01/09/2006    
Mike Blake
Carlisle Events

The 2006 CTS is steeped in tradition, style and function, and while the CTS name really doesn’t indicate anything other than C-class Touring Sedan, it is a descendent of the Catera and the initials “CTS” are often thought of as meaning Catera Touring Sedan. But after driving it, it COULD be initialese for Cadillac Touring Sportscar.

Caddy’s alphanumeric naming has taken over the line. The STS replaced the Seville, the DTS replaced the DeVille and the CTS replaced the Catera in 2003 as the entry-level Cadillac.  But there’s nothing entry-level about the CTS.

One look at the CTS and you know it is a Cadillac. Traditional Cadillac design cues have been updated and incorporated into the architecture. The conventional vertical headlamps and taillamps that have been Cadillac staples since 1965 are present in the CTS, but they have been redesigned in a 21st century high-tech appearance that conveys avant-garde optics. The lean configuration allows more space for the large, louvered Cadillac grille.

Substantially built at 3500 lbs., the CTS still fits into the mid-size niche. Its bulk is propelled by a 3.6-liter fuel-injected VVT V-6 engine. The car as tested put out 255 horsepower and 252 lbs./ft. of torque, which were enough to take me from zero to 60 mph in about 6.7 seconds – some 2 seconds quicker than did the Catera. That makes sense, as the CTS is 300 pounds lighter than the Catera, while it houses 55 more horses. Even with the extra pull, It takes a millisecond for the engine to respond, but then it does, with alacrity.

One surprise was that the power plant was mated to a six-speed manual shift … yes, a Caddy with a stick. It’s been years since I have driven a manual Caddy, and this one was fun. The car seemed powerful enough for a mid-size, but could have been a super ride if it had been equipped with the optional 400-hp Corvette LS2 engine (an option I strongly recommend for we “more power” types). As outfitted, the CTS was rated at 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. During my weeklong examination across Central Pennsylvania countryside and towns, my test vehicle came in at about 20 mpg.

The ride was as quiet and smooth as one would expect from a Cadillac, and with 4-wheel independent suspension, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and P225/55R16 all-season tires, this Caddy hugged the road like a sports sedan. The GM all-speed traction control and Stabilitrak systems are wonderful safety and handling inclusions as they assist the vehicle in maintaining the driver’s intended path by applying a brake force at any corner of the vehicle independent of the driver’s use of the brake pedal.

A very competent suspension layout smoothes out rough surfaces. The front independent short/long arm suspension, and coil-over dampers with anti-sway bar, married to a rear independent, modified multilink suspension with anti-sway bar provides a luxurious ride one seldom gets with a mid-size.

On the autocross, the CTS handled with finesse and confidence and with a tight turning radius. Some yaw occurred but the stabilizing systems quickly took control. On the highway, power was just a shift and a pedal squeeze away at all gears, making for a very comfortable and strong driving experience.

Inside, the CTS is blessed with a leather-wrapped steering wheel with auxiliary controls and a wood trim package, along with leather seats, dual-zone climate control, rear-window defogger, and power driver seat, windows and heated outside mirrors, The interior whispers out Cadillac luxury with ergonomic convenience. Curiously, there were no heated seats, and it housed a confused SUV-like console, but the rear-seat pass-through to the trunk was a nice touch for added cargo space. Safety is addressed well with six air bags, including dual-stage frontal air bags for front-seat passengers. Head-curtain side air bags help protect front and outboard rear passengers.

 
The CTS also has Xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) halogen headlamps, and OnStar service for security. Thick, cushiony seats make the CTS a satisfying vehicle for five.

Priced at $36,875, the 2006 CTS is an entry-level Cadillac that is anything but entry-level on the road, at a fair and competitive price.

The only option was the $2,995 DVD navigational system that included 6-disc CD changer, 7-speaker Bose audio, XM satellite radio and XM traffic service. I found the navi system to be a bit complicated and not as user friendly as I would have hoped, but it was accurate and a fine addition to the CTS package.

Cadillac once called itself, “The Standard of the World.” And while that self-aggrandizement might be out of line in today’s world, the CTS certainly has built a following in its own right and has enhanced the Cadillac image with a solid, powerful, luxurious mid-size. Catera die-hards should be proud that its initialed successor is such a powerful beauty.


Visit www.carsatcarlisle.com for more on the automotive hobby.

MIKE BLAKE, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

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