Motor Trend: Cadillac ATS-V Review

[CirrusSR22]

The eight-speed-equipped ATS-V Sedan does the deed quicker, hitting 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and blasting through the quarter mile a half-second quicker — 12.1 seconds at 116.2 mph....

The heavier sedan also manages to outbrake the coupe, the four-door needing 99 feet in the 60-0 mph stopping test to the two-door's 101....

On the skidpad, the ATS-V Coupe shows its potential, netting a 1.04g average, and the ATS-V Sedan musters up a 1.03g average....

But again, the manual sadly proves to be the Coupe's undoing; its best figure-eight run was 23.9 seconds averaging 0.86 g, and the sedan managed an impressive 23.7-second time averaging 0.89 g.....

For reference, the ATS-V Sedan essentially matches our long-term 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 in all performance metrics, and it does so with an extra 400 pounds in tow....


Outside the test track and out in the real world, the ATS-V in either form is a remarkable car. Its German rivals often feel like they were built as luxury cars first and sports cars second, but the ATS-V is the opposite. It's a sports car that just so happens to have a supple ride, leather interior, and a comfortable-for-its-size back seat. Already small, the ATS-V does what good sports cars do best and shrinks around the driver once it starts being pushed. The ATS-V is telepathic, becoming one with your body as it gets flung from corner to corner. The small-diameter steering wheel offers up the perfect amount of heft and feedback, and the magnetic shocks do their job and keep the V cornering flat....

If there's anything to take issue with, it's the ATS-V's engine. It's not that the twin-turbo V-6 mill is a bad engine — it's actually anything but. It's just that it's lacking in personality. It's too quiet. Cadillac V-cars are supposed to be loud and in-your-face — the Guns N' Roses to BMW and Mercedes' Scorpions — and this one just isn't....

http://m.motortrend.com/roadtests/se...t_test_review/

[Bahn360Photo]

nice tech specs, but i want to puke every time i see that dash board, and i would hate myself for getting a car like that.

[04cobra]

After owning a CTS-V, and hating every second with it, I just cannot go back to GM no matter how much "better" it might be.

And WOW the coupe is HIDEOUS looking.

Almost 3800lbs does not seem lightweight to me at all....I CANNOT wait to race one of these and decimate it, god I hate Cadillac.....lol.

[dkhm3]

on the figure eight it is faster than the m3/m4 which did it at 24 seconds. it is a very very nice performing car. I wish the interior was better and if gm would offer a DCT, i'd be tempted to give it a try.

[dkhm3]

reading the comment section always entertains me.

people are actually arguing that the M3/M4 dash is same or worse as the ATS-V.

not one of them im sure buy these cars.

[bimmerj]

Originally Posted by dkhm3

reading the comment section always entertains me.

people are actually arguing that the M3/M4 dash is same or worse as the ATS-V.

not one of them im sure buy these cars.

I would not say that, but it is the sparsest around (IMO) and that has alot of appeal.

[Chachi112]

Originally Posted by 04cobra

After owning a CTS-V, and hating every second with it, I just cannot go back to GM no matter how much "better" it might be.

And WOW the coupe is HIDEOUS looking.

Almost 3800lbs does not seem lightweight to me at all....I CANNOT wait to race one of these and decimate it, god I hate Cadillac.....lol.

I'm with you... Just got rid of my '13 CTS-V coupe... Had a lot of power due to some nice bolt ons, but good lord was that car junk... It actually totally soured me to American cars

[myzmak]

By all accounts the driving dynamics on this car are special.

Well, by all American mag accounts....the Europeans will still ignore it, but everybody supports the home team so what else is new? American mags really, really, really want this to be a German beater (like the Asian press does with RC-F).

From my perspective, this thing may or may not be better on a track than an M3....but it still looks terrible. Apart from the inevitable wall of Detroit plastic that will grace the cockpit, the outside is all wrong. Still looks like a mini-escalade or, put another way, it just looks like a Cadillac, which is a brand that says 'big luxo car' and is the farthest thing from 'nimble and quick', which is what I want in my car. It may not be less nimble than an M3 (it may be more) but it sure doesn't look it.

....and, well, I will look at the inside and outside of this car much more than I will take it on a track so.....that counts a lot for me.

