Third-generation Cadillac CTS

Several years ago, the Cadillac CTS is their entry level sport saloon that shaken the brand's rubbish image and when Richard Hammond tested it on the Top Gear TV series, the CTS is more than just a good American car, it's a good car for a stop and deserves to be in UK judging by the fact that it's sold in left-hand drive European markets. It used to be the top trump against the Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4, and the BMW 3-Series but because last year's ATS sports saloon took the spot, guess there's no room for the new CTS but instead of throwing it away...

2014 Cadillac CTS

Cadillac decided to keep it but only this time, they made it larger and slotted to compete against the BMW 5-Series, the Audi A6, and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. That's right, the good American car that behaves like a European premium saloon in its class, now made even better but just how good it is? Cue the music as heard from Brainiac's I Can Do Science Me segment.

As Jeremy Clarkson told that Cadillacs are for pimps and pensioners, some people disagree because Cadillacs are kinda more like bad boy John Travolta. Cool at first but then seriously uncool and then...bang! Cool again! Think of it like...Pulp Fiction but that's just a different story for a different day.

It all started back in 1999 when General Motors try to save Cadillac from its demise, Cadillac initiated the brand's Art and Science design philosophy, which brings them back to their roots with cutting-edge design and high-end technology. The first car to apply such a thing is the CTS in 2002 and judging by its behavior, Cadillac's image of being a pensioner's car has been shaken off and then later, it's joined by the status symbol favorite, the Cadillac Escalade. These are just some of the reasons why Cadillac back to being the coolest.

Anyway, forget about the science lesson, onto the new model. Because Cadillac was so focused to make the CTS almost as European as its rivals, you wouldn't realize that they've used the Nurburgring as the basis to develop the new model and thanks to such progress, the new CTS tries to set standards to its midsize premium sedan class and with its Nurburgring lap time of 8:14.10, that's about as quicker than the old NSX, the old Cayman, or even the old Lexus IS-F! Unbelievable...

2014 Cadillac CTS

Judging by how it looks, the new model looks kinda similar to the smaller ATS and the apathetic XTS premium saloon and why apathetic? Because the XTS is just a Chevy Impala underneath and for such judgment, I think this new CTS could be all right. When you first drive the new model, you are kinda unhappy with it because sometimes first impressions are not so good but with a little practice and when you get used to it more, the new CTS can be the car worth living for. Sadly though, there are faults...

2014 Cadillac CTS interior

I once checked the interior of the new model and once again, the designers always adopting the whole Dead Space theme because on the dashboard, you can see those buttons that look like Isaac Clarke's helmet which makes changing the volume and temperature a bit more difficult and when you keep on tapping it...as dull as a gastropod. When you hold the button...meh, same thing. There's also a bigger problem as well because when I tried changing the speedo display, it's a bit too twitchy and this is a lot harder to manage than the XTS. I once checked the speedo of the ATS and the XTS and because they can be changed easily, I love the way Cadillac done to the speedos. Sadly on the CTS, that's a different story and unless you find a way, you'll be stuck in such a small display and you can't read it while on the road. My eyes are too small for this! This is much worse than electrifying weather reporter Sian Lloyd!

2014 Cadillac CTS

Most American cars sometimes afraid of the corners and when they faced one, American cars will feel like stripping of their dignity and send home to their mommies. The CTS, like its previous incarnations, won't be like that because thanks to its Nurburgring-honed dynamics, handling a corner is okay. Much like what a very cute character would say that everything is okay. However, when you switch the traction control off, the CTS loves to show off its true nature and if you're much of a Brainiac, you could just shred some tires for the heck of it. Engine choices? Well, you can have a 2.0L Turbo engine or a 3.6L V6 engine on it but on the top-of-the-line Vsport version you'll get the 420HP 3.6L V6 Twin Turbo engine which produces the equivalent power of V8-powered sedans without all the drama. Normal models are fitted with a 6-speed automatic gearbox but the CTS Vsport, with the turbo V6 engine on it, is mated with an 8-speed gearbox.

Price? The new model starts at around US$45,100, less than the 5-Series but more than the A6, making the all new CTS one of the most competitively-priced premium saloon on the market today.

The verdict? Well, while the new CTS is a bit twitchy on the technological details as well as my personal experience on changing the car's speedo through the settings, it's still a good American car for a full stop. It still behaves to be almost European and it corners like a European car and overall, it still retains its coolness no matter where it takes you. Thanks to the CTS, Cadillac is no longer a car made for senior citizens but made for those who want a bit more bling and flash.

Available colors: Phantom Gray Metallic, Radiant Silver Metallic, Black Raven, Opulent Blue Metallic, Silver Coast Metallic, Red Obsession Tintcoat, Majestic Plum Metallic, White Diamond Tricoat, and Black Diamond Tricoat.

Photo: General Motors