Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $77,340 (Base model $54,490)
Seating Capacity: 5
Standard Safety Features: air bags; ABS; Daytime Running Lights; a front and rear park assist system; a road emergency tool kits; an automatic vehicle hold system; a compact spare tire; and a rearview camera
Standard Equipment (Base Model): 18-inch wheels; rear wheel drive configuration; an automatic stop/start gas saving feature; a 10-inch infotainment system; a navigation system; Apple Car Play and smartphone compatibility; a dual zone climate control system; an automatic cruise control system; memory operated driver’s seat; an automatic rearview auto-dimming; an in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot system; an OnStar; 14-way power front seats; XM satellite radio system; HD radio; a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel; a wireless charging system; body color door handles; manual side rear sunscreens; a power rear sunshade; and heated power outside adjustable mirrors
Options On Review Vehicle: 20-inch ultra bright machined aluminum wheels; a front and rear automatic braking system; a radar-activated cruise control system; an enhanced night vision system; a 34-speaker Bose audio system; a magnetic ride control system; an active rear steering system; heated; and blue Metallic paint
Other Trim Level:
Base
Luxury Collection
Platinum
Standard Audio On Test Vehicle: an 8-speaker Bose system
Bluetooth Connectivity: Yes
USB Connectivity: Yes
Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty: 6 years or 70,000 miles
Standard Engine/Horsepower: 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder/265-hp
Recommended Fuel: Regular
Standard Fuel Mileage:
22-city/31-hwy
What’s New: The CT6, which follows its import competitors as it relates to using a combination of letters and numbers for the model's name, is the latest addition to the growing Cadillac line up.
Why:
This is the car we’ve been waiting for Cadillac to build. It’s a first rate
flagship vehicle that is finally competitive with the German and Japanese luxury
makes. This roomy Cadillac, with its stately and bold appearance, has
the words flagship written all over it, especially while wearing the brand’s iconic, signature crystal-like, artistic LED
headlight system, which makes a bold and powerful statement at night.
The
fuel-efficient CT6, which only requires unleaded fuel on the 2.0-liter and 3.6-liter engines, can be powered by a
rear wheel drive or an all-wheel drive configuration. The stately Detroit-built
Caddy can be outfitted with a choice of engines, too. There is the 2.0-liter turbo, the 3.0-liter
twin turbo and the 3.6-liter engine, which produces 265, 404 and 335
horsepower, respectively. We fortunate to get our hands on a 3.6-liter, which was outfitted
with an 8-speed transmission. The 6-cylinder in our flagship Cadillac was more than capable of maneuvering this bold, athletically designed vehicle around
town.
The
flagship, with its agile handling capabilities, offers a balanced ride, too.
It’s not too floaty or too stiff like we’ve come to expect from other Cadillacs
currently in the line up. With a mere touch of a button, the vehicle can be
transformed into a noticeable driving mode: touring, sport or ice/snow. Yes, this car is designed to take on mostly every road condition. And
the optional magnetic ride control system, which is complimented by the almost
Volvo-like safety headrests, with its form fitting body seats, makes this a
great vehicle for the road.
Moreover,
while the well-equipped premium trim model we reviewed was outfitted with a number of
features, the upper end Platinum trim, which has a starting price pushing
slightly north of $84,000, adds most of the optional feature noted on our review
vehicle. The higher end trim also includes such standard features as a full speed radar-activated cruise
control system, an illuminated trunk sill plate, a rear seat infotainment
system, a quad zone climate control system, power operated massaging rear seats
and a noise control engine sound enhancement. Yes, this Cadillac has
everything, but a chauffeur. We hear a supercruise system is being added next
model year to push this vehicle to being closer to Tesla-like, which offers an
autonomous, auto pilot driving feature.
Furthermore,
the interior of the brand’s flagship was outfitted with a gigantic, easy-to-use
infotainment system, which houses everything from the latest weather updates to the traffic updates to the wide-view camera to the controls for the crystal clear 34-speaker audio system.
To keep the touchscreen free of finger prints, mostly everything can be
controlled by a haptic magnetic pad similar to that which can be found in that of the Lexus RC.
Lastly,
the all-new CT6, can be outfitted with the industry’s first-ever rear camera
mirror. This mirror improves the field vision
by removing obstructions of passengers, headrests and the vehicle’s roof and
rear pillars.
But:
It’s going to take a moment for the vehicle to earn name recognition,
especially with the name CT6. Cadillac has been out of the game for so long, at
the top end of the car segment,
it’s going to take some time for folks to give the automaker a second look outside of their popular, but limited
SUV/CUV offerings.
Besides that concern, for those looking for an 8-cylinder vehicle, they’ll have
to look elsewhere. That’s not an option available on the all-new CT6. However, the vehicle does offer an optional
404-horsepower twin turbo, which require premium fuel.
Moreover,
the CT6’s stop and start gas saving feature seems louder than necessary for a
luxury vehicle, when pulling off from a complete start. For a luxury vehicle,
it should be a lot quieter. And a vehicle of this caliber should have less hard
plastic surrounding the center floor console and the door panels. Lastly, why
is a CD player optional on the flagship? Did Cadillac study its competitors?
Verdict:
After spending some
windshield time behind the wheel of the CT6, we now understand why a ‘true
flagship’ is no longer on the drawing board for the automaker. With just a few
polishing touches, this is all the brand needs to swing folks back to the
luxury American makes again! Not since the first and second generation Cadillac
Sevilles, which ended the brand’s premium luxury car reigns, has the brand had
a vehicle that offered a standout car at the upper end of the ladder. The CT6,
while it’s more of a tweener, being that its slotted between the likes of the smaller
BMW 5 Series and the larger and a tad more luxurious 7 Series, its literally
sitting in a sweet spot.
In
fact, in the history of the one hundred year plus American brand, the CT6 is
the brand’s first worthy car contender to go up against the Japanese, British
and German luxury import cars. It has the stately appeal, with its signature
LED lighting system, the ride and handling capabilities, the technology and the
pricing that should make folks think about the brand
again beyond the famed Escalade. While it may take a moment to conquer conquest
sales and to earn recognition, this is a Caddy that is serious about earning
the brand’s respect as a luxury brand that can build cars, too.
Competition: 2017 Genesis G90 (replacement for Hyundai Equus); 2016 Audi A6; 2016 Audi A7; 2016 BMW 5 Series; 2016 BMW 7 Series; 2016 Infiniti Q70; 2016 Lexus LS; 2016 Mercedes-Benz E Class; 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class; 2016 Jaguar XF; 2016 Jaguar XJ; and 2016 Kia K900
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