2011 Cadillac CTS - Styling Review

The 2011 Cadillac CTS is, in some eyes, the most distinctive of all the vehicles in this set. And that's whether you're considering the Coupe, Wagon, or sedan. Sharply folded edges, a chunky stance, and lots of chrome details give the sedan a stubby, sporting look. The huge Cadillac wreath-and-crest logo in front isn't subtle, but then, not much about the CTS is. On all CTS models, but most noteworthy on Coupes, a center crease gives the CTS's tail a point that to some will feel fresh; to others, just plain wrong.

And on this tip, the drawbacks to the CTS are here in spades. If you're no fan of the sedan's Art & Science theme, it doesn't get any softer in the Wagon, and certainly not in the Coupe. The CTS Coupe especially turns heads, and if you're a glutton for attention, the CTS Coupe is a buffet. The Sport Wagon's clearly more visually kinky than the four-door. The far line of its upright roof pillar is intentionally out of skew to its rear glass edge. V-shaped details on the tailgate remind you of Cadillac's tailfinned past, gently. And those cues all usher your eye right down the slab sides of this body, and make a compelling—sexy?—statement about its rather sizable tuchis. The Sport Wagon and Coupe, ladies and gentlemen, have got back.

The 2011 Cadillac CTS interior design is attractive, but it might not suit everyone's tastes, especially those who are used to Teutonic design approach of less is more. It's smooth and flowing in its contours, but far glitzier than any Audi you may have sampled, and some plastic pieces seem to stand front and center for attention. It's also quite busy, with most of the controls mashed into the V-shaped center-console area. But the design redeems itself a bit with its nice trims as well as the navigation screen, which rises up from the dash only when being used and otherwise stows mostly away, only using the top portion as an audio display. It's an elegant solution, both stylistically and functionally.