[MavRick]

For reference, the ATS-V Sedan essentially matches our long-term 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 in all performance metrics, and it does so with an extra 400 pounds in tow. Our long-term 'Vette does 0-60 in 3.8 seconds, goes through the quarter mile in 12.1 at 117.8 mph, and can lap the figure eight in 23.5 seconds while averaging 0.91 g.

[kdphan]

why does it look so boxy?

[MavRick]

Originally Posted by kdphan

why does it look so boxy?

thats Caddy's look since the Escalade got so popular. i love all of the sharp angles. and it think these cars...minus all the aero...look fantastic.

[kdphan]

Originally Posted by MavRick

thats Caddy's look since the Escalade got so popular. i love all of the sharp angles. and it think these cars...minus all the aero...look fantastic.

the sedan definitely looks a lot better than the coupe

I hope the base price is somewhere under 60k to compete with the M3.

[dkhm3]

Originally Posted by bimmerj

I would not say that, but it is the sparsest around (IMO) and that has alot of appeal.

I am not sure what you are saying, can you please re phrase ? thanks.

[MavRick]

Originally Posted by kdphan

the sedan definitely looks a lot better than the coupe

I hope the base price is somewhere under 60k to compete with the M3.

spec'd out, theyre in the same ballpark. their configurator is just confusing as hell...

[kdphan]

Originally Posted by MavRick

spec'd out, theyre in the same ballpark. their configurator is just confusing as hell...

spec'ed out to my liking for $70k and change

included luxury and carbon pkgs

[basscadet]

I had a CTS-V. I won't fall for the hype a second time.

GM basically has 2 tools in its arsenal: suspension and power. The suspension on my Caddy was MagneRide (or whatever GM calls it) and it was phenomenal, it was absolutely perfect for what a sports sedan should be. The power was impossibly deep, just endless.

Everything else?

Transmission? Trash. GM does not offer a modern transmission in any of its cars.

Styling? Embarrassing. I loathe the looks of these cars.

Build quality? Atrocious. My Recaro seats would literally rock back and squeak on hard acceleration.

Efficiency? I think I averaged 14mpg...and I drive my cars like a hyper-miler most of the time.

LESSONS LEARNED - there is a lot more to a car than numbers on a spreadsheet. I don't care that it was faster than just about any other sedan in the world at the time. I am basically done with GM products after my terrible experiences with both my Z06 and my CTS-V.

Now if Ford would just make a M3/M5 competitor...

[bimmerj]

Originally Posted by dkhm3

I am not sure what you are saying, can you please re phrase ? thanks.

Looks empty. Not much on it.

[kdphan]

Originally Posted by basscadet

I had a CTS-V. I won't fall for the hype a second time.

GM basically has 2 tools in its arsenal: suspension and power. The suspension on my Caddy was MagneRide (or whatever GM calls it) and it was phenomenal, it was absolutely perfect for what a sports sedan should be. The power was impossibly deep, just endless.

Everything else?

Transmission? Trash. GM does not offer a modern transmission in any of its cars.

Styling? Embarrassing. I loathe the looks of these cars.

Build quality? Atrocious. My Recaro seats would literally rock back and squeak on hard acceleration.

Efficiency? I think I averaged 14mpg...and I drive my cars like a hyper-miler most of the time.

LESSONS LEARNED - there is a lot more to a car than numbers on a spreadsheet. I don't care that it was faster than just about any other sedan in the world at the time. I am basically done with GM products after my terrible experiences with both my Z06 and my CTS-V.

Now if Ford would just make a M3/M5 competitor...

I once wanted a CTS-V coupe

[dkhm3]

interesting so many former cts-v owners here had bad experiences.

[buildbright]

Still feeling like I got the best car for me.

[AlterZgo]

Originally Posted by 04cobra

After owning a CTS-V, and hating every second with it, I just cannot go back to GM no matter how much "better" it might be.

And WOW the coupe is HIDEOUS looking.

Almost 3800lbs does not seem lightweight to me at all....I CANNOT wait to race one of these and decimate it, god I hate Cadillac.....lol.

I'm curious... why did you hate every second of your CTS-V ownership? You must've liked something in the test drive? What happened after you owned it for a while?

I've always wanted to take a chance and get a Corvette or CTS-V or ATS-V but always chicken out due to crappy American car reputation and end up getting another BMW. Did the CTS-V come anywhere close to giving you as good of an all around experience as your F80 or any other German cars you've owned?

[/// M sa]

My dead grandfather would love this caddy