2009 Cadillac CTS-V
- Used Cadillac CTS-V
Cadillac CTS-V - What the Auto Press Says
The following is a performance-capsule review of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V. It is based on our analysis of 16 published reviews and test drives.
The 2009 Cadillac CTS-V is a home-grown, high-performance monster that's capable of showing up those high-priced Euro-sedans that have traditionally dominated this class.
Model Overview
The CTS-V is a performance-tuned variant of the Cadillac CTS, which ranks high in the class of upscale midsize cars for its strong power and responsive handling, as well as its elegant exterior and interior finish.
Pushing the envelope, Cadillac's engineers modify the CTS with sport-tuning and a Corvette engine. The result is nothing short of spectacular. "This is it," writes Motor Trend. "The fastest, most powerful Cadillac ever built. The fastest, most powerful American sedan in history, for that matter. Locked, loaded, and gunning for Europe's heavy-hitting sport sedans-BMW M5, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, Audi RS6. ... Meet Cadillac's monster new CTS-V. Cadzilla, if you will." What's more, it's cheaper than its European counterparts.
Though General Motors has recently filed for bankruptcy and is undergoing massive restructuring to cope with a record downturn in sales, it has no plans to discontinue the Cadillac CTS-V. Buy a 2009 or 2010 model before November 30 and take advantage of GM's new 60-day money-back guarantee.
The 2009 CTS-V features a 556-horsepower supercharged V8 engine.
- "We liked the first hot-rod Caddy, with a couple of provisos: too much of a bad-boy, not enough Cadillac. The second generation ends those doubts with more agility, more refinement, and much more power from a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8. 'World-class' is not too strong a term." -- Car and Driver
- "Extensive improvements in styling and performance of this second-generation CTS have put it on the same plain with those Mercedes, BMW and Lexus competitors that populate the driveways of upscale suburban neighborhoods." -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- "The 2009 Cadillac CTS-V will beat just about any super-sedan around a racetrack, and it's got style and value to burn." -- Edmunds
- "If you want your performance sport sedan fast and fun, yet quiet, smooth and refined, the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V is easily the best value out there. It's affordably priced and can run with, or outrun, just about anyone." -- Kelley Blue Book
The Bottom Line
The Cadillac CTS-V is a great way to buy American and give other, traditionally European, high-performance sedans a run for their money. It's not as luxurious or exclusive as the BMW M5 or Mercedes-Benz EE63 AMG, but costs nearly $25K less. It's hard to argue with that.
Performance Dynamics
Test drivers report that the CTS-V is ferocious. It provides heart-pounding acceleration and cuts corners with ease. What's more, critics love it with either manual or automatic transmissions. All in all, reviewers find that this American-built street machine has got the chops to compete with much more expensive Euro-sedans.
The CTS-V features a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 556 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 551 pound-feet of torque at 3,800 rpm. A TREMEC TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission with two overdrive gears is standard. However, a Hydra-Matic 6L90-E six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with overdrive and a torque converter clutch is optional. According to Cadillac, the CTS-V can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and is "[t]he fastest V8 production sedan in the world." The EPA has not yet rated the CTS-V's fuel economy.
The rear-wheel drive CTS-V features a ZF Servotronic 2 speed-sensitive, power-assisted rack and pinion steering and an independent performance-tuned suspension system. Helping maintain composure is a StabiliTrak stability control system and all-speed traction control. Also standard are high-performance aluminum Brembo disc brakes with Brake Assist and an Anti-lock Braking system.
- "Taking a page from the last CTS-V, which used the LS6 V-8 engine from the C5 Corvette Z06, the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V's 6.2-liter V-8 is derived from the engine in the 2008 Corvette. For Cadillac duty, however, GM attached a supercharger to the V-8 and bumped out the hood to accommodate the big blower." -- Automobile Magazine
- "From a dead stop, this car accelerates to 60 mph in about 4 seconds. One-two-three-four. From there it's a rapid and delirious elevator ride to 191 mph (top speed for the automatic is 175 mph)." -- Los Angeles Times
- "Having logged seat time in manual and automatic versions of the CTS-V, we're inclined to believe the automatic may be the better choice, particularly for the slightly older guys who are most likely to step up to a car in this price range. The manual transmission might be the better choice on a racetrack, but how often is a sedan like this going to show up at track days?" -- Car and Driver
- "The automatic transmission's lurching full-throttle upshifts are crude but effective, although we can't say the same for the manual-shift buttons on the back of the steering wheel spokes. They're so slow on the draw that you're better off just leaving the transmission in Drive Sport. The manual transmission might be a better bet, as it has a pleasantly firm shift action and a surprisingly light and progressive clutch." -- Edmunds
- "The new CTS-V is anything but crude and will take you to work, or to a track and back, in impressively quiet comfort - not bad for a sedan packing so much power. A significant chunk of this goodness can be attributed to the CTS-V's standard Magnetic Ride Control suspension. This setup uses shock absorbers that can change their damping characteristics in microseconds, thanks to magnets that act on a fluid filled with minute iron particles." -- MSN
- "Thanks to Magnetic Ride Control, hard-accelerating, hard-cornering and hard-braking track laps are equally composed, the steering is precise and responsive, and no matter how hard or long you beat them, the race-bred Michelins and big red Brembos never tire or fade." -- Kelley Blue Book
- "CTS-V has exceptionally responsive steering, tenacious grip in turns, and tremendously powerful brakes. It corners with virtually no lean, but slightly trails top European rivals in overall composure." -- Consumer Guide
- "Overall, the CTS-V masks its weight extremely well, displaying minimal body roll, pitch and dive, which is likely due to those quick-reacting shocks." -- Popular Mechanics
