Now a dozen years old, the Cadillac CTS is a midsize luxury car available as a coupe and sedan. For 2014 and its third generation, the Cadillac CTS (Catera Touring Sedan) has been re-designed inside and out.
Throughout its tenure, the CTS has been named to many top yearly car lists, and the 2014 edition has been and will likely add more end-of-the year honors.
Key Takeaways
- Test car: the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 272 horsepower and a six-speed automatic.
- $61,800 MSRP and $62,725 as tested.
- 19 mpg city and 30 highway (23 combined) on the figures in the review.
- Drive: The new Cadillac drives like a luxury sedan should drive.
- Interior: The interior material paneling is handsome and ideally matches the car.
- Drawbacks: Two oddities about the otherwise keen luxury sedan: The front seat opening is small and the touchscreen system for the entertainment system and other car functions is not simple to use.
The Weekly Driver Test Drive
The 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan is offered in six main trim levels: Standard, Luxury, Performance, Premium, Vsport and Vsport Premium. The trims are matched to a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a 3.6-liter V6 and a turbocharged V6. There are also a 2014 CTS coupe, wagon and CTS-V. They were not redesigned for 2014.
My weekly driver was the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It’s standard with such a long list of interior and exterior features, it’s difficult to view or drive the car with the understanding it’s the base or standard trim.
Standard Equipment
Consider some of its features: 17-inch alloy wheels, Brembo-branded brakes, heated mirrors, automatic headlights, rear parking sensors, remote ignition, keyless ignition/entry, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, a manual tilt-and-telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 5.7-inch display screen in the gauge cluster, eight-way power front seats (with two-way power lumbar), driver memory settings, leatherette (premium vinyl) upholstery and fixed rear seats with a trunk pass-through.
The electronic equipment includes OnStar telematics, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, the base Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system, an 8-inch touchscreen display, voice commands and an 11-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with three USB ports, an auxiliary audio jack and satellite and HD radio.
The standard engine includes 272 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission with optional paddle shifters. There’s also all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive options.
Driving and Design Impressions
The new Cadillac drives like a luxury sedan should drive. It’s powerful, smooth and quiet. My test vehicle was the entry base model, yes. But with its strong gas mileage for its segment, are the supercharged V8 or the V6 Twin Turbo options necessary?
The exterior design with its sharp angles may not appeal to old-school Cadillac fanciers, but it’s a new world, right? Cadillac had to change to keep up with competitors. But the futuristic, jagged lines look does take some getting used to.
The interior material paneling is handsome and ideally matches the car. The vertical grain wood trim look looks elegant and adds to the comfortable and attractive ride occupants experience.
Two oddities about the otherwise keen luxury sedan: The front seat opening is small and the touchscreen system for the entertainment system and other car functions is not simple to use.
Likes and Dislikes
Likes
Overall Comfort.
Top-end materials and interior design.
Automatic seat belt tightening.
Adaptive cruise control.
Panic brake assist.
Dislikes
Ingress and egress difficult in a luxury sedan? How odd.
Infotainment touch system inefficient.
What Others Say: “By truly innovative engineering that reduces mass and increases balance and output, the 2014 Cadillac CTS is, this time, really ready for its close up against stalwarts from BMW and Mercedes-Benz . . . ” Left Lane News. “There is much to like with the CTS. The styling is fresh, exciting and aggressive (kudos to the designer who penned the LED daytime running lamps) and the chassis beneath the sheet metal is impressively rigid. All of the powerplants bring something unique to the table, and the interior appointments are world-class.” Autoblog. “The bottom line is that for the first time in a long time, Cadillac appears to have a complete package without the compromises we’ve seen in earlier models. … You owe it to yourself to take more than a spin around the block.” Edmunds.
2014 Cadillac CTS Verdict
The Cadillac CTS is a luxury sedan and it ideally defines the term. Power, comfort, performance, etc., it’s all done right.
Facts & Figures: 2014 Cadillac CTS
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $61,800 |
| As-Tested Price | $62,725 |
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 272 hp |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Fuel Economy (review) | 19 city / 30 highway / 23 combined mpg |
| Fuel Economy (EPA, 2.0T) | Rear-wheel drive 20 / 29 / 23 mpg; all-wheel drive 19 / 28 / 22 mpg |
| Fuel Type | Regular |
| Airbags | 10 |
| Warranty | Bumper to bumper 4 yr/50,000 mi; powertrain 4 yr/50,000 mi; corrosion 4 yr/50,000 mi; roadside assistance 6 yr/70,000 mi |
James Raia
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
