Prying satisfied customers out of their Audi A4s, BMW 328s, and Mercedes-Benz
C350s might seem tougher than establishing democracy in Afghanistan, but
conquest sales will have to play a huge role in the success of the new Cadillac
ATS. The brand desperately needs a successful entry-luxury car because that’s
the bestselling segment in the premium-car world. And since Cadillac has been
moving in a sporting direction, it’s taking on these European sedans rather than
targeting real-estate-agent buggies like the Lexus ES or the Lincoln MKZ.
Off to a Good Start
We went into deep detail with the ATS earlier this year and were impressed
with its design and engineering. Based on the brand-new Alpha platform, the ATS
features a front-engine, rear-drive layout, as well as four-wheel independent
suspension, the latest ZF electric power steering, and four-wheel disc brakes.
Motivation comes from a choice of three engines, with an available manual
transmission, and optional all-wheel drive. It’s all wrapped in modern and
attractive sheetmetal styled with a softer take on the Cadillac Art and Science
design language. The whole shebang is 8.5 inches shorter than the CTS. We got a
chance to drive it last month, and now we can finally tell you about it.
From behind the wheel, the car makes an excellent first impression, with a
good driving position combined with superb sightlines delivered in part by
reasonably thin A-pillars. Models with sport seats have adjustable thigh support
as well as adjustable side bolsters. You can choose from among seven interior
color and finish schemes, including ones with aluminum trim and genuine carbon
fiber. The overall ambience feels stylish and rich, and we were immediately able
to find a comfortable driving position.
Good visibility extends to the information displayed to the driver, although
the tachometer is tucked a bit far to the left on the instrument cluster and can
fall out of your vision when driving hard. A head-up display is available, and
there are three customizable windows below the central speedometer that can be
configured using a large toggle switch on the right steering-wheel spoke; the
control can be manipulated easily without looking down at it. Another toggle on
the left spoke operates the cruise control.
The 8.0-inch LCD touch screen for the new CUE (Cadillac User Experience)
system looks great and remains highly visible even when hit by direct sunlight.
It has a number of clever features, such as a function that only brings up
additional buttons only when a proximity sensor detects your hand nearby—this
allows the screen to stay uncluttered most of the time. You can change the map
scale by squeezing or spreading your fingers as you do on a smartphone, and the
nav system can pull contact address information directly from a paired phone. We
appreciate not having to manually enter an address that already exists in a
connected device.
Overreaching Engine Lineup
We first drove an ATS with the base engine, a 202-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder
with direct injection. It’s basically a slightly updated version of Chevy’s
workhorse engine and is available only with a six-speed automatic and rear
drive. This engine won’t generate envy among any Audi or BMW owners. It delivers
no better than adequate performance (claimed 0 to 60 in 7.5 seconds, which we
think is about right on the nose) and it feels slower than it is, as the
transmission resists downshifting as you toe the throttle. The big four-cylinder
also is fairly loud at high revs. Were we in charge at Cadillac, we would have
introduced the ATS without this engine, then slipped it into the lineup several
months down the road if a less expensive entry-level model was deemed necessary.
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear- or 4-wheel drive, 5-passenger,
4-door sedan
BASE PRICE: 2.5 $ 33,990; 2.0T, $35,795; 3.6, $42,090
ENGINE TYPES: DOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter inline-4, 202 hp, 191 lb-ft;
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 272 hp, 260
lb-ft; DOHC 24-valve 3.6-liter V-6, 321 hp, 275 lb-ft
TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic with manual shifting
mode
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 109.3 in
Length: 182.8 in
Width: 71.1 in Height: 55.9 in
Curb weight (C/D est): 3350–3700 lb
Wheelbase: 109.3 in
Length: 182.8 in
Width: 71.1 in Height: 55.9 in
Curb weight (C/D est): 3350–3700 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 5.4–7.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.0–15.7 sec
Top speed: 130–152 mph
Zero to 60 mph: 5.4–7.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.0–15.7 sec
Top speed: 130–152 mph
FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST):
EPA city/highway driving: 19–22/28–33 mpg
EPA city/highway driving: 19–22/28–33 mpg
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