT, 3.6 MT, 3.6 AT.

CO2 is measured only on 3 generation 2.0 AT 276 hp: 199 g/km RWD, 212 g/km AWD (+13). Those two are Euro 5. Euro 6 in the set: the two 240 hp 2.0 AT and the 341 hp AWD 3.7 AT. Euro 4: only 2.8 MT 211 hp. Eco class not measured on the rest.

Cadillac CTS weight, dimensions, tank, wheels

Kerb range in the data: 1628 kg (3.2 MT 1 generation) to 1958 kg (3.6 AT 311 hp AWD, 2 generation, 2008-07). That is 330 kg — more than the entire 3 generation four-cylinder spread (1640–1725 kg).

Weight per horsepower (kg/hp), lowest first among versions with both figures:

• 3.6 AT 425 hp: 1793/425 = 4.22
• 3.7 AT 341 hp RWD: 1699/341 = 4.98
• 3.7 AT 341 hp AWD: 1775/341 = 5.21
• 3.6 AT 325 hp RWD: 1704/325 = 5.24
• 3.6 AT 325 hp AWD: 1764/325 = 5.43
• 2.0 AT 276 hp RWD: 1640/276 = 5.94
• 2.0 AT 272 hp RWD: 1656/272 = 6.09
• 2.0 AT 276 hp AWD: 1711/276 = 6.20
• 2.0 AT 272 hp AWD: 1725/272 = 6.34
• 2.0 AT 240 hp RWD: 1656/240 = 6.90
• 2.0 AT 240 hp AWD: 1720/240 = 7.17
• 3.2 MT 223 hp: 1628/223 = 7.30
• 3.6 AT 322 hp RWD: 1780/322 = 5.53
• 3.6 AT 311 hp AWD 1958 kg: 1958/311 = 6.30

Gross weight: not measured on all of 3 generation. Measured on 1 generation (2125 or 2160) and on several 2 generation cars (2250, 2350, 2360, 2425). Payload where both exist, examples: 3.2 MT 2125−1628 = 497 kg; 2.6 MT 2125−1720 = 405 kg; 2 generation 3.6 AT 322 hp RWD 2250−1780 = 470 kg; 2.8 AT 215 hp 2360−1765 = 595 kg; 3.6 AT 311 hp AWD (2007-07) 2425−1882 = 543 kg.

Ground clearance: 155 mm if you want 3 generation; 150 mm for 1 generation and most 2 generation; 120 mm for the 2009-11 Coupe 3.6 AT quartet; not measured on 2.8 MT.

Tank: 72 L (3 generation), 68 L or 66 L (2 generation), 66 L (1 generation). Range arithmetic only where mixed consumption is measured, 3 generation 2.0 AT 240 hp RWD: 72/7.8 ≈ 9.2 × 100 km. 2 generation 3.0 AT 264 hp RWD: 68/9.9 ≈ 6.9 × 100 km. 1 generation 2.6 AT: 66/10.7 ≈ 6.2 × 100 km.

Wheels: 3 generation as above; 1 generation 2.6 MT 225/55 R16 and 225/50 R17; 2 generation 2.8 MT 235/55 R17 and 235/50 R18; wheels not measured on the other 1 and 2 generation versions.

Chassis common to the data: Independent, spring front and rear. Front brakes Ventilated disc everywhere. Rear: Disc ventilated on all 3 generation; Disc on 1 generation and on 2 generation except the 2009-11 Coupe 3.6 AT group, which is Disc ventilated.

Which Cadillac CTS version to choose

Want the fastest car in the catalogue. 3 generation 3.6 AT 425 hp, RWD, Automatic 8, Turbo, 4.6 s, 583 Nm, 1793 kg. Top speed not measured. Fuel, CO2, eco class not measured. Versus the same-displacement 3.6 AT 325 hp RWD you gain 100 hp, 210 Nm, and 1.1 s, and you give up 89 kg and a measured 263 km/h top speed (the 325 hp RWD has it; the 425 hp car does not).

Want AWD and a six-cylinder without Turbo. 3 generation 3.7 AT 341 hp AWD: 5.7 s, 263 km/h, mixed 9.4, Euro 6, 1775 kg. That is 0.5 s and 76 kg more than the RWD 3.7 AT 341 hp (5.2 s, 1699 kg, top speed not measured, fuel not measured). Versus 3 generation 3.6 AT 325 hp AWD (6.1 s, 256 km/h, 1764 kg, 6-speed) the 3.7 AT AWD is 16 hp and 13 Nm up, 0.4 s quicker, 7 km/h faster, 11 kg heavier, and has 8 speeds.

Want a four-cylinder 3 generation Sedan. Prefer 2.0 AT 240 hp RWD if economy and a measured Euro 6 figure matter (7.8 mixed, 10.8 city, 6.2 highway, 6.6 s, 240 km/h, 1656 kg). Take 2.0 AT 240 hp AWD if you need AWD and still want measured mpg (8.4 mixed, 6.9 s, 230 km/h, 1720 kg). Do not buy 2.0 AT 272 or 276 hp expecting a quicker 0–100: both 272 hp cars and both 276 hp cars are 6.8 s. The 276 hp pair does add a wider 400 Nm band (1700–5500) and, uniquely, CO2 (199 RWD / 212 AWD) and Euro 5. Lightest 3 generation car is 2.0 AT 276 hp RWD at 1640 kg.

Want a Coupe (2 generation). The RWD 3.6 AT 322 hp (6.3 s, 241 km/h, 1780 kg, 120 mm) is the strongest sprint/top-speed pair among the 12 listed versions. The 309 hp RWD 3.6 AT matches those 6.3 s / 241 km/h figures with measured 10.9 mixed. AWD on these Coupes is 6.7 s and 225 km/h. Avoid 3.0 AT if 0–100 under 8 s is required. 2.8 MT is the only Manual in 2 generation (211 hp, 8.3 s, Euro 4, mixed 11.8); 2.8 AT 215 hp is the same 8.3 s with Automatic.

Want 1 generation, or a Manual. Fastest 1 generation: 3.6 MT 258 hp — 7.0 s, 241 km/h, 1706 kg — tied on 0–100 with 3.6 AT 258 hp (7.0 s, 233 km/h, 1722 kg). Best mass: 3.2 MT 223 hp at 1628 kg, 7.4 s, 238 km/h, mixed 11.0. Slowest Cadillac CTS in the whole file: 2.6 MT and 2.6 AT at 9.7 s and 206 km/h. There is no AWD in 1 generation.

Reliability / problems / engine oil / power reduced. Not measured in this dataset. Eco class, where it exists, is Euro 4, Euro 5, or Euro 6 as listed above — not a failure log.

Buy by the arithmetic: 3 generation 3.6 AT 425 hp if seconds matter; 3 generation 2.0 AT 240 hp RWD if litres matter; 3 generation 3.7 AT 341 hp if you want AWD and a measured 263 km/h; 2 generation RWD 3.6 AT 322 or 309 hp if the body must be Coupe; 1 generation 3.2 MT or 3.6 MT if the gearbox must be Manual and the years must be 2002-01-01–2007-11-30.