New CADILLAC CTS review at a glance:
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Advantages: Great looking car, styling, good, classy quality interior, alternative choice to more conventional rivals

Disadvantages: No diesel at launch, inefficient automatic gearbox, lack of network, high running costs, vibrations and noises in the cabin
New CADILLAC CTS Review:
The new Cadillac CTS is a very interesting offer for those who are after something different.

The suspension has been stiffened to minimise body roll and the steering is neatly responsive.

Unfortunately, it is not a match for German rivals in terms of refinement and comfort and few customers will be interested at launch of the diesel.

This aspect is one of the major disadvantages of the new Cadillac CTS. Customers can only choose from two petrol engines and both are V6 units.

It is fairly relaxed and happy at pottering along but push the new Cadillac CTS harder and its weakness – the six-speed automatic gearbox - is exposed.

Cadillac is aware that the preconceived notion of an American saloon is a big car that wallows over the road, which is why it has given the CTS firmed-up suspension. The smaller engine model has a standard set-up that is forgiving and soaks up bumps well, while keeping road noise to a minimum.

The more powerful engine gets performance tuned suspension and makes the CTS feel nimble and agile. Therefore, the new Cadillac CTS feels more athletic than any US saloon sold in the UK to date.

The interior now looks like it belongs in an upmarket car, thanks largely to the hand-cut-and-sewn leather trim.

The interior design is innovative with the materials used on the dash and centre console of decent quality.

The finish overall is not too bad. However, unfortunately, it still lacks the sophistications of alternatives.

With so few Cadillacs sold in the UK to date it is difficult to speak on their reliability. Nonetheless, the technology here is also used in other brands owned by General Motors so we could presume that there should be a decent degree of longevity.

Slow sales in the past have led to large discounts from new prices, but Cadillac might be more reluctant to act so generously now that the products have improved. Still, you should aim for a healthy discount.

GREEN CREDENTIALS

With just two V6 petrol engines available, it is not surprising that the CTS range produces significant carbon dioxide emissions.

The smaller 2.8-litre model emits 263g/km of CO2 and can average 26mpg.

The more powerful choice emits only slightly more CO2 with a figure of 264g/km. The diesel will have lower carbon dioxide emissions.