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2009 Cadillac CTS-V Review

STYLING | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

CTS puts form over function when it comes to the use of major controls
ConsumerGuide

Identified by the satin-finish mesh grille, deeper front and rear fascias
Motor Trend

Thick steering wheel and pedals [are] placed appropriately for precision driving
Road & Track

The Cadillac CTS-V is all-new for the 2009 model year, following closely behind the 2008 remodel of the regular CTS sedan. There won't be any mistaking a Cadillac CTS-V for the base model CTS, though, as quite a few exterior and interior modifications set the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V luxury sport sedan apart.

The exterior styling of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V receives more than its fair share of praise in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. Automobile Magazine gushes that "Cadillac's faceted-design language has really come into its own in the second-generation CTS," and they love that the Cadillac CTS-V "doesn't screw it up with a lot of gratuitous, 'sporty' add-ons." There are some visual distinctions, though, and Autoblog points out that the Cadillac CTS-V "stands out in a crowd more than either its lesser siblings or its predecessor," thanks to the fact that "the big mesh grille now has twice the open area of the previous V." Motor Trend reviewers also mention the "satin-finish mesh grille, deeper front and rear fascias, and ominously bulged hood." One of the more innovative styling touches, according to Automobile Magazine, "is the rear CHMSL (center high-mounted stop light), which is reshaped to add downforce at high speeds, eliminating the need for a rear spoiler."

One of the most notable improvements on the second-generation CTS comes to the interior, which receives a substantial redesign. The same holds true for the interior of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V, and Jalopnik reviewers ask, "Know how awkward most current BMW interiors are and how cheap most current Mercedes feel? The CTS-V is better. Seriously." Automobile Magazine says the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V "cabin manages to look both purposeful and classy," thanks to an interior "set off by the varying textures of its materials." Compared to the standard CTS, Road & Track remarks that "the gauges on the CTS-V are noticeably different," featuring "red tracers [that] follow the sweeping needles and add a technical sophistication." ConsumerGuide, however, finds some fault with the interior, claiming that the Cadillac CTS-V "puts form over function when it comes to the use of major controls," since "the v-shape center console stack puts most buttons into a smallish area of the dashboard." On the positive side, ConsumerGuide also reports that "the navigation screen is large and legible, and quickly powers up or down."

Conclusion

A ferocious exterior gives way to a luxurious interior on the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V luxury sports sedan.


Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2009 Cadillac CTS-V comes very close in overall size to the BMW M5, the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, and the Audi S6, but with a lower price than the E63, it competes more closely with the C63 AMG. The Audi S6 is about the same size and weight as the CTS-V, and it has standard all-wheel drive; however, its 5.2-liter V-10 engine makes only 435 horsepower and far less usable torque than the CTS-V's supercharged V-8. The C63 AMG's driving feel is similar to that of the CTS-V—hefty on the road, but surprisingly crisp and responsive on the track—and despite its somewhat lighter weight, it makes do with about 100 less hp and, thus, isn't as fast. The BMW M5 can get to 60 mph in about the same time as the CTS-V, by some accounts, and it comes with an impressive (or intimidating) set of electronic controls as part of M Drive, though its sticker price starts at around $85,000, about $25,000 more than the CTS-V. The limited-production Lexus IS-F is another new competitor, with a 416-horsepower V-8, rear-wheel drive, and some serious track credentials, but the IS-F strikes out on one count: With no manual transmission, it's still a poseur to hard-core performance nuts.

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See the Cadillac CTS-V in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004

Comments (1 total)

  1. smokn hot!!

    By gregberlin | Posted: May 31st 2009, 07:05:09 AM

    i own a xlrv and love the cts-v as well! there
    exotic american cars it may be at gm crisis time
    but they did it and proved it to the world!!
    god bless GM!GREG BERLIN RENO NV,
    CADDY FANANTIC

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