MSRP: $33,675 - $35,975
Invoice: $31,486 - $33,637
MPG: 16 City / 25 Hwy
Get local dealer price quotes:

U.S.News Scores

Overall:9.0
Performance:8.3
Exterior:8.4
Interior:8.1
Safety:9.7
Reliability:8.0
Pros and Cons
  • Strong power and responsive handling
  • Refined exterior with excellent fit and finish
  • Stylish and feature-packed cabin
  • Insurance Institute "Top Safety Pick"
  • Slightly stiff manual transmission
  • More front seat support needed for sporty driving.

Prices

Shop around for the best deal by getting price quotes from local dealers.

Cadillac CTS - What the Auto Press Says

The CTS delivers good performance, handsome styling and a luxurious interior, but its manual transmission suffers from stiffness and long throws, its front seats could provide better side bolstering and its fuel consumption is not ideal for the class.

According to our analysis, the revamped 2008 Cadillac CTS is a vast improvement on an already-solid car. With new and improved performance capabilities, bolder exterior lines and a stylish cockpit-style cabin, the automotive industry acknowledges that the CTS is not only a better car than previous models, but is one of the better cars sold in the upscale midsize sedan class.

This year, Motor Trend selected the CTS as the 2008 Car of the Year for its smart restyling. "For that remarkable achievement, and for making us grin like lottery winners every time we drove it, the CTS is our enthusiastic choice for Motor Trend's 2008 Car of the Year," the magazine reports. The 2008 CTS is also recognized as one of Car and Driver's 10 Best. "This second gen-CTS conclusively fulfills General Motors' goal of turning Cadillac into a world-class luxury competitor," Car and Driver says. "The result is a ride that is easy on the eyes, comfortable on your backside, exciting to drive, and competitive with the best from Europe."

The CTS is available in just one trim level, with either rear- or all-wheel drive, and with one of two engines paired with either a manual or automatic six-speed transmission. Not sold on the Cadillac CTS? Consider the BMW 3-Series. Also consider the spacious Lexus ES.

  • "Boiled down to what matters most to the basic car, the new Lansing, Michigan-built 2008 Cadillac CTS -- with its excellent powertrain, great handling, substantially improved interior and dramatic new styling -- succeeds on all levels." -- Road and Track
  • "This car isn't just good -- it's world-class. … Inside and out, it's better, cleaner and offers everything a customer is looking for in a well-priced luxury sedan." --Detroit News
  • "The new CTS is still not a world-beater, but it is definitely a contender, and it deserves a lot of serious attention." -- BusinessWeek
  • "Cadillacs continue to get better-looking and more impressive." -- Car and Driver
  • "With this bold, savvy, uncompromising showpiece of a sedan -- the all-new Cadillac CTS -- GM has leapt straight from the rabble's side of the velvet rope into that coveted, highly selective inner sanctum marked 'World's Finest Cars.'" -- Motor Trend

CTS Performance - 8.3 (Very Good)

The redesigned Cadillac CTS is a high performance car worthy of comparisons to the celebrated imports in its class, thanks to its powerful engines and impressive driving dynamics. The Detroit News summarizes the consensus, writing, "The handling and performance of the CTS is exceptional." The performance varies, however, depending on which engine a buyer selects. Read More

CTS Exterior - 8.4 (Very Good)

The exterior of the CTS receives a subtle makeover for 2008, and the majority like the results. Car and Driver says, "There's no bad view of the new car, from its attention-grabbing front end and better-integrated vertical headlights and taillights to its muscular fender flares." The tight panel gaps and muscular sheet metal have many writers calling it one of the most attractive cars GM has ever produced. Read More

CTS Interior - 8.1 (Very Good)

Our analysis shows that nowhere is the redesign of the CTS as apparent or appreciated as inside the impressive new cabin. AutoWeek says, "The interior of the '08 CTS feels completely fresh yet entirely like a Cadillac, and it looks as elegant as anything on the road." Unique features like interior LED lighting and a hide-away navigation system give the CTS' cabin more personality than many of its competitors. Read More

CTS Safety - 9.7 (Excellent)

According to BusinessWeek, the CTS has "an admirable list of safety features," and performs well in federal government crash tests. Additionally, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety selected the 2008 CTS as a "Top Safety Pick" for good performance in front, side and rear tests. Read More

CTS Reliability - 8.0 (Very Good)

The 2008 Cadillac CTS reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The CTS is covered by a four-year, 50,000-mile basic warranty. An impressive powertrain warranty improves the value equation. Read More

Review Last Updated: 2/20/09