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2010 Cadillac CTS-V Photo

2010 Cadillac CTS-V - Page 1 Review

MSRP: $60,720 See Local Classifieds
 
Shopping for a 2010 Cadillac CTS-V? MSRP: $60,720

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The editors at TheCarConnection.com have driven the Cadillac CTS-V and report here with firsthand driving impressions and an overall assessment of how the CTS-V matches up against other leading luxury sport sedans. In order to bring you the most useful review possible, TheCarConnection.com has also assembled highlights from some of the best review sources, all together in a full review.  

Likes:

  • Confident and easy to drive
  • Suspension and brakes ready for track time
  • Magnetic dampers provide a smooth ride
  • Attractive interior design
  • Top-notch materials and trims

Dislikes:

  • Crowded, cluttered instrument panel
  • Steering doesn’t have much road feel
  • Manual shift gate required to use paddle-shifters

The latest in a line of performance-focused V-Series cars from Cadillac, the Cadillac CTS-V packs a version of the Chevy Corvette ZR1 engine and takes aim at some of the leading sport sedans from Germany. The 2010 Cadillac CTS-V is based on the more mainstream CTS luxury sedan but is more exclusive, built in small numbers, and considerably more expensive.

Last year the CTS-V was reintroduced as a much more aggressively styled and more powerful vehicle, picking up the refinements inside and out that the CTS gained for ‘08. That’s to say, the CTS-V isn’t as smooth or rakish as rival sedans in this class; from either the front or rear, it’s boxy and angular, though the roofline and door lines help soften the proportions a bit. Taking a closer look, there are plenty of details to appreciate, including jewel-like headlamps, meshlike upper and lower grilles, a well-sculpted front fascia, and integrated fog lamps in front; in back Cadillac’s vertical tail lamps flank the corners, and the trunklid crease is lined with a spoilerlike strip of LEDs. V-Series badging and chrome side vents also help distinguish the V, and flashy 19-inch wheels, polished or painted, have V-shaped spoke segments and showcase the heavy-duty Brembo brake hardware. Overall, the exterior is different and probably won’t appeal to everyone, but inside, the 2010 Cadillac CTS-V follows smoother yet still very fashionable design. Trim alongside the doors extends across the instrument panel from both sides and slopes downward into a V-shaped center console that contains audio and climate controls and additional vents, LED accent lighting is piped in, and an available navigation display retracts neatly into the dash when not in use.

Specs: Select a Trim

4dr Sedan (1) MSRP Invoice MPG City MPG Hwy
4dr Sedan Specs $60,720 $56,773 14 19

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Why should I also consider these? X

Although the 2010 Cadillac CTS-V is closer in size to the BMW M5, Mercedes E63 AMG, and Audi S6, it competes with the slightly smaller Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and Audi S6.

Of them all, the C63 AMG has a driving feel that’s closest to that of the CTS-V—stout, though surprisingly crisp and responsive on the track—but with less power, the C63 isn’t quite as fast.

The BMW M5 can accelerate about as quickly as the CTS-V, but it’s about $25,000 more than the CTS-V and includes a complex set of electronic controls (M Drive) that can be overwhelming.

Another rival remains the Audi S6, which comes with a 435-horsepower, 5.2-liter V-10 engine and all-wheel drive; it’s a smooth, confident sport sedan with a lot of personality and a beautiful interior, but it’s just not as fast.

Jaguar’s XFR is another rival to the CTS-V, with a warm, classy interior and amazing straight-line acceleration, but it’s not as precise a handler or curve-carver.

Finally, the limited-production Lexus IS-F is a possibility, with a 416-horsepower V-8 and some serious track credentials.

Among all of these possibilities, only the CTS-V and M5 are offered with a manual gearbox.

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